How Do You Raise Ph Levels In Aquarium Water?
The pH of an aquarium is measures on a scale from 0 to 14. On this scale, 0 is acidic, 7 is neutral, and 14 is alkaline. Depending on the species being kept or the ecosystem being re-created, freshwater tanks generally run close to neutral, while saltwater needs to be slightly more alkaline. Ocean water has a pH between 8 and 8.4, depending on the location. Keeping a consistent and appropriate pH in your fish tank is more important than achieving an exact pH. However, if your aquarium runs too acidic, there are steps you can take to raise your alkalinity. Perform water changes. You can change up to 30 percent of your water volume at one time, vacuuming your substrate well. For a freshwater aquarium, use dechlorinated tap water instead of R.O. (reverse osmosis) or distilled water, since tap water has a more alkaline pH. Raise your tank’s “buffering capacity.” Buffering capacity refers to your aquarium’s ability to maintain a stable pH. This is accomplished by making sure your filters ar