>Hi All,
>
>I have a question to pose to the list. I asked Unmack, but for once he
>couldn't come through. So, I am putting it out there in hopes one other of
>y'all might have the answer.
>
>A friend asked me why it is -- metabolically/physiologically speaking --
>that it is more dangerous to
>fish to experience a sudden drop in pH than for them to experience a sudden
>rise in pH.
>
>While I know that this IS true (and have seen it in action MANY times), I am
>at a loss to explain WHY it is so.
>
>Can you give me the basics of this so that I may pass it on?
>
>TIA!
>Julie <'><
>
>
>
Hi Julie,
here is an explanation that doesn't work, but might be fun to try out :)
pH stands for pondus Hydrogenii, the weight of the hydrogen. When pH
drops, the remaining hydrogen in the water isn't heavy enough to hold
the fish down any more, so they float to the surface of the tank
(sometimes belly up). Because they are not adapted to life at the
surface, their gills get damaged, and they die.
Of course, this falls down on a couple of points.
1. Hydrogen doesn't hold fish down - it is actually lighter than water.
2. More to the point, this explanation is complete BS. :)
Hope this helps,
Best regards, Andrew
-- ----------------------------------------- Andrew Boyd andrew at friendlymanual.com Web Development/ePublishing Solutions http://www.friendlymanual.com http://www.successadvances.com -----------------------------------------