Aquarium Chemicals NotesAquarium Chemicals Notes

pHpH

pH is a chemical component of a solution that pH is a chemical component of a solution that determines how Acidic or Basic it is.determines how Acidic or Basic it is.

Neutral pH is 7.0Neutral pH is 7.0 pH above 7.0 is Basic and below 7.0 is AcidicpH above 7.0 is Basic and below 7.0 is Acidic Ideal pH of a saltwater aquarium is 8.2-8.4Ideal pH of a saltwater aquarium is 8.2-8.4

AmmoniaAmmonia (NH (NH33))

Ammonia is a chemical that is created as a Ammonia is a chemical that is created as a waste product by living organisms.waste product by living organisms.

Animals urinate which is converted into Animals urinate which is converted into ammoniaammonia

Ammonia is the most toxic chemical tested Ammonia is the most toxic chemical tested for in Aquarium water testsfor in Aquarium water tests

Ideal ammonia concentrations should be Ideal ammonia concentrations should be less than .25 ppm. Amounts over this can less than .25 ppm. Amounts over this can stress fish and even cause death.stress fish and even cause death.

NitriteNitrite (NO (NO22-)-)

Ammonia is converted into nitrite by Nitrifying Ammonia is converted into nitrite by Nitrifying bacteria.bacteria.

Toxic to fish but less toxic than ammonia.Toxic to fish but less toxic than ammonia. Ideal concentrations should be less than 1 ppm Ideal concentrations should be less than 1 ppm

(Parts per million) once the aquarium is established.(Parts per million) once the aquarium is established. New aquariums may spike to concentrations of 10 New aquariums may spike to concentrations of 10

ppm until the bacteria concentration reaches ppm until the bacteria concentration reaches equilibrium and convert nitrite to nitrate.equilibrium and convert nitrite to nitrate.

Too much Nitrite can indicate over-feeding, too many Too much Nitrite can indicate over-feeding, too many fish or inadequate biological filtration.fish or inadequate biological filtration.

Nitrate (NONitrate (NO33-)-)

Converted from Nitrite by nitrifying bacteria.Converted from Nitrite by nitrifying bacteria. Not considered toxic to animals in lower Not considered toxic to animals in lower

amounts but can cause algae blooms in amounts but can cause algae blooms in excess.excess.

Ideal concentrations should be less than 40 Ideal concentrations should be less than 40 ppm.ppm.

Partial water changes will lower Partial water changes will lower concentrations of Nitrate in aquariums.concentrations of Nitrate in aquariums.

FiltrationFiltration

The aquarium has several filters:The aquarium has several filters: Undergravel filter adds oxygen to water and pulls Undergravel filter adds oxygen to water and pulls

the water through the crushed coral (buffer) which the water through the crushed coral (buffer) which gives the bacteria the ability to eat the ammonia gives the bacteria the ability to eat the ammonia and nitrite.and nitrite.

Canister filter pulls large particles out of the water Canister filter pulls large particles out of the water and cleans the water chemically with charcoal and and cleans the water chemically with charcoal and ammonia sponge (chemically removes ammonia).ammonia sponge (chemically removes ammonia).

Protein Skimmer uses tiny bubbles to remove Protein Skimmer uses tiny bubbles to remove protein waste. protein waste.

SummarySummary

pH measures how acidic and basic a pH measures how acidic and basic a solution issolution is

Ammonia to Nitrite to Nitrate. (most to least Ammonia to Nitrite to Nitrate. (most to least deadly to fish)deadly to fish)

Multiple filtration techniques are successful Multiple filtration techniques are successful at keeping aquarium “clean” combo of at keeping aquarium “clean” combo of biological and mechanical is best.biological and mechanical is best.

General Rule of Thumb: 3 gallons of General Rule of Thumb: 3 gallons of saltwater to 1 inch of fish.saltwater to 1 inch of fish.