To keep your aquarium’s water safe for your fish, you need to regularly check four things: ammonia, nitrites, nitrates, and pH levels.
Testing these four things will make sure the water isn’t toxic to your fish. If the levels of these are too high or too low, your fish may get sick.
So, you need to keep these levels just right for your fish’s health.
Regular Water Changes
Regularly changing the water in your fish tank helps to keep the levels of harmful substances like ammonia and nitrate low.
This process also gets rid of waste while bringing in required elements that the water may have lost over time.
If you change your fish tank water often, your fish will be healthier, live longer, and look more colorful.
It also boosts their ability to resist diseases and keeps your filtration system in good shape.
Wondering how much water to replace? Usually around 15% of the tank water can be changed each week. However, some fish owners might suggest figures within the 10% to 20% range per week.
It might sound like a lot of work, but it’s not. You can use a special hose called a Python to remove and add water.
You could also use a bucket to do this. There are even services that will come to your home and do it for you if you’re willing to pay.
Be careful not to strain yourself lifting heavy buckets of water, especially if you have health issues.
You could ask for help. If you neglect to change the water each week, the nitrate level could rise and become fatal for your fish.
Regular water changes are the most effective way to control nitrate levels.
Over time, the pH level in your aquarium can drop due to acid buildup. Changing the water helps to prevent this problem.
Water pH
The pH level of your fish tank water tells you if your water is more like vinegar (acidic), more like baking soda (alkaline), or right in the middle (neutral).
The pH scale ranges from 0 (very acidic) to 14 (very alkaline), with 7 being neutral.
You can use a pH testing system to find out the pH level of your water. It’s important to check this regularly because fish need a certain pH level to stay healthy.
3 Types of pH Test Systems
When you start a new aquarium, a pH test kit is crucial. You can get one easily from any pet store.
These kits are easy to use, and are specifically designed for testing aquarium water. There are different types of kits available.
One type comes with a color card, a plastic tube, and chemicals to adjust the pH level.
You fill the tube with your aquarium water, add some of the provided chemical, and then match the color of the water to the color card to determine the pH level. This can be tricky if you have trouble distinguishing colors.
Another type of kit uses litmus paper strips. You simply dip the strip into your aquarium, and it changes color based on the pH level.
There are also electronic systems. These use probes attached to a machine which you place in the water to get a digital pH reading.
The type of kit you choose will depend on your budget and preference. For easy reading, the electronic kits with digital output are a good choice.
Remember, household water testing kits should be avoided as they are not suitable for aquarium conditions, and can also be expensive and hard to find.
Why Should You Check pH on A Regular Basis?
Checking the pH level of your aquarium is crucial for the health of your fish. When you first set up your tank, test the water’s pH level and continue to do so weekly once the nitrogen cycle is complete.
The ideal pH level varies depending on the species of fish. Some prefer alkaline waters, others acidic, and some neutral.
In freshwater systems, pH levels can change rapidly. Even small changes can stress your fish and increase their vulnerability to diseases. Thus, regular monitoring is essential.
Acidity and alkalinity are two key terms in pH level monitoring.
If the water is too acidic (low pH), you can increase the pH by adding sodium bicarbonate (baking soda) or doing water changes to remove organic buildup that lowers pH.
If the water is too alkaline (high pH), you can reduce the pH by adding sodium biphosphate or de-mineralized water.
Remember, a pH of 5 is ten times more acidic than a pH of 6. These small numbers can significantly affect your water’s chemistry.
When buying fish, ensure their pH requirements are compatible. Any sudden change in pH level can shock your fish and could be fatal.
Also, keep in mind that ammonia is more toxic in a system with a higher pH.
Water Hardness (dH)
The hardness of water, also known as degrees of hardness (dH), refers to how many mineral salts, like magnesium and calcium, are in your water.
The more minerals, the harder the water. If your water is super hard (150+ dH) or very soft (0–4 dH), you might need to take action. You can check this with a test kit from a pet shop.
The hardness of the water is important for keeping fish. Some fish like harder water, some don’t. Putting a fish in the wrong type of water can make it sick or even be fatal for it.
You can make your water less hard by adding rain or distilled water, or by boiling it. Both methods also lower the pH levels.
Very hard water usually has a high pH. You can also use a special machine to soften your water, but they can be pricey and wasteful.
Alternatively, you can use a water softener or add boiled peat moss to your filter. To make the water harder, you can add a little bit of sodium bicarbonate and keep an eye on the changes.
