| The pH level of the water in your freshwater | | | | If you start seeing changes like sick fish, or if |
| aquarium could very well be the most important | | | | you've used medication, then test again. |
| condition to consider in your tank. It could be the | | | | Even when adding new fish, test your water, and |
| difference between healthy and unhealthy fish. | | | | test the water that the new fish have arrived in. |
| The normal pH of water is neutral, which is 7.0. | | | | You don't want the water that the new fish |
| But freshwater fish don't live strictly in neutral | | | | came in to be that much different from the |
| water. Their range in the wild can be from 5.5 to | | | | water that they will be put in.pH also changes |
| 7.5, depending on the particular species of fish. | | | | during the course of the day. It can drop at night, |
| When you combine different kinds of freshwater | | | | and it can rise during the daytime. Remember to |
| fish, it is probably best to go with the average pH | | | | check your pH at about the same time of day. |
| range of your fish. You can look up what pH your | | | | Keep a log of the pH so that you'll have some |
| fish prefer on the internet. Or your pH test kit will | | | | record to compare the pH level to. |
| be able to give you guidelines, too. But keeping | | | | When pH changes, it can affect the toxicity in |
| the pH between 5.5 to 7.5 will work the best.pH | | | | your water and change levels of other things like |
| never stays the same (unfortunately) because | | | | ammonia. Some fish like neon tetras are very |
| the conditions in your aquarium never stay the | | | | sensitive to sudden changes in pH, and don't like |
| same. There will always be new fish added, more | | | | to be moved. |
| waste on some days, or water changes. These | | | | The question that's always asked is whether the |
| will all change the pH of your water. | | | | pH of the tank should be changed if it tests |
| So the answer to good health in your aquarium is | | | | different than the test kit shows is in a healthy |
| to test. When you have an established tank, once | | | | range. I say don't jump to making a change unless |
| a month or even every other week is fine. But if | | | | you start to see other signs of fish stress, etc. |
| you have a new aquarium, you'll need to test | | | | Or perhaps you see a steady change in the pH, a |
| every few days, especially initially. There are | | | | rise or drop. Then you probably want to address |
| many pH test kits on the market today, in all | | | | the issue. To keep your pH more stable, the best |
| price ranges. See your local fish store for | | | | things you can do is to vacuum the gravel and do |
| recommendations on their favorites. | | | | your weekly partial water changes. The cleanness |
| After your tank is more established, you can test | | | | of your water will make all the difference in the |
| every week, and after a while, every two weeks. | | | | world. |