How to test the pH of water?

How to test the pH of water? Regularly checking your water will help you know if your water is acidic or alkaline and limit the development of germs. Also, it will check if your filtration system is working properly.

So today we are going to focus on the pH of water. Then, we will explain to you why it is essential to carry out regular water changes (in the aquarium as well as in the outdoor pond).

What is the pH of water?

pH stands for “potential hydrogen”, a rather complex measurement in chemistry which allows the activity of hydrogen ions in a pond to be calculated. In other words, the pH value determines whether a water is acidic or basic (alkaline). To give you a concrete idea of ​​this rate, note that lemon juice has a pH of 2.5 and that the pH of bleach is 11.5! We can therefore say that bleach is "alkaline" or "basic" (same meaning).

In the aquarium, many farmed fish accept a pH of 7 (neutral water). But in nature, lakes and rivers rarely display a pH of 7. You can take a test in the stream closest to you to find out for yourself. It is therefore essential to find out about the population of fish that you will have in your aquarium or in your pond in order to adapt to its needs.

Important: if a fish has an unsuitable pH environment, it can die or see its life expectancy decrease considerably.

What is the ideal pH of a pond or garden pond?

Just like an aquarium, the ideal pH of pond water is around 7.4 (the average blood pH of pond fish). Outside of the 6.5 to 8.5 range, your fish may experience stress and see their immune system weaken.

Of course, it always depends on your fish population. Shrimps, for example, need water with an ideal pH value between 6.8 and 7.8.

From now on, it is essential to address a crucial question: how to test the pH of the water in my pond? Fortunately, there are tailor-made kits for testing pond water. Find out how to test the pH of water below…

How do I test the pH of my pond water?

To test the pH of water, several techniques are recommended:

• An electronic pH meter;
• test strips;
• Droplet tests (often sold in briefcases).

The two most widely used and affordable methods are strips and liquid tests. To carry out the strip tests, we advise you to carry out the manipulations using a sample of your water taken from a glass.

Thus, the tests will be easier to run and no chemicals will fall into your aquarium. The only downside to the strips is the lack of accuracy of the test.

For greater accuracy, expert aquarists use liquid tests in the form of droplets. In the pallets, you will have a colorimetric test (in a small notebook) and will therefore be able to have an extremely precise result of the pH level in the water.

Why is regular water changes essential?

Since your garden pond is an enclosed environment, it needs regular water renewal. On the one hand, it will allow your fish and the filtration to obtain minerals essential to their survival/function. On the other hand, it eliminates all the surpluses produced by your marine animals not eliminated by your filter.

In addition, it is preferable to change the water in your pond with tap water rather than rainwater. Rainwater is demineralized water that can be charged with atmospheric pollution. Thus, the regular addition of new water will help you maintain hardness and pH parameters within the norm.

Finally, be sure to pour your tap water in a fine rain (thanks to a garden hose for example). Thus, it will slowly and evenly integrate into the water already present in the pond. You can also consider allowing the water to oxygenate for 12 to 24 hours to remove its irritating compounds before pouring it into the garden pond.

Need more advice on the water parameters of your water point? Visit our blog to receive a maximum of tips and advice on the subject!