As a fishkeeper, before adding a goldfish to your tank, you must learn about the ph level they prefer in their tank. So, what is the best pH level for your goldfish? How can you increase or decrease the ph level of your goldfish tank? Let us discuss this below:
Goldfish can survive in a high pH range in captivity. Sudden fluctuations in the pH level can affect your fish. Goldfish performs best at the pH level of 7.5. Marine salt, Baking soda, and Crushed corals help increase the pH, whereas natural driftwood and RO water help reduce the water pH level.
Let us dive into the article to learn how to increase or decrease the pH level of water in your goldfish tank. In addition to this, we will also learn about the factors that influence your tank’s pH level.
Contents
Does pH level affect goldfish?
Inadequate pH levels can lead to severe health issues in your goldfish.
A drop in the pH level can turn your goldfish tank’s water highly acidic that can burn the gills of your goldfish.
Although goldfish can thrive in a high pH range, but will not be able to tolerate a sudden change in the pH level.
Frequent fluctuations in the pH level can make your goldfish lead to stress, and your fish can also lose its appetite.
Changing the pH only if you discover your goldfish distressed will be advisable.
Your goldfish performs best at the pH level of 7.5. Therefore, providing an adequate pH level is essential for your goldfish’s well-being.
Ideal water requirement of goldfish?
| Particulars | Goldfish |
| Water Temperature | 68-74°F |
| PH level | 7.5 |
Also read: What Is The Ideal Water Temperature For Goldfish?
How to measure pH level?
You can measure the pH level with the help of a pH test kit which you can purchase from amazon.
After purchasing the pH kit, you can then measure the pH level in the following ways:
- You will find a test tube inside your pH Kit. Add your goldfish tank’s water to the test tube.
- The next step is to add the testing solution inside the test tube.
- The final step is to match the color that appears with the list available in the pH kit. You will finally get the pH level of your goldfish tank.
You will find many pH test kits on the market that can measure the pH level between 5-9.
It is because most fishes thrive in ph level that ranges between 5-9.
However, it will be advisable to purchase a kit that can measure a narrow range to provide accurate results.
You can also use a digital pH tester than a pH kit as it is easy to use and provides more accurate results.
You can further increase or decrease the pH after testing. However, it will be advisable not to change the pH level until you discover your goldfish distressed.
What factors influences your tank’s pH level?
Here are the factors that influences the pH level of your goldfish tank:
- The use of tap water in your goldfish tank can increase the pH level of the water.
- A spike in the ammonia level can make the tank’s water lead to a drop in the pH level.
- Leftovers in the tank can also increase the pH level of water in your goldfish tank.
- Your fish waste can also lead to a spike in the pH level of your goldfish tank.
- A drop in the carbon dioxide level in the tank can also lower the pH level of water.
- An overcrowded tank can also spike the pH level of water in your goldfish tank.
How to increase pH level?
Firstly, we want you to know that goldfish can thrive even at higher pH in captivity but cannot tolerate sudden changes in the pH level.
So, change the pH only if you find your fish distressed.
You can increase your goldfish tank pH level in the following ways.
- Ensure regular water change
- Marine salt
- Baking soda
- Crushed coral
- Seashells
Ensure regular water change:
Injecting carbon dioxide into a planted tank can lower the pH level of your goldfish tank.
In such a case, performing regular water changes can help maintain your goldfish tank’s pH level.
Marine Salt:
Marine salt also helps increase the pH level of your goldfish tank as it introduces the trace elements to the tank that allows increasing the pH level of your goldfish aquarium.
A tablespoon of marine salt per gallon of water will help to increase the pH level of your goldfish tank.
It will be advisable to avoid table salt or iodized salt in your goldfish tank.
Baking Soda:
Adding one tablespoon of baking soda per five gallons of water will also help increase your goldfish tank’s pH level.
However, placing your goldfish in a separate tank will be advisable before performing this method.
As baking soda can lead to sudden fluctuations in your goldfish tank that your fish will not be able to tolerate.
You can place your goldfish back in their home once you stabilize the pH level of your tank.
Instability of pH can lead to severe health issues in your fish, like stress and loss of appetite.
Crushed Coral:
Adding crushed coral to your goldfish tank will help increase the ph level as it contains calcium carbonate that increases the ph of your goldfish tank.
It will be advisable to remove the substrate and crush coral or limestone as substrate in the tank can be the reason behind a drop in the pH level.
1/2 cup of crushed coral per 20 gallons of water will be advisable. It would be best to wash the corals before adding them to your goldfish tank to avoid cloudiness.
Adding seashells:
You can also increase your goldfish tank’s pH level by adding seashells, as it contains carbonates that dissolve in the water and increase the pH level.
Adding 1-2 seashells will help increase the pH of your goldfish aquarium.
How to decrease pH level?
You can decrease the ph level of your goldfish tank in the following ways:
- Adding peat moss bag to the filter
- Adding natural driftwood to your goldfish tank
- Adding Reverse Osmosis (RO) water to your goldfish tank
- By using carbon dioxide
Adding peat moss bag to the filter:
Adding peat moss to the water filter is the most common way of reducing the ph level in your goldfish tank.
You have to add peat moss in a bag and place it inside your water filter to lower the ph of your aquarium.
You can remove the peat moss once the ph level of your aquarium gets stabilized.
Add natural driftwood to your goldfish tank:
Adding natural driftwood also helps reduce the ph level of your goldfish tank as it releases tannins that will help to lower the ph of your goldfish tank.
However, it will be advisable to soak the driftwood for a couple of days to prevent too much coloring in your goldfish tank’s water.
Adding RO water to your goldfish tank:
You can also lower the pH by adding reverse osmosis water to your goldfish tank.
As the water is slightly acidic, it increases the amount of hydrogen ions leading to a drop in the pH level of your aquarium.
In addition to this, RO water does not hold any toxic chemicals like chlorine and chloramine that can cause damage to your goldfish.
By using carbon dioxide:
You can use carbon dioxide in a planted goldfish tank to reduce the water pH level as carbon dioxide forms carbonic acid that helps to lower the water pH level.
Conclusion:
- Inadequate pH levels can lead to severe health issues in your goldfish.
- You can measure the water pH level of your water by using a pH test kit.
- The use of tap water, leftovers, fish waste, and overcrowded tank are some factors that influence the pH level of your goldfish tank.
- Marine salt, Baking soda, and crushed coral can help increase the ph level of your goldfish tank.
- Peat moss bags, natural driftwood, and carbon dioxide can help reduce the pH level of water.
Reference: NCBI, RESEARCHGATE