As a long-time fish keeper, the issue of having the perfect pH for your aquarium and its inhabitants has been pretty much drilled into our heads for the longest time. “If you don’t have the perfect level of pH for your fish, then they won’t be happy or comfortable!.” Well, that sentiment might have been true if you kept tropical fish that are wild-caught. But the hobby has progressed so far that the majority (No all) fish that we keep in the hobby today are all aquarium bred and not wild-caught. But before we explore why a stable pH is more important than a perfect pH, let’s explore what exactly pH is and how it impacts your aquarium and fish.
What is pH exactly?
pH is a way of measuring whether aquarium water is acidic or basic (alkaline). It is measured on a scale of 0 to 14, with 0 to 7 considered acidic and 7 to 14 considered basic or alkaline. Certain aquatic fauna and flora in the wild (Notice the bolded part for later) either prefer a certain alkalinity or acidic level of water to thrive in. North American (Amazon Species) fish species require a more acidic level of water, why African Cichlids require more alkaline water parameters.
Why it is supposedly important (According to the fishkeeping industry)
Let me preface the rest of this by saying, yes, in some cases pH is important to keeping and breeding certain species of fish and wild-caught species. But as I will explain for the average fish keeper like you and me, trying to chase a perfect pH is something you should not try to attempt. The fish-keeping industry as a whole would like to sell you every product imaginable to either lower, raise or provide you with the perfect way to achieve the perfect pH. For a very reasonable price, of course! But I am here to tell you, save your money!
Why you should not “chase” the perfect pH?
There is a term we use in the hobby called “chasing” the perfect pH. So why exactly shouldn’t you try to chase the perfect pH level in your aquarium, and why should you not mess with it using chemicals, especially if you have fish in your aquarium? An aquarium’s pH crashes when an aquarium experiences a sudden and dramatic change in pH levels. Typically, this is when an aquarium’s pH gets dropped or raised extremely quickly. I won’t get into too much detail, but contrary to popular belief, a lower KH doesn’t give rise to pH crashes without some extra “help”. The help being messing with your pH levels using chemicals, a pH crash has the potential to kill your fish within 30 minutes or less.
What is KH and how is it connected to your pH?
What is KH exactly? KH measures the amount of carbonates and bicarbonates in water, which affects the buffering capacity of the water. This means that KH helps neutralize acids and prevents your pH from changing too rapidly, which is useful because it stops the above-mentioned pH crash from happening.
Should I worry about my pH readings in my aquarium?
Absolutely not! Despite what the fishkeeping industry tells you! And here is why. A stable pH is far more important and beneficial for your fish and aquarium than a perfect pH. Years back, an old fish keeper who taught me most of what I know today said the following: “Don’t adapt your water conditions to your fish, but adapt your fish to your water conditions.” As I stated earlier, most if not all fish are now tank-bred, and aren’t wild-caught, meaning they have adapted to a wide range of water conditions they were bred and raised in. Having said that, fish are like most creatures extremely adaptable and will adapt to whatever conditions you provide them with. So don’t worry about providing your fish with a perfect pH level, rather focus on giving them a stable environment.
