Low PH Levels in Aquariums

Monitor the pH level in your aquarium to avoid potential disastrous effects on its ecosystem. PH measures a substance's acidity. If it's too low, it's too acidic; if it's too high, it's too basic. The pH level is measured on a scale of 1 to 14, with 7 being neutral. Water is naturally neutral, but the pH level can easily drop with live plants and animals in the aquarium.

  1. New Fish or Plants

    • No more than two plants or fish should be added at a time. Too many fish or plants in the tank can lower pH balance. This can occur if you have too many fish for the tank, the fish are too big for the tank, or if you just added several new fish. The plants will process the nitrates too quickly, creating a pH imbalance.

    Indoor Carbon Dioxide

    • People and other animals can cause elevated carbon dioxide levels within the home and around the tank. Opening a window by the tank may cause the pH level to rise. If this is the reason for your low pH levels, you will see a change within a day or two.

    Low Alkalinity

    • This occurs by placing non-alkaline supplements in the tank. This solution is simple -- add alkalinity.

    Too Many Chemicals

    • Trying to compensate for heavy ammonia levels (base) can cause the tank to become too acidic

    Clean/Change the Water

    • The aquarium may appear to be in a good state, but chemicals added months ago are still there. These include added nutrients, food, and fish droppings, and they can cause a low pH balance. Partial water changes are a necessity to avoid any reactions that might occur with these leftover chemicals.

    CaCO2/CO3 Reactors

    • These reactors tend to run at a low pH level. A poorly-performing reactor might be working at an extremely low pH level.