PH in an aquarium (Hydrogen potential)

PH is important for a healthy environment in an aquarium

In nature, temperature and PH changes are slower due to the volume of water. In aquariums, the space being reduced these parameters are to be taken into account.
For this reason, we advise you to test these parameters at least once a week in order to maximize the well-being of your animals.

In general, fishes need a PH around 7 but it can vary with species coming from harder water (above 7) as for example in African waters or species coming from more acidic water (below 7) as for example in American waters.

To understand what your animals need, we advise you to follow our species of the day or search on Aquaportail.

Several possibilities can happen :

 

• You need harder water: Increase the aquarium’s stirring for gas exchange between the air in the room and the aquarium water and thus remove CO2 with O2.
  Also air your room for better gas exchange.
  Add more alkaline and harder water.
  Introduce calcareous materials (coral sand, shells…) which will allow to progressively increase the water hardness and PH.

 

• You need a more acidic water: First of all, you must know that the water in your aquarium has a buffering capacity called KH. It therefore has the capacity to absorb acids without changing the PH thanks to its content of carbonates and bicarbonates. We thus advise you to envisage a KH lower than 5 before any attempt to lower the PH. The best solution to lower the PH, it is necessary to add osmosis water at the right dosage.

You understood it to maintain a healthy environment for your marine species, the PH level is important to monitor. The change must not be radical at the risk of witnessing an osmotic shock. The environment in which fish live in their natural state is relatively stable with slow changes, we must adapt to do the same.

To test the PH of your aquarium :
– Freshwater
– Sea water