Maintaining proper acidity levels in water in a fish tank is a must. Your pet fish needs just the right amount to survive and live healthily. Unstable levels of acidity, whether too high or too low, may bring harm to your pet fish. It may cause illness, or even death, to your beloved pet.
Ph is the unit used to measure acidity in whatever objects. Ph is the amount of oxygen per substance, and the measurement is ranged from 1 to 14. The neutral value is measured at 7, the higher the value, the less acidity it has, the lower the value, the higher the acidity.
Ph level is closely connected to water hardness. Water hardness is the accumulation of minerals such as calcium and magnesium, to the fish tank water. Acidic water is soft water and has a low ph, and few minerals. One way to increase minerals, therefore, is to lower the acidity levels of fish tank water, in short, to raise the ph.
There are several ways of raising ph level in fish tank water to increase water hardness and the availability of minerals in the water. You can put some décor rich in minerals. Or you can put some substances that will quickly alter the chemical composition of fish tank water and will quickly turn acidic water fit for your pet fish. One quick method is to put baking soda in the fish tank.
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Properties of baking soda
Baking soda is a white, powdery crystal that easily dissolves in water. Known scientifically as sodium bicarbonate, it is rich in carbon and has alkaline properties, which are best in neutralizing acid.
Adding baking soda will increase the alkalinity of the fish tank water. It will increase the minerals and will help in achieving the desired water hardness appropriate for the fish tank. Just like anything else, however, there is a proper way of adding baking soda to your fish tank water. It must be done carefully, so as not to alter drastically the chemical composition of fish tank water.
Raise PH in fish tank using baking soda
To increase the ph in the fish tank, put in some baking soda. It must be, however, in the right proportions. Putting too much may suddenly alter the fish tank water, and it may cause illness or even death to your fish.
Preparing the solution
The ideal proportion of baking soda to your fish tank water is one teaspoon per five gallons, make sure that the amount and proportion of the baking soda to the fish tank water are commensurate to the overall size of the fish tank. You also have to dissolve first the baking soda into the water before putting it into the fish tank.
Administering the solution
Administer the baking soda solution, slowly. Baking soda quickly reacts in water, so administer it slowly. Doing it very quickly will suddenly alter the chemical composition of water, which may eventually kill your fish. Your pet fish needs to adjust to the change in the water. Putting baking soda gradually will help the fish to adjust to the new water conditions in the fish tank.
To raise the ph levels of your fish tank, you need to apply the baking soda solution, gradually but more constantly. The water might return to its previous acidic levels, so you must do it constantly.
You cannot do it once and then suddenly stop doing it. It will not work. You have to do it constantly.
And do it constantly, until you have raised the fish tank water to the desired ph level. Once you have reached the desired level, you can adjust water hardness to its right, ideal appropriate level.
Once proper water hardness and ideal ph level are attained, you can be sure that your pet fish will live robustly and healthily in your fish tank.
Since the baking soda itself has minerals, you must always be aware of the proper balance of minerals and acidity or base in your fish tank. Be sure that you always measure both the water hardness and the acidity of your fish tank water. Remember, too much water hardness and alkalinity are also bad for your pet fish’s health. Be sure to maintain proper balance.
Maintaining proper Ph level
Once your fish tank attained the proper alkalinity and you have raised the ph to the right, ideal level using baking soda, be sure that you maintain it just that. Putting other materials, decorations, or items with too much mineral, coupled with the use of baking soda, may alter drastically the ph level of your fish tank water, to the undesired levels.
Once you apply baking soda, therefore, you must always be on alert and must be aware of the quick, noticeable changes in the alkalinity of fish tank water, as well as water hardness. Since you apply the baking soda solution gradually but constantly, you always have to measure it, so that it will not reach levels far too high. Quite taxing, but certainly worth it.
Conclusion
There are a lot of ways to increase and raise ph levels, reduce acidity and increase water hardness for the benefits of your pet fish. Some are easy, some are quite meticulous and taxing. Some are also expensive.
To raise ph in a fish tank water using baking soda, however, is one of the most effective ways to do so. It is easy to do, economical, and cheap, does not need expertise, not that meticulous, All that you need is water, and of course, baking soda, a material so common available almost anywhere, everywhere, anytime.
A bit time-consuming perhaps, because you have to do it gradually and constantly. You have to be alert, and on guard, especially in measuring the acidity levels of your fish tank. Overall, however, doing these steps is not that difficult. Compared to other methods of raising ph in your fish tank, the use of baking soda is one of the cheapest and easiest for fish-keeping advocates.