Mike19

Hello and Happy New Year to all,

I have created this thread with the purpose of finding an answer or answers between the relationship of pH, NH3, NH4 (ammonia and Ammonium).

It can be said that PH goes hand in hand with the levels of NH3 and NH4. From what research i have done and experienced, We know that Ammonia is more toxic then Ammonium. A PH below 6 will create ammonium and a PH above will create Ammonia ( the higher the PH the more Ammonia exposed).

That being said, Will controlling the PH level at the lowest (safest) level for the fish aid in keeping the fish exposed to a lower amount Ammonia. or is this a myth.


Once the tank is cycled it should be at zero anyway, with regular weekly water changes, I just created this thread to see the views of others about the topic. Lets assume for the purpose of this discussion that the tank is not completely cycled and the PH levels are high, with NH3 in the tank.

Angela_96

While your tank is cycling your ph will be unstable. There should be a good spike of ammonia and nitrites without that and it sloping back to -0- you are not cycled.

It is true that the different ph levels the ammonia is more toxic.

When your tank is cycled you should continue testing the water especially after you ad your fish to keep them from being exposed to nitrites and ammonia.

Mike19

Ok, then it completely missed my mind that everything would be unstable, NYE, you cant blame me lol, Assume fully cycled tank then. Lower PH better or adjust them to whatever is in the tank?, usually it is said to adjust as playing with chemicals, can be harmful if you don't know what your doing.

I just let them adjust although i still test the PH, just in case its extremely High for some odd reason, weekly water changes seem to be managing ph Fine, water has a PH of about 7

**Not sure if you all have celebrated NYE yet

Angela_96

Buffers for ph are actually not a good idea. The changes they make are only temporary. Depending on the type of fish you have most will adjust to whatever ph your water is. There are ways to lower it if you have fish requiring 6.8-7.2 ph using mopani wood, peat is a more stable form of lowering the ph.

I have african cichilds so I have to keep crushed coral and limestone to keep the ph/hardness up.

sjlchgo

I agree with this. I live in Chicago and the water from the tap is 7.4-7.6. As for my South American Cichlids I don't "chase the PH"....I leave it as is and they get along just fine. They bred several times and the fry have done fine. As for the previous poster I do keep "buffering agents"(Holey rock and crushed coral) in the tank to raise the ph but that does not inlvolve chemically treating the water and the instablility that that route offers.