Apologies if this is a stupid question...
I've got a tank that is registering a pH potentially lower than the lowest value on the test I'm using (6.0). The tank contains apparently very happy fry. I'd like to keep them happy by keeping the parameters stable, but that's difficult if I don't know what the parameters are.
I've been looking around for tests that go lower than 6.0 but haven't been successful. Suggestions?
Thanks,
Jen
Suggestions for measuring low pH value?
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jen.nelson
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bronzefry
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jen.nelson
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Hi there,
The test kit is about 3 months old and it seems to read very rational values in all the other tanks/pond, so I think it's giving me a good indication - I just think it doesn't read low enough to give a true value.
How I got in the business of raising acid-bath cory fry is a whole different thing...I have termed these "robo-fry"...essentially, I had fish spawn in one tank, I moved them to another, they spawned again, didn't have a place to move them quite then, so I left them with the eggs, eggs disappeared. I figured they ate them (saw one eating eggs), no problem - moved the spawn-happy fish to another tank. I use empty tank to play around with how water parameters are affected by addition of different amounts of rain water. A week passes and I'm staring at an adjacent tank and I see movement out of the corner of my eye - I have what I figure to be about week-old fry. I decide testing water might be a good idea. Not only do I have pH that's off-the-scale low, I have nitrite (probably from the pH swing). Did I mention that the fry seem obscenely happy? Correcting nitrite with Amquel Plus, want to do water change, but want to match the parameters, so here I am. As a side note, the spawn where I did everything "right" - lost all the fry. Fish don't read books...
I've considered the electronic tester idea. Any suggestions/recommendations for brands, features, and/or sources?
Thanks!
Jen
The test kit is about 3 months old and it seems to read very rational values in all the other tanks/pond, so I think it's giving me a good indication - I just think it doesn't read low enough to give a true value.
How I got in the business of raising acid-bath cory fry is a whole different thing...I have termed these "robo-fry"...essentially, I had fish spawn in one tank, I moved them to another, they spawned again, didn't have a place to move them quite then, so I left them with the eggs, eggs disappeared. I figured they ate them (saw one eating eggs), no problem - moved the spawn-happy fish to another tank. I use empty tank to play around with how water parameters are affected by addition of different amounts of rain water. A week passes and I'm staring at an adjacent tank and I see movement out of the corner of my eye - I have what I figure to be about week-old fry. I decide testing water might be a good idea. Not only do I have pH that's off-the-scale low, I have nitrite (probably from the pH swing). Did I mention that the fry seem obscenely happy? Correcting nitrite with Amquel Plus, want to do water change, but want to match the parameters, so here I am. As a side note, the spawn where I did everything "right" - lost all the fry. Fish don't read books...
I've considered the electronic tester idea. Any suggestions/recommendations for brands, features, and/or sources?
Thanks!
Jen
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bronzefry
- Posts: 2198
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- Spotted: 6
- Location 1: Sharon, Massachusetts, US
If the fry are eating, growing and moving around.... 
Electronic meters can range from about $40-$300, depending on what you want to measure. To me, the most important quality is water resistance. You'd be amazed. There are a few of the cheapies out there that stop functioning as soon as the meter is soaked above a certain level. The following link is a "typical" monitor:
http://www.thatpetplace.com/Products/KW ... mdy00.aspx
This is a Milwaukee unit that is a lot more water-resistant than their usual models. But, it does need to be calibrated every few weeks.
http://www.thatpetplace.com/Products/KW ... mdy00.aspx
I also have one of these. It's powered by a 9 volt battery instead of a bunch of watch batteries. The unit is separate from the electrode. You can place the electrode in your main tank or move it from tank to tank. I calibrate it about once every 4-6 weeks.
Amanda
Electronic meters can range from about $40-$300, depending on what you want to measure. To me, the most important quality is water resistance. You'd be amazed. There are a few of the cheapies out there that stop functioning as soon as the meter is soaked above a certain level. The following link is a "typical" monitor:
http://www.thatpetplace.com/Products/KW ... mdy00.aspx
This is a Milwaukee unit that is a lot more water-resistant than their usual models. But, it does need to be calibrated every few weeks.
http://www.thatpetplace.com/Products/KW ... mdy00.aspx
I also have one of these. It's powered by a 9 volt battery instead of a bunch of watch batteries. The unit is separate from the electrode. You can place the electrode in your main tank or move it from tank to tank. I calibrate it about once every 4-6 weeks.
Amanda