PH is TO HIGH. Need HELP!
- Thread starter ANIMALHOUSE
- Start date
Measuring pH is worthless. You need to be measuring kh/gh. And like someone said-fish adjust fine to whatever kh your tap water is. They just NEED it to be consistant. Which it's not if you try messing with it.
kh is what fish 'feel', not the pH. Of course if you're adding pH upper or downer products they'll sure feel that. pH is mainly just a rough indicator because people associate pH with 'hard or soft' water. But the only real way to tell how hard or soft your water is, is to test kh.
TwistedPenguin;2155774; said:
Hmmm....I see, I always though if ya wanted to know how hard your water is you would test for general harness(GH). General harness is relative to the minerals such as calcium and magnesium.
My understanding is that Carbonate Hardness(KH) also known as alkalinity, has to do with the levels of carbonate and bicarbonate disolved in the water. A low Kh results in a weak buffering capacity resulting in very unstable pH. Whereas a high KH will make for a very stable pH, which is less likely to be affected by acidic properties of tannis, carbon dioxide or high amounts of biological filtration.
Me I'll keep being concerned about the pH levels of my tanks especially when adding new fish and during water changes.
Bderick67;2155658; said:
Finally someone with some good advice. You get two thumbs up 
It is shameful that it took three pages for one person to say this. Everyone else, you get a raspberry 
TwistedPenguin;2155774; said:
Ouch! Educated by the internet, I see. The alkalinity is a pH buffer. Fish certainly do 'feel' the pH if it is way out of wack. It is important to gill function and can trigger slime response.
Go get some vinegar, baking soda, and a pin or tack. Scratch yourself on the back of your hand (draw blood) and pour some vinegar (very low pH) on it. When you can't take it anymore, put some baking soda (raises the Alkalinity) on it. Then come back to tell us that the pH doesn't hurt. The baking soda will stop the pain from the low pH. Baking soda has been a bath soak for decades, but soaking in a vinegar bath will make you itch like crazy.
Another pH example that you may be familiar with is public swimming pools. People frequently blame red and dry itchy eyes on high chlorine, but it is really the pH that had been allowed to get out of range. High chlorine with a pH of 7.4 is undetectable to swimmers. Low or zero chlorine with high pH is very irritating.
ANIMALHOUSE;2155798; said:
With a test kit specifically for them. They are standard in a Reef Master Test Kit, but can be ordered individually online. They can be tested at your LFS or swimming pool store (if there is one near you).
).