pH and phosphate questions

[myles]

Hi there, couple guestions iv had on my mind latly. 1) what negitivly effects the fish if the PH is off depending on the certaine fish? I kno if its extreamly low it can become very acidic and i guess thats is self explanitory, but what exacualy effects the fish negitivly when say its too high or low for a fish? I kno most fish have a pretty wide range of tolorance, but not all. So what happens exacualy? 2)What exacualy is phosphate? I herd it was a enzime that is created in the intestinal track and passed thorugh the fish's waste? is that it? anyone have any good links maby to explaine this? Thanks a million.
Myles

 

[Oddball]

Fish health and pH

Each species of fish has its own very narrow range of pH preference and levels outside of this range will cause health problems. For example, koi prefer a range between 7 and 8.5, while some tropical fish prefer water that is slightly acidic. There are several ways that pH can affect fish health

High acidity or alkalinity can cause direct physical damage to skin, gills and eyes. Prolonged exposure to sub-lethal pH levels can cause stress, increase mucus production and encourage epithelial hyperplasia (thickening of the skin or gill epithelia) with sometimes-fatal consequences.

Fish also have to maintain their own constant internal pH. Even small fluctuations of blood pH can prove fatal. Extreme external or water pH can influence and affect blood pH, resulting in either *acidosis or **alkalosis of the blood.

The other consideration is diurnal shifts in pH, mainly as a consequence of photosynthesis as explained above. Large, fluctuations ? even though they may still be within the preferred range ? are likely to be stressful and damaging to health.

Changes in pH will affect the toxicity of many dissolved compounds. For example, ammonia becomes more toxic as pH increases.

Variances in pH will also exert an effect on some common disease treatments, so it is important to take account of pH (and usually water hardness) when using treatments. For example, chloramine-T is more toxic in at low pH, while potassium permanganate is more dangerous at high pH.

*Metabolic acidosis may cause kidney failure.

**Alkalosis may cause the skin of fish to have a turbid, milky appearance. Other symptoms may include skin shedding or erosion, gill erosion, and fraying fins.

 

[myles]

thanks a bunch Oddball! u wouldnt have any links or any feedback on phosphate would you?

 

[Oddball]

Ortho-phosphates are the presence of the materialized form of any type of phosphate. Ortho-phosphates are created by the breakdown of simple and complex organic phosphates and are major contributors to the growth of algae. Phosphates in high levels not only lead to algae blooms, but have even been considered to have a much greater influence on algae growth than nitrates. Although phosphates generally aren't considered detrimental to the health of your fish, levels higher than 0.25mg/gal can lead to unsightly algae outbreaks.

Phosphate Sources

Phosphates are introduced into your aquarium in many ways, even your tap water may contain phosphates. Other sources of phosphate include, but are not limited to, pH and KH buffers, carbon, fish food (and overfeeding) and even salt. Phosphates can even be generated within your aquarium through a heavy fish load, dead plant matter, undigested fish food in waste and even the dieing off of algae (Some fast-growing plants are offered under the guise of "will eliminate excess phosphates". That is true IF the plants are frequently trimmed/thinned out to physically remove the phosphates they've absorbed).

 

[myles]

thanks alot buddy, thats exacualy what i wanted to know.

 

[DeLgAdO]

Fish health and pH

Each species of fish has its own very narrow range of pH preference and levels outside of this range will cause health problems. For example, koi prefer a range between 7 and 8.5, while some tropical fish prefer water that is slightly acidic. There are several ways that pH can affect fish health

High acidity or alkalinity can cause direct physical damage to skin, gills and eyes. Prolonged exposure to sub-lethal pH levels can cause stress, increase mucus production and encourage epithelial hyperplasia (thickening of the skin or gill epithelia) with sometimes-fatal consequences.

Fish also have to maintain their own constant internal pH. Even small fluctuations of blood pH can prove fatal. Extreme external or water pH can influence and affect blood pH, resulting in either *acidosis or **alkalosis of the blood.

The other consideration is diurnal shifts in pH, mainly as a consequence of photosynthesis as explained above. Large, fluctuations ? even though they may still be within the preferred range ? are likely to be stressful and damaging to health.

Changes in pH will affect the toxicity of many dissolved compounds. For example, ammonia becomes more toxic as pH increases.

Variances in pH will also exert an effect on some common disease treatments, so it is important to take account of pH (and usually water hardness) when using treatments. For example, chloramine-T is more toxic in at low pH, while potassium permanganate is more dangerous at high pH.

*Metabolic acidosis may cause kidney failure.

**Alkalosis may cause the skin of fish to have a turbid, milky appearance. Other symptoms may include skin shedding or erosion, gill erosion, and fraying fins.

ok........but how would that happen if most fish adapt to there water supply without any problems?

 

[Oddball]

ok........but how would that happen if most fish adapt to there water supply without any problems?

Adapt (read: tolerate to certain degrees) and Thrive are two distinctly separate ideologies. Sure people mix fish from different waters. Are the fish in the best environment possible? Most likely not. (IMO).

I've always matched the water chemistry to the areas the fish evolved in. But, to each his/her own.