I have been keeping track of my amoina levels in my tank and they are perfect. How do I test the ph level and what exactly does that mean? (I know kinda a dumb question)
2006-12-13 07:27:42 · 5 answers · asked by T 4 in Pets ➔ Fish
pH stands for potential of Hydrogen... which basically means the level of acidity or alkalinity of the water.
pH goes from 1-14, 1-6 being acid, 7 being neutral, and 8-14 being alkaline.
You can buy test strips, but I prefer liquid testing kits. They are readily available most petstores.
Different fish require different pH levels. However, most fish can adapt fairly easily to most pH levels so long as extremes, and fluctuations, are avoided (for example, a fish that is supposed to be in 6.5pH, is better off in a pH that is 7.5, than a pH that is fluctuates from 6.5 to 7.0). Most commonly available fish are highly adaptable, but some fish have specific requirements.
African cichlids, for example, usually requre a high pH. South American cichlids like discus and angelfish tend to do better in a low pH.
FYI, it's almost impossible to lower pH. You can try filtering it through peatmoss, but it can be messy. Increasing pH is easy, 1tsp of baking sode per 5 gallons usually does the trick.
pH and water hardness (GH) and carbonate hardness (kH) are related. It is best to tell for all 3. General hardness is all about the minerals in the water. High pH is usually hard water, and low pH is usually soft water. Low kH is usually associated with low pH. High kH is what makes high pH so difficult to bring down, kH is your buffering capacity. You can use a product like pH-Down to bring down the pH, but in a day it will go right back to where it was because of the buffering capacity.
Hope that clears it up :)
2006-12-13 07:38:26 · answer #1 · answered by Zoe 6 · 3⤊ 1⤋
PH measure the Acid or phosphate levels in your water. You need to be close to neutral ( 7 on the scale) The bromythyol blue is what is used to test it. PH test kits are inexpensive and available at most pet stores and WalMart for a couple of bucks--Good Luck
2006-12-13 08:32:09 · answer #2 · answered by punxsyparty 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
To test ph you use a ph test kit. They are availible at most every pet store that deals in fish supplies. Ph is a messure of the acid in your fish tank water. Different fish preffer different PH's. Mainly you test it to make sure that its stable. MOST fish will adapt to a different ph as long as it stays stable.
Ussually you'll see a rang from 6.5 to 8.2
2006-12-13 07:31:24 · answer #3 · answered by GuZZiZZit 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
if you remember or are in school... in science class you did a test on if some liquids are acidic or basic...
like lemon juice is really acidic and it scores a 2 on the pH scale..
and baking soda is basic and it scores a 9 on the pH scale...
so that's PH...
most fish can stand a PH of 6.5-7.8.. 7 is neutral.
anything lower or Higher is iffy..
some fish prefers it high.. and some low.. you'd have to do research on that.
2006-12-13 07:36:02 · answer #4 · answered by professorminh 4 · 0⤊ 1⤋
it means
amount of hydrogen in your tank!
2006-12-16 11:37:36 · answer #5 · answered by Chris 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋