how important is it to check the ph level in your tank?

Question

if it is important, what is the easiest way to do it

Answer 1

It is important to test it, in order to know what the pH is and whether the pH is fluctuating. But, it is important NOT to change the pH. You want to maintain the same pH without any changes, as changes in the pH will kill your fish. As long as your pH is stable between 6.8 and 7.6 you should be okay. The pH can be as low as 6.4 for fish that prefer soft water, and as high as 8.0 for brackish water fish like mollies, but most aquarium fish are okay with any levels in that range as long as the level stays stable.

Using chemical pH adjusters that you buy at the pet store can do more harm than good because they often don't buffer the new pH which can cause swings in the pH that will kill the fish. If you do need to adjust the pH, I suggest you add crushed coral and a very small amount of pH raiser to raise the pH, or a small amount of driftwood or peat to lower the pH. If you find the pH of the water you need to add is high, but it drops when it is added to your aquarium, you can add some crushed coral to buffer the pH so that it won't drop. Most importantly, if you have to mess with your pH, be sure that any changes in the pH happen very very slowly.

Answer 2

Checking the PH before setting up a tank is a good idea so you know what you're dealing with, and the chances are your tap water falls into the range acceptable for most fish. You only have to continue to check it if you end up manually trying to adjust the PH - something best avoided because it tends to create instability in the tank, especially if you go with store-bought chemicals to do it. Playing chemist compicates things, and more complication means more to go wrong.

To test it, just purchase a simple testing kit from a local fish store (support the independents, not evil establishments like walmart)

Answer 3

Ann is right on with her answer. The best way to maintain the pH at a constant level in your tank is to do regular (weekly) partial (25-30%) water changes. This will keep the levels of ammonia, nitrites and nitrates down to levels that are not toxic to your fish.

The addition of fresh water will also add natural buffers that will stabilize the pH in your tank.

Ammonia is the #1 killer of tropical fish and the #1 reason it is, is because people don't do there water changes every week. I have 24 tanks and do water changes every week on all of them. One crowded one gets water changed every 4 days along with the fry tanks (babies).

Answer 4

pretty important and its really simple

go to your nearest pet store and buy a ph set

most come in a little box and cost under 5 bucks and last a year or even more

its important because if \ your water is to acidic or too basic then your fish could be in BIG trouble... if the ph of your water is not good then there are also kits to help with that

Answer 5

Actually checking pH levels aren't very important unless you have soft water. The higher the alkalinity (aka carbonate hardness or kH) the harder it is for the pH to change. I generally tell people to check their pH, and kH then buy fish that fit with their water chemistry. (See a site like http://liveaquaria.com) Even if your pH changes most fish can take a gradual change.

What kills most fish is ammonia, nitrites and nitrates. (Which can cause rapid pH shifts in addition to being toxic.) You need to monitor ammonia, and nitrites when you are cycling your tank, and then continue to monitor nitrate level once your have a good biological filter established.

Answer 6

it is fairly important.... the easiest way is to go to the pet store and get a kit. It usually comes with testers and other things to fix the pH

Answer 7

it,s critical. get some test strips from your Walmart and keep the ph alkalinity and chlorine levels correct or no fish will be your results their are chemicals available to adjust these levels that can be bought in pet stores