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Understanding pH and Acid in your Saltwater Aquarium
What is pH and Acid and how are they related?
The pH (Power of Hydrogen) is the measuring unit of acidity or alkalinity on the water namely our saltwater aquarium. The degree of acidity or alkalinity is determined by the quantity of acids and bases in the water. The scale for pH ranges from 0 to 14.
If theres a equal balance of both acidity and alkalinity in the water it is considered to be neutral or scale of 7. Where as a high acidic water will have a reading of 1 comparied to a alkaline which would read 14. As the pH scale is logarithmic a slight chnace in the H number is infact a large change in reality.
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Saltwater and our saltwater aquarium has a high pH value typically 8.2, thereofre our aim for our aquarium is to stay within the range of 8.1 to 8.3. A low pH in the saltwater aquarium is dangerous as it results in excess toxic ammonia, therefore its very important to maintain the correct pH level.
When pH fluctuates
The pH in your saltwater aquarium is affected by the carbon dioxide and fish waste. To much will cause the waters pH to drop. A quick fact is that during nitrogen cycle, acid is produced and alters the pH in your saltwater aquarium. It is always good to have a pH test kit in handy. This is important when monitoring the quality of your aquarium water. It is also pretty simple and easy to use. Try monitoring the pH and acid level every week to detect any changes.
When you experience a large drop in your pH level that will indicate theres an increase in carbon dioxide or the nitrogenous fish wastes. Two solutions could be to aerate the saltwater aqaurium or partial saltwater change. This will help in keeping the normal pH level.
There are two ways on maintaining pH level in its normal saltwater range.
First the saltwater itself has buffering capacity. It is the ability of a solution to resist changes in pH.
It is capable of maintaining the correct pH in spite of all the activities going on in your saltwater aquarium.
Second is it will take care of itself as long as the rules on feeding, stocking saltwater fish and other invertebrates and water changes are followed.
There are a lot of commercial salt mixes that contains buffers. It keeps the pH from falling. But overtime, the buffering capacity of your water will decrease and carbon dioxide or waste build-up will cause the pH to drop.
So what are the solutions?
Routine water changes will maintain your pH and acid at desirable levels. But if it still falls out of the acceptable range, solving it by following the guideline.
- Use a commercially manufacture aquarium buffer. Be sure to follow the manufacturer’s instructions carefully.
- Add a solution of calcium hydroxide. It is commonly called kalkwasser or limewater. It helps boost calcium level so ph also increases.
Complete guide to saltwater aquarium maintenance and care
Recommended Water Testing Kits by Saltwater Aquarium Guide
Text and Photo Source: Saltwater Aquarium Online Guide
Feeding Saltwater Fish
Feeding saltwater fish should be done 2 times a day and feed only what they can consume in 2 to5 minutes and not more, and where possible stick to a schedule, this will ensure your fish are happy and healthy.
If theres still uneaten food on the surface remove it with a siphon or a net.
This will stop the saltwater parameters from being affected which then will affect the health of your fish.
Try to understand your fish dietary needs. Proper saltwater fish nutrition is important for their health and well being. Like humans the fishes basic nutrients: protein, carbohydrates, vitamins and minerals.
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Choose the food that is right for your saltwater fish. Try using a combination of flake, frozen and fresh foods if you can.
Remmebr to feed your fish while your are on vacation, so get a friend to help or invest in an automatic feeder which will take the guess ou of feeding.
Complete guide to saltwater aquarium maintenance and care
Text and Photo Source: Saltwater Aquarium Online Guide
Cleaning Algae in Your Saltwater Aquarium
Cleaning algae in your saltwater aquarium should be part of your routine maintenance and care.
Algae are not really a bad thing, but most aquarims are far better without too much of it. To better understand, here is why algae exists and how you can manage it to avoid problems.
Nitrate, phosphate, carbon dioxide and dissolved organic matter are substances that accumulate in your saltwater aquarium providing the fuel for the algae to grow.
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Nitrate is the first source of life for algae and is actively available in the nitrogen cycle in your tank when you are setting it up.
Phosphate will be present in your saltwater when you conduct a partial water change. Excess food that your fish did not eat will also be present. You cannot avoid phosphate but you can control it.
Carbon dioxide will always be present whether you like it or not.
Then the last component comes from the dissolved organic matter. Installing a protein skimmer will help in this algae control.
Excessive amount of these nutrients leads to algae outbreaks in your saltwater aquarium. It also needs light to thrive so avoid direct sunlight.
There is really no single simple maintenance technique on how you can avoid algae growth. But knowing which ones and how much are good will help.
More information about algae and types of algae can be found here.
Complete guide to saltwater aquarium maintenance and care
Text and Photo Source: Saltwater Aquarium Online Guide
Aeration and Circulation
Aeration is the process of adding oxgyen or more techincal diffusing oxygen into the water, which fish and invertebrates need to survive.
Circulation is the transporting of the oxygenated water around the saltwater aquarium, but circulation does more than just transport oxygen:
- Sweeps away wastes
- Delivers food
- Helps the animals’ own internal circulation
- distribute the temperature
They cant work alone and must work as a system without one the saltwater aquarium will not function well.
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Aquarium heaters will only efficient of there is a good circulation of water in the tank, its pointless to heat one corner of the saltwater aquarium and not the whole tank.
Generally most types of saltwater aquarium filteration sytems in some form will aerate the water.
For example, the aquarium undergravel filter with powerheads provides circulation and aeration. Also the input piping of from a canister filter or trickle filters provides some sort of circulation and aeration.
Live rock however doesn’t provide circulation or aeration but provides excellent filtration.
In fact, circulation and aeration is needed to keep live rock healthy and to maximize biological filtration.
Complete guide to saltwater aquarium maintenance and care
Text and Photo Source: Saltwater Aquarium Online Guide
Changing your Saltwater Aquarium Water
The changing your saltwater aquariums water is one of the most important aspects of your care and maintainence.
When waste products accumulates in your saltwater aquarium, the quality of water changes too. Problems will occur and the only way to solve it is to physically changing the water.
This will remove the wastes from within the water and bring back the valuable trace elements your saltwater need for your fish to survive.
How much and how often is correct?
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There is no set in stone rules to how often and how much, so heres some recommendations and information that can help you run your own system and routine that works best for you and your saltwater aquarium.
Performing 20-30% of water volume per month is the common maintenance recommendation. But normally 15-20% water change is enough. It is better to perform 10-15% of water volume twice a month rather than 20-30% at one time.
Changing the water more frequently with smaller amounts is more effective. Changing the water can also prevent potential poisoning or over exposure to medication, additives and other chemicals you put on your saltwater aquarium. It also helps in stability of pH balance.
Siphoning Water
The best maintanence method while chnaging your water is too vacuuming the gravel at the same time. Use a gravel cleaner as you siphon aquarium water using the correct method, this will help to remove wastes and uneaten food from the bottom of the tank.
Proper siphon equipment is designed to remove water and debris without stressing your fish and no aggressive water being drawn from the aquarium. The gravel in your saltwater aquarium is suctioned up and then tumbled back down. Debris and waste materials are loosened during this process and are siphoned away keeping your tank looking physically clean. Siphon process maintenance may not be possible in tanks with sand substrate. The surface gravel should be stirred during every partial water change for these reasons:
- If you have an undergravel filter, stirring breaks up impacted areas in the filter bed where water flow cannot really pass through.
- Stirring puts detritus into suspension where it can be siphoned out with the old water.
Adding Water into your Saltwater Aquarium
The water replacement for your saltwater aquarium must be dechlorinated and mixed before you refill the saltwater in your aquarium. Or you can get a premixed and conditioned saltwater from your local aquarium store. Check the temperature of the water before pouring into the aquarium. Aim to match the actual temperature of the aquarium or slightly higher.
Pour the water sowly into the auarium as not to stress or scare the fish, once you have completed the pur, add a quality water dechlorinator/conditioner to the aquarium.
Using water conditioner called water conditioning after each and every water change can help remove chlorine and chloramines that are present in most municipal water. Water out of your tap is usually loaded with chlorine, chloramines, heavy metals, phosphates and other ions. Many of these compounds will harm you fish, so they need to be removed from the water.
Another time we need water is when evaporation has occurred. Depending on the amount of aeration and circulation that you have. When water evaporates salt is left behind and this will increase the salinity and specific gravity of the water. The solution is simple add freshwater, it must be conditioned water and not premixed saltwater. But if the evaporaton is little then botttled water will be fine, use distilled water as it has no mineralsadditives and toxic compounds
Complete guide to saltwater aquarium maintenance and care
Text and Photo Source: Saltwater Aquarium Online Guide
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