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Posts Tagged ‘Nitrites’

This is important because each variable have direct effects on how the whole freshwater aquarium behaves. It can affect the fish, and plants regardless of type and classification. Water pH must be clearly defined and determined from time to time. Not only pH levels but also ammonia, nitrites and nitrates level have to be timely accounted for. When these chemicals left unnoticed for a long time a more fatal effect will be seen on the fish and animals inside your aquarium.

Fish enthusiasts are always talking about changes to aquarium pH. But most times the concern about pH changes really isn’t that necessary, or something to worry too much about. In the pet shop too, the store owners have too many fish to care for and are not too concerned about the levels of pH in their numerous tanks.

But when the fish arrives in our homes, because we have read too many tips and guides, we begin to acclimatize them to a perfect world where the water temperature is near perfect, water is crystal clear and pH is tested like a lab technician would. This only makes them less hardy to fluctuations.

Change in pH levels

Adding chemical agents to increase or decrease the pH is never a good idea. These chemicals function by suddenly changing the water pH and it is this drastic change that is detrimental to the fishes health. However, there are some things that you can do to adjust the pH levels slowly. To lower pH levels, add a piece of wood as aquarium decoration and to increase the levels instead, add some corals or a sea shell. Doing this will not drastically alter the pH level of the water and will give your aquatic life time to adjust itself.

PH means potentiality to hydrogen or the measure of the water’s acidity or alkalinity. Water pH is measured as the amount of extra hydrogen ions (H+) or hydroxide ions (H-) present in a water solution. Water is considered to be acidic when it has a pH of less than 7.0, more than 7.0 levels the water is determined to be alkaline. Search for more information of fish pH tolerance since each fish has distinct characteristic from each other. Do not put fish in a too acidic nor too alkaline type of water because they can’t live longer. Water pH level greatly affects fish life span so it must be monitored closely.

Sometimes there might be a sudden change in pH levels in an established aquarium. What you should be focusing on is to identify and eliminate the cause and not fight against the effect. The first thing to do is check the source of the water. If it came from tap water, test it to ensure it is not the source of the water that is contaminating the tank. Usually it isn’t the source that’s the problem but it is always good to be certain.

Next, have you placed anything new into the tank? A new decoration, new gravel, new filter media, anything? It is usually the introduction of something new that causes the rapid pH change. Take out the items that you think is causing the pH change, perform a 50% change of water, then monitor it for a couple of days. This will in most cases solve your pH crisis. The water change will buffer the pH back to near neutral levels.

Water pH test are now readily available in any local hobby stores for a more practical way of measuring water change of your aquarium. Test kits must be used properly and applied accordingly. To test you tap water you can dip some stones and gravel for 2 to 7 days. If there are noted changes on the water then you can add some standard substrates unto it.

Maintain constant pH level

Sudden change of water pH levels over a period of time may cause fatal stress to fish that can lead to their untimely death. Though it is hard to keep and maintain a constant water pH level a tolerable change of 0.1 to 0.2 is acceptable.

If you concluded that this essay is helpful you could also be interested in knowing about How To Change pH.