Fish Q&A Section: Water Parameters
Saltwater Aquariums
We created this section mainly for you Saltwater
Aquarists out there, to help you understand what the correct water
parameters are for your tanks, and some of our importers/exporters,
that have had difficulties with diseases, brought on by keeping fish
in an environment that is not stable.
Yeah, Yeah, you read a book, or heard from so and
so that you should keep your water a certain way. Everyone
tells a different story of what they do to their tank to keep it
healthy.
One of the first things that anyone should do
before purchasing fish, is to ask the dealer what their water
parameters are. This will ensure less stress on the fish,
therefore preventing a disease to manifest.
Also, if you are living on the East Coast, or the
West Coast, you must understand that the water parameters in your
oceans (Atlantic & Pacific) are much different than the water
parameters will be in your aquarium. Many fish come from
Africa, Hawaii, Fiji and other tropical areas with much warmer
water, and lower salinity levels.
Proper Salinity Levels:
10.17 - 10.19 This is the salinity
level that we use for our saltwater fish-only tanks.
10.27 This higher
salinity is needed for live rock and coral in reef tanks.
Water Temperature:
78 - 80 degrees fahrenheit.
Temperatures below this will cause disease. If you keep
getting Cryptocaryon (Ich), this is the reason.
Proper pH level:
8.2
Freshwater Aquariums
Freshwater aquariums are pretty easy to take care
of in general, depending on the fish you decide to keep.
Water parameters for most of your common tropical
fish such as livebearers, south american cichlids, goldfish, guppies
etc, can be kept at the same levels.
Temperature: 76 - 80 degrees fahrenheit, pH=
Neutral to Alkaline 7.0-7.6.
If you decide to keep more difficult fishes, such
as Discus, water parameters are more difficult to follow.
Temperature: 84 - 86 fahrenheit, pH= Acid
pH, 6.0-6.5
If you are keeping African Cichlids, they like a
higher pH and harder water
Temperature: 78-80 degrees fahrenheit, pH= Alkaline
pH, 8.2-8.4
In freshwater aquariums, it is better to adapt
your fish to the pH of your tap water, rather than to add chemicals
every time you do a water change. If you are not breeding
fishes, follow these guidelines. If you are breeding fishes,
you must be careful to duplicate the water quality from where your
fish came from.
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