| Water chemistry can be a complicated matter | | | | tolerate a pH range of roughly 6.5 to 7.5, although |
| but it is vital for all the life in an aquarium, | | | | this changes from species to species with some |
| regardless of the kind that you are keeping, that | | | | tolerating either greater or lesser degrees of |
| effort is taken to keep all aspects of water | | | | acidity or alkalinity. It is crucial to the health of the |
| chemistry balanced for your aquarium. | | | | aquarium that the right water pH is maintained for |
| Balanced water chemistry is maintained when all | | | | the organisms within. |
| the organisms in your aquarium have everything | | | | Changes in water pH can result from the usage |
| that they need to survive and reach an optimum | | | | of live rock and substrates which contain crushed |
| state of health. For example with plants, certain | | | | coral. The quality, acidity and alkalinity of water |
| combinations of macronutrients and water pH | | | | also varies from source to source so it is |
| must be kept within acceptable ranges. For fish, | | | | advisable to test the pH of a new water source |
| the same is true, but the focus shifts more | | | | before it used in an aquarium to determine how |
| towards acceptable levels of nitrates and other | | | | different it might be. A small numeric change in pH |
| substances within the water. pH is an often | | | | can mean a dramatic difference to the fish, plants |
| overlooked factor when it comes to maintaining | | | | and invertebrates inside the aquarium. |
| the delicate balance of healthy water chemistry. | | | | If you use the same water source for all of your |
| So just what is pH? The pH value indicates how | | | | water changes then it is likely that the water you |
| acidic or alkaline you water is and ranges from | | | | replace is of the same pH value each time you |
| one to fourteen, with seven being completely | | | | change the tank. If you want to make sure, you |
| neutral. | | | | can always test the water quality and conditions |
| It is important to note that the pH scale is not | | | | with a variety of water testing kits. When using a |
| linear, it is logarithmic. What this means to you is | | | | dechlorinator, after dechlorination you have a |
| that a ph reading of four is ten times more acidic | | | | perfect opportunity to ascertain the pH value |
| than a reading of five and one hundred times the | | | | before changing some of the aquarium water. |
| acidity of a pH reading of six. Most plants can | | | | |