Boost pH, goldfish emergency; diagnose and treat symptoms

Boost pH levels in your goldfish aquarium

Boost pH by testing KH levels first. Carbonate mineral (KH) acts as only one part of pH with the other part being oxygen. All to often goldfish and Koi keepers use bicarbonate of soda to raise pH without ever testing KH, because they don’t know what KH does. KH gives water the ability to support the O2 molecule. Carbonate mineral alone is responsible for alkalinity

Mixing soda to water that is rich in KH, could raise mineral levels too high, burning the fish. The high pH reading could be based on a high KH

Boost pH

Test KH. The comfort zone varies at 100 to 140 ppm, however, the higher side of the zone is preferred. Whenever KH is found to be low in freshwater source, boost the parameter. The comfort zone for pH is 7.4 to 8.4. Whenever KH is well within the comfort zone, pH levels should be the same, however, if this isn’t the case, oxygen levels must be low for yet another reason

Remove the top of your aquarium

Most all goldfish are kept in enclosed tanks. Water surface must be exposed to fresh air because this is how water breathes

There’s more

Goldfish produce a tremdous amount of waste, and from waste, gas is produced, Whenever the gas is present, it fills the body of water, keeping oxygen from entering. There’s no space for oxygen whenever the water isn’t free of gases.

Raise KH

KH healthy, although pH is low

Using a pitcher, push it deep into the tank water. Bring it to the top and pour it out. Refill and repeat about 10 to 15 times. Test pH. If it’s higher, this tells you a little work needs to be done

Read and follow the 10 Steps to Goldfish Koi Keeping

Performing Water Changes

By Venus| 2020-08-05T06:33:08-05:00 August 6th, 2017|Categories: Goldfish Koi Maintenance|Tags: Boost pH, cleaning goldfish aquarium, Water changes aquarium|

Water Changes reduce nitrates, increase oxygen and mineral value STEP 8 Buy the Books Water changes must be performed frequently to keep oxygen levels up and nitrates down in our goldfish house. We've learned that beneficial bacteria are responsible for the nitrogen cycle. Without these friendly bugs, goldfish would be poisoned by their own waste. Keeping fish safe in captivity would be a challenge if not impossible without this miracle of nature Without the nitrogen cycle, life would not exist as we know it Nitrates are the third and final conversion in the cycle; tolerated by goldfish at low levels. This toxin can only be removed by means of a partial water change. If the environment in your goldfish house cannot support beneficial bacteria, then it will support harmful bacteria. If bad bugs flourish in your tank or pond, your goldfish won't. It's that simple Cleaning goldfish aquarium Exchange less water more often to keep nitrates at consistent levels Water changes Another reason to perform frequent water changes; goldfish emit a growth hormone dangerous at high levels. Goldfish in overstocked tanks are at risk of being poisoned by these hormones which may stunt growth. These same hormones cause cancer, heart disease and even death Add plants to your set up. Plants feed on nitrates keeping levels at bay. There is one plant that forms naturally in the right conditions with no maintenance, and that's algae Fish are at risk of ammonia and or nitrite poisoning if the cycle has not completed If your tank has not cycled, perform daily water changes between 20% to 30% (depending on stocking levels) for the next 8 to 10 weeks. Use water treatment (enough for entire tank size) that eliminates ammonia, nitrite, chlorine and chloramines Refer to Step 5: Water Treatment: to determine recommended dosages required for making conversions Never perform a 100% water change. Along with the bad bacteria and toxins, you'll be throwing out water that provides nourishment for good bacteria also If your tank has cycled perform bi weekly water changes of 10% to 20% depending on stocking levels. Eliminate chlorine or convert chloramines using water treatment if present Water changes aquarium An overstocked tank requires increased amounts of partial water changes Test fish water before every water change; adjust water changes accordingly. The comfort zone is 20 to 40 ppm with the lower end of the scale being preferred; a buffering zone in case of a spike Here are some tips to keep water changes easier Make sure water buckets have strong and secure handles Keep the buckets light so they're easy to carry; don't over fill Take your time. Don't rush through bailing water; slow and steady Keep a towel beneath buckets while removing or adding water Keep filters and pumps in fish water at all times Never use detergents or cleaning agents on goldfish house or equipment Work water over to remove supersaturated gases from tap water Never add water treatment or any other substances directly to goldfish tank Keep a watchful eye on running water from a faucet unattended How [...]

Pond Pumps

By Venus| 2021-05-04T08:41:45-05:00 August 6th, 2017|Categories: Goldfish Koi Maintenance|Tags: Boost pH, cleaning goldfish aquarium, goldfish care|

Pond pumps belong in every goldfish and Koi house STEP 7 Buy the Books Pond pumps belong in every goldfish and Koi house. There are many fancy and expensive filtering systems available in all price ranges, some costing hundreds of dollars. Pet shop filters are designed for tropical fish; not goldfish. Standard filtering systems are located at the top of the aquarium where there is little or no waste. Even though there's an intake extension that comes close to the floor, the intake is slow, and it sits to the side of the tank Filters and pumps do much more than push water and filter it, they house beneficial bacteria Goldfish create a lot of waste which accumulates at the bottom of the tank where they rest and feed. Friendly bugs feed on the ammonia created by their waste. The home they live in should be located in the same proximity, encouraging them to build strong colonies, making for a strong cycle Boost pH by performing water changes Water filter verses pond pumps New fish keepers use carbon in their filters, assuming it will keep the cycle from forming; referred to a cycle free tank, but products and others like it are not predictable. Your fish are at risk in a cycle free environment Encouraging consistent pH levels, oxygenated water is the key to a healthy ecosystem pH; Potential of Hydrogen How pond pumps work Pushing water from the bottom to the surface; a simple, submersible pond pump creates a powerful jet stream that clears Co2 from water. No goldfish set up is complete without one, because no other filter or pump provides the necessary action to clear a body of water Goldfish Care Pond pumps typically come equipped with water volume controls. These settings may be turned up or down to obtain the desired action. When cleaning tank or sponges, a higher setting should be powerful enough to clear a cloud in the water quickly Switching from a standard filtering system to a pond pump is easy. Leave your old filter up and running for two to three months after installing a pond pump. If your old filter has a volume control, turning it down will be discourage beneficial bacteria from forming in it, and encourage them to form in the new pond pump. Friendly bugs prefer pond pumps because they move water faster, making for increased oxygen levels. They sit close to the waste, which produces their food source. Remove the old system after the waiting period, and you're good to go Cleaning goldfish aquarium Friendly bugs require heavily oxygenated water and complete darkness for reproducing Water filters verses pond pumps Wrap an aquarium safe sponge around the intake of your pond pump. The sponges filters free floating debris from water, and keeps the pump running smoothly. Rinse sponges in old tank water. Even though the sponge may appear clean at the top, grunge accumulates mostly at the bottom. Vacuum beneath the pump. Perform this task weekly; depending on your stocking levels How maintain pond pumps Warning: Make sure sponges completely cover intake valves. Exposed [...]

Freshwater Source

By Venus| 2020-08-06T02:17:12-05:00 August 6th, 2017|Categories: Goldfish Koi Maintenance|Tags: Boost pH, goldfish care|

Freshwater Source should contain important minerals Step 4 BUY the Books Freshwater source should contain carbonate mineral, magnesium and calcium. Know your freshwater source, because it's a matter of life and death. Tap water is recommended as a freshwater source for goldfish because it contains important minerals necessary to support good health. General hardness gives our fish good health and vigor. Carbonate mineral gives water the ability to support life. Combined, general hardness and carbonate hardness make up the value of total hardness GH; general hardness is made up of two parts magnesium and one part calcium KH is just that; carbonate hardness Mineral amounts vary according to what region you live in Every body of water has a pH value or potential of hydrogen. In simple terms, pH is a measurement of oxygen and carbonate minerals combined. To support life, water must have a pH reading between 6.0 to 9.0 ppm, however, the comfort zone for goldfish is 7.4 To 8.4 ppm. The higher side of the zone offers a healthier environment. Don't settle for less Goldfish care pH is a combined reading of O2 and KH Carbonate mineral (KH) alone is responsible for how alkaline or acidic water is. KH gives water the ability to hold on to the O2 molecule, although, it will take more than a healthy KH reading to oxygenate water. There are a multitude of reasons that keep water from supporting oxygen, and most of them have to do with clouds or gases. You'll learn more about oxygenating water if you continue reading the 10 Steps Bottled water goldfish aquarium Distilled or R.O. (reverse osmosis) bottled water has no value, with little buffering capability. Goldfish keepers use R.O. water due to freshwater source containing bad bacteria or high levels of toxins. Bottled water that contains value may offer a better starting place for building value in water. This is where the term 'mineral water' comes in to play. Goldfish and humans alike share the need for minerals Boost pH by performing frequent water changes Tap water with low mineral value may be caused by a filtering system Mother Nature is hard at work, whenever and wherever possible. If your tap water contains ammonia, nitrites or nitrates, consider collecting rain water as your freshwater Humans and goldfish alike cannot tolerate nitrates at high levels. The preferred reading for both of us is 12.5 ppm; difficult to accomplish in a goldfish aquarium. The fact is, all animals can tolerate levels up to 20 to 40 ppm if not super sensitive Use Water Boost to increase magnesium, carbonate mineral and O2 value of water Goldfish aquarium water Cleaning agents in our tap water Both agents destroy formation of unfriendly bacteria, however, they also destroys the friendly kind. Eliminate cleaning agents from your freshwater source before adding to fish house Freshwater source Cities add chlorine and sometimes chloramines to our drinking water to keep it free of harmful bacteria Most cities use only chlorine which can be eliminated naturally by using Oop Boost Large cities often combine ammonia with chlorine (chloramines) giving it staying power [...]

Bottled pH

By Venus| 2020-08-05T18:34:52-05:00 March 19th, 2016|Categories: Goldfish Koi Chat|Tags: boost gh, Boost pH|

Bottled pH, does it work, and if so, how Bottled pH is popular with a lot of goldfish and Koi keepers. Most of us test pH levels as a part of their normal routine; it being the most common parameter, however it's also the most confusing. We know that the levels should be within an established comfort zone, however, we don't know how or why Bottled pH We've heard of the dreaded pH crash, although we're unsure what causes it. A few know it has something to do with oxygen. These few may not understand how water becomes oxygenated. They don't have to; the industry is selling pH in a bottle Is pH in a bottle a bad thing? Not really; not if you understand how its value is determined Every fish keeper should know about the water their fish live in, and yet, most know very little. The majority of fish keepers are depending on water treatment designed to lower or raise pH, even though they have a healthy pH in their freshwater source; it's mystery how how to keep it healthy in their fish house Bottled pH Hydrogen occurs mainly in combination with oxygen and water as well as in organic matter such as living plants, petroleum and coal. The term pH was derived by a Danish chemist, Lauritz, although the term stuck, its full meaning has always been, and always will be debated. Named after the Greek words hydro for 'water' and genes for 'forming,' hydrogen; in relation to the water in our fish houses, potential of hydrogen simply put is the potential of water to be oxygenated. Note the word potential, meaning; latent qualities or abilities that may be developed and lead to future success or usefulness However vague, examining parts of the parameter separately helps us to determine it's potential for life Parts of pH Carbonate mineral (KH) and oxygen (O2) combined make up the parts of pH. KH gives water the potential to support O2, however, this doesn't make it so. The body of water must be free of carbon dioxide; gas create from waste and free of clouds with the surface exposed to fresh air, before oxygen can be absorbed. By method of diffusion water pulls oxygen from the air with the ripple of a wave. Water with no surface movement referred to as stagnant, doesn't have the ability to pull oxygen from the air; there is no diffusion taking place How to oxygenate water Moving water eliminates clouds altogether or changes their form. In a natural body of water; wind moves the surface causing ripples or waves to pull gases from the water as it pulls oxygen from the air. The natural motion of waves keeps the body of water clear. A river or stream that follows a downhill grade or cascades over a rocky cliff creating a water fall, clears the water as it does so. Mother Nature at work Bottled pH In aquariums and small ponds however, we must depend on the mechanics of our water pumps to create action. Only a real pond pump provides the right kind of action [...]