| An important part of maintaining an aquarium is | | | | calibrated close to your tank's average |
| keeping track of its pH levels. This amount | | | | temperature. |
| denotes the acidity or basicity of the tank water. | | | | Another method is by using a pH sensitive strip. |
| As an aquarist, it is important to know the | | | | This is readily available in most chemical stores |
| importance of tank water pH levels to the health | | | | and pharmacies. Most of these strips can only |
| of the whole aquarium itself. In fish only setups, | | | | measure in narrow ranges of pH, though. Make |
| pH levels may be of lesser importance as long as | | | | sure you get the range you need. |
| it does not fluctuate or drop below 7.8 but in reef | | | | Arguably, the most accurate way to measure pH |
| aquariums, it can be a make or break factor. | | | | is by titration. In this method, a base with known |
| The pH of a substance generally denotes the | | | | acidity is added to a sample until all acids are |
| capacity of hydrogen (H+) ions to react. Lower | | | | neutralized. The amount of base used will |
| pH readings mean greater concentrations of H+ in | | | | correspond to the amount of acids in the |
| a substance. This amount is often associated with | | | | substance and therefore, its acidity. |
| levels of hydronium (H3O+) ions in a substance. In | | | | Measuring pH levels should be done at least once |
| pH readings greater than 7, most of the H3O+ | | | | a day. If you sense something odd happening in |
| bond with hydroxyl (OH-) ions and there is an | | | | your aquarium, such as your fish gasping for air |
| excess in (OH-). | | | | more often, testing water pH together with other |
| In pure water at 22°C (72°F), | | | | tests will help you determine if there is a problem. |
| hydronium and hydroxyl ions exist in equal | | | | Especially in reef aquariums it is important to keep |
| quantities; each with a concentration of 1 x 10-7 | | | | track of the tank water's pH levels regularly. In a |
| moles/liter. | | | | saltwater fish only setup, acute pH changes are |
| In measuring pH levels 7 is the midpoint. | | | | sometimes more important than the pH levels |
| Substances with a pH of 7 are neutral. | | | | themselves. This is because saltwater fishes get |
| Substances with pH readings lower than 7 are | | | | stressed very fast in changing pH levels. In short, |
| acids with acidic strength increasing the lower the | | | | a stable pH 7.9, although low, could be better than |
| number. A pH reading greater than 7 indicates a | | | | an 8 changing to 8.2 in a matter of hours then |
| base, the opposite of acids. Bases react to acids | | | | back to 8.0. |
| to neutralize them. In the case of hydronium and | | | | Invertebrates and corals also abhor low pH levels. |
| hydroxyl, neutralization produces water (H3O+ + | | | | Invertebrates will often die when pH drop below |
| OH- => 2H2O). | | | | 8. They will also have problems making their |
| To measure the acidity or basicity of saltwater, | | | | exoskeletons in low pH. If nothing can be done to |
| you can use different methods. First off is by | | | | avert low pH in your tank, you should at least |
| using a pH meter. Unfortunately, pH meters are | | | | keep calcium concentrations from 400 to 500 |
| calibrated at a specific temperature and pH | | | | parts per million. |
| readings of a particular substance changes in | | | | In the oceans, pH levels rarely fluctuate. It is quite |
| accuracy the farther you get from the calibration | | | | stable in a level range of pH 8.0 to 8.3. It is |
| temperature. Most pH meters are calibrated at | | | | therefore ideal to keep pH levels of your |
| room temperatures but you can find pH meters | | | | saltwater aquarium within this range. |