Friday, May 18, 2007

The kind of water

In different localities, water varies very considerably. Quite apart from the question of being hard or soft, the actual composition of the water varies with the amount of salts, minerals and other such substances dissolved in it. These are usually referred to as "TDS" or total dissolved solids. Water with a high TDS content is known as 'heavy' and is not always good for fish, the opposite is known as 'light'. Unless we are preparing seriously to breed the more difficult kinds of fish, we need not concern ourselves with this question at all.

Sodium bicarbonate added to the water will make it alkaline; acid sodium phosphate or very heavily diluted hydrochloric acid have the opposite effect.

Special sets are sold for measuring the changes in PH.

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