Well, it could be TDS I guess, but the reason this all came about is due to
my relating my experiences over the years (decades?) with seeing/hearing of
fish dying due to "pH shock," but I have only ever seen this in my own tanks
in the case of a drop in pH. I have personally sent fish (including bows)
from pH of about 7 up to pH 8.3 instantly, using a buffer, and had no
troubles. While I don't view this as the best way to do things, I have had
to make a Tanganyika tank in a hurry with nowhere for current occupants to
be moved to. More than once. I added the buffer and the fish in the tank
didn't even seem to notice.
Same fish tho, and take 'em from, say a soft-ish 7 to a 5 and they just spin
and die right before one's eyes. Seen this too, sadly, when I didn't realize
an empty tank had pH- crashed and added some fish. Dumb. Very dumb. One
doesn't take Portland water pH that cavalierly and do well. ;-)
He wants to know the details on why this is so, and sadly, will just ask me
for more info than you give here. ;-) Anyone who can elaborate on this, I
am all ears!
Julie <'><
(who is no physiologist at all!)
>From: "Lorraine" <overall077 at lycos.com>
>Reply-To: r_m_l at yahoogroups.com
>To: <r_m_l at yahoogroups.com>
>Subject: RE: [RML] pH and fish physiology
>Date: Thu, 24 Nov 2005 22:28:59 -0700
>
>It has to do with osmotic pressure. On the gills I believe.
>
>It is not the pH that is a problem it is the TDS (total dissolved Solids).
>Softer water = damage to gill membranes?
>
>Harder water no problem.
>
>I use TDS meter now and don't worry one bit about pH, If the TDS is a close
>match then the fish do great.
>
>
>
>
>
>Lorraine
>
>In sunny Colorado.
>
>http://lorraines-killies.com
>
>
>
> _____
>
>From: r_m_l at yahoogroups.com [r_m_l at yahoogroups.com] On Behalf Of
>Julie Zeppieri
>Sent: Thursday, November 24, 2005 10:18 PM
>To: r_m_l at yahoogroups.com
>Subject: [RML] pH and fish physiology
>
>
>
>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 <'><
>
>
>
>
>
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