How to Test Aquarium Water pH

Aquarium water should be tested regularly if you want your tank to thrive. Fish are lost everyday due to the neglect of fish keepers. Some think that the test kits are too expensive or too time consuming, but both of these are putting the lives of tiny fish in danger. Here is how to test you water's pH levels.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

1. Know the pH levels of the fish's water where they previously resided. Ask the attendant at the fish store or ask the fish expert where you purchased your fish. Determine the shop's pH and keep your tank's pH levels the same.

2. Buy a pH test from the fish store. Popular pH test kits include the Instant Ocean test kit, Marine pH & Alkalinity Multi Test Kit or High pH & Alkalinity Test Kit. The test kit costs about $10 and has anywhere from 30 to 75 tests per kit.

3. Check the pH once a month, especially when there is a sick fish, or when there is a deceased fish.

4. Check the KH, or carbonate hardness, of the water if you have rapid changes in the pH levels frequently. A KH test can be purchased at the fish store and often times in a combined kit with pH kits. Purchase buffering compounds to stabilize pH levels due to KH issues.

5. Follow the directions provided with the kits. Line up the color with the color change chart and read the results. The kits are fast and accurate and can save fish lives.

Tips & Warnings

• Let water from the tap sit overnight in a new tank before testing the pH levels. Gases in the water can alter accurate test results.
• A 0.2 change in water pH can harm the fish.

[ficxit]

on 3/30/2008 Thanks! Just what I was looking for!