Swordtail fish is a great choice for both beginners and experienced fish keepers. Their unique and colorful appearance makes any aquarium lively. Not to mention that they are fairly easy to care for. However, there are things you should be careful about while keeping swordtail fish. One of the most important factors is the water parameters they live in. Like most fish, Swordtail fish also needs a fixed pH level for a healthy and happier life inside the water. But do you know how does water pH affect Swordtail fish?
Although Swordtail is hardy fish that can adjust to some fluctuation in water parameters, regular and wider fluctuations in the water parameters like temperature, alkalinity, and water pH level can affect your swordtail fish. Usually, too low or too high a pH level will make your Swordtail sick due to the lack of enough oxygen in the water. Therefore, it is best to keep them in water with pH levels of 7.0 and 8.4.
This blog post will discuss various issues of low or high pH water levels in a freshwater tank and how it affects your fish. So, keep reading!
What Is pH?
pH stands for the potential of hydrogen. So, it describes the concentration of hydrogen in a solution or liquid. In layman’s terms, it means how much hydrogen ion a liquid contains.
In the fish-keeping world, it indicates whether the water is acidic or basic. The lower the amount of hydrogen, the more acidic the water. The higher the amount of hydrogen, the more basic the water.
The scale for pH ranges from 1 to 14; the value below 7 is called acidic, and above 7 is considered basic. Thus, the exact 7 value is the neutral pH level.
How To Measure The Water pH Level?
Measuring water pH levels is basic science. It would be best to get a pH tester strip or a digital pH meter to check the water level. A pH tester strip looks like a normal strip of paper, but it changes its color, showing if your water is more acidic or basic.
Similarly, a pH meter is the strips’ digital form that shows the acidity or alkalinity f your water. It is better to keep a pH meter because it is efficient, accurate, and doesn’t expire, unlike the paper strip.
A change from a pH of 8 to 7 means there is 10 times more hydrogen ion in your tank water. Therefore, rapid changes of even two pH units can be detrimental to your fish.
Thus, you should check the pH level of your tank water regularly to adjust it as per the requirement of your fish.
What Is The Ideal Water pH For Swordtail Fish?
Swordtail fish thrive when the water tank is the same as the water found in their natural environment. Swordtail fish prefer alkaline, hard water. The appropriate water pH for a swordtail fish should be 7.0 to 8.4.
Now, swordtails are typically hardy and can tolerate a wide range of temperature, hardness, or water pH levels. However, too low or too high a water pH level can severely affect your swordtail fish, like diseases, stress, low immunity, or even death.
Effects Of pH Fluctuations In A Swordtail Fish
Fluctuations in water pH levels might affect swordtail fish. For example, if the water has a low pH level, then the water becomes acidic. Similarly, if the water has a high pH level, then the water becomes alkaline.
When your pH levels are not appropriate, your swordtail fish will suffer from pH shock. As a result, your swordtail fish may exhibit symptoms like thrashing, darting, gasping, swimming near the water’s surface, and trying to jump out of the tank.
Under High pH:
Swordtails usually enjoy alkaline water with a water pH level of up to 8.4. If the pH level exceeds 8.4, it exceeds the preferred alkalinity and can affect your swordtail fish.
When your water pH level is very high, your swordtail fish will suffer from alkalosis. The symptoms of alkalosis can be excessive excitement, labored breathing, widespread fins, damaged gills, inability to dispose of metabolic wastes, etc.
Under Low pH:
The ideal pH level for swordtail fish is 7-8.4. Therefore, anything below 7 would affect your swordtail fish. In addition, swordtail fish do not prefer acidic water, which can be detrimental to your swordtail fish.
If the pH level is too low, it can make fish sick, even kill them. A low pH can effectively burn the skin of your swordtail fish. Other symptoms include acting irritable- scratching, jumping; change in color of your Swordtail fish-appear pale or dark; damaged fins or gills; heavy breathing; etc.
How To Lower pH Level?
If your tank water pH crosses 8.4, you should lower it for the safety of your fish. Here are some ways to lower the pH of tap water.
The best way to lower the pH is to keep it for a few days in unsealed vessels to let the water aerate. When you aerate your water, the pH level drops 1-2 units then you can add the water to your tank.
Another option is to use live plants or driftwoods. Live plants stabilize the pH levels, and your swordtails will love the greenery.
The use of chemicals like water treatments, CO2 injection, or use of RO Filters could be other viable options to lower the pH level of your tank water.
How To Raise Water pH Level?
As fatal as low pH levels can be to your fish, there are ways in which you can raise the water pH level.
Oxygenation of water is one of the effective ways to raise the water pH. The use of filters, water pumps, etc., can help you build up more oxygen in the water, raising the pH level.
Similarly, pH can lower down if the pollutant in the water builds up. So, routine water changes can be fruitful. First, however, make sure you do not overcharge the water in your tank.
Likewise, adding baking soda, aquarium salts, and other chemicals can help you make your tank water basic. Finally, changing your tank substrate to crushed corals, limestone, and certain shells can do the job.
Driftwoods can cause pH levels to drop, so make sure to boil them without fluctuating the water pH level to affect your swordtail fish.
What Affects pH In Aquarium?
Many things can influence the pH level of your water. I have mentioned the causes of the increase or decrease of the pH level a few times before, but, for your ease, they can be summarized as follows:
- Carbon Dioxide is the most common cause of increased acidity in the water.
- The high level of oxygen will increase the pH of the water.
- Increased alkalinity will increase the buildup of toxic ammonia ions that can poison your fish.
- Higher nitrate levels will lower the pH level.
- Aquarium salts will increase the pH level.
- Too many fish will result in a low level of water pH.
- Driftwood can soften the water.
- Crushed corals, limestone substrate, and seashells will harden the water.
How To Balance pH Of Tank Water?
Most freshwater fish, including Swordtail, will thrive on neutral pH water. Therefore, neutral water is best to prevent your fish from pH shock and other related diseases or illnesses. For this reason, it is important to balance the pH of your tank water.
The best way to balance the pH in your Aquarium is to use reverse osmosis (RO) or deionized (DI) water to create the preferred pH level. Similarly, you must check the pH of the water using a pH meter or testing strip regularly, so the pH doesn’t fluctuate rapidly.
Likewise, routine water change is another crucial step in balancing the pH. Swordtail fish do not require frequent changes of water. Therefore, a 25% change every two weeks is the optimum necessity.
These are some ways to balance the pH level of water, so it does not severely affect your swordtail fish.
FAQs
Here are the answers to some of the most frequently asked questions on the internet related to Swordtail fish.
What Is The Ideal Water Temperature For Swordtail Fish?
Water temperature might be the most important factor to consider while keeping any fish. For example, tropical freshwater fish like swordtails need 65 degrees Fahrenheit to 82 degrees Fahrenheit.
You can maintain this temperature of the water using a tank heater.
What Is The Ideal Water Hardness For Swordtail Fish?
Swordtail fish prefer slightly hard, alkaline water. In the wild, swordtail fish are found in brackish water. The appropriate water hardness for swordtail fish is 12-30 GH.
Water hardness should be carefully measured because too much alkalinity can cause ammonia buildup leading your fish to ammonia poisoning.
Do Swordtail Fish Need Oxygen?
Like all living organisms, swordtail fish do need oxygen to survive. However, your swordtail fish will get enough oxygen if there is appropriate water movement.
Adding air pumps and filters will make your task easier to keep the water oxygenated.
Conclusion
In conclusion, maintaining water parameters is crucial to let your Swordtail thrive and live to the fullest. Maintaining water pH is important so that your fish can always have fresh neutral water to swim in.
Various factors can influence the pH of water. Therefore, to prevent the fluctuation of the pH level of water, you should check it regularly so that it does not affect your swordtail fish.
Add live plants, do a routine change of your water, add aquarium salts to lower or raise the water pH accordingly. A routine check of Carbon Dioxide and Oxygen levels in your tank water can also be helpful for you to balance the water pH level.
