On Mon, 5 Jan 2004 17:26:01 -0700 (MST), (Here
FishyFishy) wrote:

i agree with fishkeeper. if you ask me there is too much testing going
on. what's your water parameters???

snip
all you really need is common sense and a love for the hobby (and take
what is said in this group with a grain of salt as everyone has an
opinion and a way that works for them).
i'll get off my soapbox now (my i feel better).
I've started my 9 year old son with two tanks, a small 2 gal. tank
with a Betta, and a 10 gal. with a few starter fish. (Platys and
Swordtails)
The only water testing that that I've been teaching him so far
is "How does the water smell and is it fairly clear."

I do some checks just to make sure, but he has learned that
overfeeding caused some of his fish to die. Was that it exactly?
I'm not completely sure, but he learned an important lesson and
is now much more careful about feeding.

Jim