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Fish and other aquatic animal and plant life require the water they live in to be a certain pH level in order to be healthy. If the pH level is too low or too high, it can make fish sick, even kill them. A low pH means that the water is acidic; a high pH means that the water is alkaline.
The pH of soil is important to the growth of plants. Soil pH determines how acidic or alkaline your soil is. The pH scale starts at 0 and ends at 14. Soils with a pH reading above 7 are more alkaline, while soils below 7 are more acidic. Nutrients in soils with a high or low pH are less available to plants. Highly alkaline soils can be amended using sulfur to lower the pH, making them more acidic.
In chemistry, pH is the logarithm of the concentration of hydrogen ions in water solutions. The pH continuous scale ranges from 0 to 14 and defines acidity level of the solution. When pH is below 7 the solution is acidic, while higher than 7 pH values correspond to a basic media. HCl is the chemical formula of hydrochloric acid. This acid is a common reagent used in laboratory work and allows you to quickly decrease solution pH.
Ponds, home to numerous varieties of aquatic animals and plant life, depend on a set of interacting factors to maintain a good environment. One element that can easily become upset by both natural and man-made influences is the pH balance of the water. A healthy pond requires a fairly narrow range of pH levels. A pH level that has fallen out of balance can have adverse effects on the pond.
Fish ponds and aquariums need constant monitoring of the water quality, including the pH. The pH of the water refers to how acidic (low pH) or alkaline (high pH) the water is. Some fish are quite tolerant of various pH levels, while others may die if the pH is not in the correct range for the species. A basic test kit to have on hand for any fish owners is a pH test kit.
The pH is a scale that measures the acidity or alkalinity of a given substance. Low pH means that something is acidic. High pH means it is alkaline. The scale ranges from 1 to 14, with 7 classed as neutral pH. According to the Southern Regional Aquaculture Center, pond pH should be between 6 and 9.