Why is regular water testing important in a lobster tank?
Regular water testing is important to maintain healthy water conditions for lobsters, crabs and langoustines in a shellfish holding system. Testing helps you identify changes in water quality before they become a problem for your shellfish.
At Todd Fish Tech we supply all our new Lobster Pods and Crab Pods with water testing equipment so that customers can monitor their water quality regularly.
What water tests do I need for my Lobster Pod or Crab Pod?
We supply two sets of water testing strips with our systems. The first tests for ammonia and the second is a multi-test strip which measures pH, nitrite and nitrate.
We also supply a salinity refractometer to check the salt concentration in the water.
What should my water test results be?
Ammonia should be kept as low as possible. If your ammonia reading is high then you should avoid adding more shellfish to the system until the water quality has improved. The higher the ammonia reading the greater the water change required.
The biological filter contains nitrifying bacteria which convert ammonia into nitrite and then nitrate. If nitrite levels rise above 10 ppm then you should consider a water change. If nitrate reaches 250 ppm then we recommend changing at least 20% of the water. A larger water change will reduce the nitrate level further.
The pH is particularly important for the health of your shellfish and should ideally be between 8.0 and 8.2.
Salinity should generally be between 32 and 35 parts per thousand (ppt) to replicate natural seawater conditions.
How often should I test the water in my lobster tank?
We recommend getting into the routine of testing your water every week. Checking ammonia, nitrite, nitrate, pH and salinity regularly helps you monitor changes in water quality and identify when maintenance or a water change is needed.
Can Todd Fish Tech test my water for me?
Yes! We offer our customers six free water tests using our specialist digital water testing equipment which provides a detailed analysis of the water.
We supply a sample bottle and self-addressed envelope so customers only need to pay for the return postage.
You can also send us a photograph of your test strip results for advice. However it is important to take the photograph within a minute of testing as the colours can change over time. Lighting conditions can also make it difficult to interpret the results accurately.
Additional water testing is available as a paid service for existing customers and other shellfish system operators.
If you need replacement water testing kits or advice on your results then please get in touch.
Email hello@toddfishtech.com
Last updated October 2026
