About pH And Your Water

Ph is an ongoing concern for reef keepers and aquarists. Typicaly it is a concern more focused towards reef tanks because fish tanks can tollerate a larger flux in Ph levels before causing irreversible damage. In contrast a reef environment must maintane a constant Ph level in order to sustain life. The best Ph level in a reef tank ranges between 7.6 and 8.4 and best suited to the higher side of that range. The normal behavior of Ph in a saltwater tank tends to be on the acidic side (low) Here are some reasons for this.

1)Nitrification
2)Too much carbon dioxide
3)Natural acids created by metabolic waste

Sea water contains natural buffers like bicarbonate, borate, hydroxide and others that restrict any drop in Ph levels. One easy fix for a drop in Ph that is often used is baking soda which contains bicarbonates. Another dreaded method is to do a water change, this should replenish the natural buffers and minerals in your tank. One big reason for a drop in Ph is left over food and fish excrement so removing these things from time to time could be of some benefit.

About Nitrates

Nitrates are introduced to the reef environment in different ways. One way is that many municipalities have had to resort to adding ammonia to the water supply in order to increase stand time for chlorine disinfection.

Nitrates are a direct result of the nitrification process of ammonia which in itself is a terrible chemical when exposed to marine life. Ammonia will break down in time.

The first step in this break down is nitrites. Nitrites are not nearly as toxic as ammonia but they are still toxic! Levels of nitrites present in the environment as low as 0.5 ppm will cause stress on marine life! Levels of nitrates from 10 ppm and up can become lethal if left untreated. The last phase of the ammonia breakdown is nitrates, the direct result of nitrates for fish is a much harder time acclimating to its envirnment. This stress causes fish to become ill and have a very difficult time recovering from injury and breeding is highly unlikely.

If you are having a hard time controlling algea in your tank high levels of nitrates are very likely to be present. Keeping nitrate levels lower than 10 ppm will prove to be an effective method for controlling algea breakouts.

About Phosphates

Phosphorus is usually present in natural waters as phosphate. Organic phosphate is a part of living plants and animals. Phosphorus is an essential element for plant growth, and a fundamental element in the metabolic reactions of plants and animals. In most waters, phosphorus functions as a growth limiting factor because it is usually present in very low concentrations. Any unattached or free phosphorus, in the form of inorganic phosphates, is rapidly taken up by algae and larger aquatic plants. Because algae only require small amounts of phosphorus to live excess phosphorus causes extensive algae growth called blooms. Algae blooms are a classic symptom of high phosphates in the aquarium.