| Knowledge of water chemistry in your aquarium | | | | tap water can have upon application of standard |
| is very important, because these variables have a | | | | substrates in your aquarium. |
| direct effect on the marine life that thrives in | | | | A Consistent pH level is ImportantIf you want |
| your fish tanks, regardless of the type of fish and | | | | your fish to have the maximum health and safety |
| aquatic plants you own. If you have heard the | | | | standards, you might want to keep your water |
| importance of knowing the ammonia, nitrite and | | | | pH levels at a constant rate. This is because fish |
| nitrate levels of your aquarium, then surely you | | | | have a high risk of becoming stressed when they |
| have also heard about the aquarium’s water | | | | are exposed to water that differs in pH levels |
| pH levels. Water pH levels, or simply pH levels, are | | | | every now and then, and even if they have |
| the amount of extra hydrogen ions (H+) or | | | | suitable pH tolerances for that pH level, you still |
| hydroxide ions (HO-) present in a water solution, | | | | risk killing them unintentionally. But keeping the |
| and these two directly affect the health of your | | | | water pH level at an exact rate is rather difficult, |
| fish. | | | | so you have to at least keep the level swing as |
| High and Low pH | | | | small as possible. Somewhere around 0.2 to 0.1 |
| Water pH levels usually dictate if it is either acidic | | | | unit change in pH level should be a lot less lethal |
| or alkaline. For an acidic body of water, the pH | | | | for your fish, which stay healthy and keep them |
| levels should be less than 7.0. For an alkaline body | | | | from getting stressed. |
| of water, the pH levels should be higher than 7.0. | | | | Controlling the Water pH level |
| You can determine if your fish fall under either | | | | So to get your freshwater aquarium pH levels at |
| category by researching for their pH tolerance. | | | | a constant rate, you need to somehow |
| Never put fish in waters with pH levels that are | | | | manipulate them manually. Adding common |
| too much higher or too much lower than what | | | | substrate materials such as rocks, pebbles and |
| they can tolerate, because they greatly risk | | | | gravel can already give you the proper pH level |
| getting killed either way. Believe me… you | | | | that for your aquarium, but you can also use |
| don’t want some dead floating fish just | | | | several other specific substrate materials, such as |
| because of a 0.5 to 1.0 change in the water pH | | | | crushed coral, to significantly increase the water |
| level. | | | | pH level. If your water pH level is too high, then |
| Knowing the Exact pH levels of your Fish Tank | | | | you can lower it by also adding materials that |
| Water pH measurements are now taken by | | | | manipulate the water pH level, this time lowering |
| measuring kits that are readily available in specialty | | | | it. Common materials used to lower pH levels are |
| stores, but there are certain ways for you to use | | | | driftwood, along with some other conventional |
| them properly and effectively. For those who plan | | | | methods such as pumping an ample amount of |
| to use tap water in your aquarium, it is | | | | carbon dioxide into the water. All of these, |
| recommended that you test them first by | | | | however, are done to balance the water pH level. |
| soaking rocks and gravel into the water and | | | | They are not intended to raise or lower the |
| letting the water from 2 days to one week. If | | | | water pH by a great amount, because as |
| you see any significant change in the pH levels, | | | | mentioned before, you greatly risk killing the fish |
| then that should be the mean pH level that your | | | | either way. |