Aquarium guide
Aquarium guide     

  
 
PH VALUES
 

PH VALUES

As sea water is salty, its pH is therefore higher than that of fresh water. Pure sea water in the middle of the ocean has a pH of 8.3- Near the coasts, this drops to about 8 or a little less, as its dilution with fresh water lowers the salt content. The pH of sea water in an aquarium must vary between 8 and 8.5; beyond these values, animals will experience certain physiological problems.

Variations in pH in a marine aquarium

Sea water contains a great deal of calcium carbonate and bicarbonate, and there are only slight variations in pH in a natural setting.

It is a different matter in an aquarium, a restricted habitat operating as a closed cycle. The pH must not fall below 8, but a slow and regular decrease in this parameter may be seen. Why? The water in an aquarium sometimes contains too much carbon dioxide, which has a tendency to lower the pH.

What can you do? The first step is to measure the CH:

  • if it is under 7.2°CH, add calcium or replace some of the water. This situation is, however, fairly rare in an aquarium without corals, solely occupied by fish;
  • if it is over 7.2°CH, there is an excess of carbon dioxide. Stirring of the water must therefore be increased by using diffusers or an electric pump.

<< THE CH THE NITROGEN CYCLE >>
© 2007-2024 aquaguide.net
ЛЕОНИДОВ Иван Ильич (1902-59) , российский архитектор. Представитель конструктивизма, разрабатывал формы, отвечающие социальным задачам архитектуры (неосуществленные проекты Института библиотековедения им. Ленина, 1927, дома Центросоюза, 1928, - в Москве; поселка нового типа при Магнитогорском горно-металлургическом комбинате, 1930).