Aquarium Ph

When we talk about pH, we are really referring to levels of hydrogen ions in solution. Ions are simply atoms with an electrical charge. These hydrogen ions have a positive charge. We measure the number of hydrogen ions on a pH scale.

The pH scale tells us how many hydrogen ions are in your aquarium water and, therefore, how acidic it is. It ranges from 0 to 14. While you would anticipate that a higher number on the scale would mean more hydrogen ions and a more acidic solution, this is not the case. In reality, a lower number on the scale means more hydrogen ions. A pH of 1 is very acidic, pH of 7 is neutral, and a pH of 14 is very alkaline, which is the opposite of acidic. This scale is logarithmic, which means that each number is ten times stronger than the preceding number. For example, a pH of 2 is ten times more acidic than a pH of 3 and one hundred times more acidic than a pH of 4.

The pH of your aquarium water is influenced by a variety of factors, including the amount of carbon dioxide and fish waste in the water. In general, the beginner’s aquarium pH should be between 6.5 and 7.5. Commercial test kits that are very simple to use are available at most aquarium supply stores. The pH level in your tank should be monitored every week or two to detect any changes. An abrupt drop in pH may be indicative of an increase in carbon dioxide or fish wastes. An increase in aeration or a partial water change may alleviate the problem.

There are ways to chemically alter the pH in an aquarium. However, unless you are attempting to attain specific pH levels that are dictated by the special needs of certain species of fishes, I do not recommend that you use them.