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ORP is lowered in reef tanks by adding metals (iron and manganese), most organic molecules (antioxidant vitamins such as vitamin C), inorganic molecules (iodide, sulfide, nitrite, and ammonia), and water conditioners into the water, plus UV sterilization methods.  Oxidation-reduction potential, or ORP, measures water’s ability to break down waste products like contaminants and decaying matter […]

Although a pH level of 6.0-7.0 is recommended for planted aquariums, there are a few aquarium plants that can tolerate a higher pH range, due to their origin or adapting to water conditions in captivity. Growing plants in aquariums are becoming more popular among plant enthusiasts. Adding aquarium plants can enhance the water quality and

The preferred way to lower the pH in freshwater aquariums is to use natural methods such as adding peat moss, driftwood, and catappa leaves. However, other solutions such as using carbon dioxide (CO2) reactors and reverse osmosis are also commonly used.  Are your pH levels too high inside your freshwater aquarium? If so, you have

Algae growth, sludge/dirt at the bottom of the fish tank, sudden changes in your fish’s appearance and behavior, are all signs that your aquarium’s pH (alkalinity) has dropped too low.   Potential hydrogen (pH) measures how acidic or alkaline/basic a solution is, with a numeric scale ranging from 0-14 with 7.0 being neutral, <7.0 acidic, and

Electrical conductivity increases in semiconductors with increasing temperature. As you increase the temperature, electrons from the valence band are able to jump to the conduction band, creating free movement between the two bands, thus, increasing the conductivity.  Electrical Conductivity (EC) measures the ability of a material to transmit an electrical current over a certain distance,

Electrical currents are transported by ions in a given solution. As the concentration of ions increases, the conductivity increases. This is because conductivity increases as water dissolves more ionic compounds due to the ions transporting an electrical current in the solution.  Saltwater is an extremely resourceful aqueous solution as it provides almost half of our

As conductivity is temperature-dependent and conductivity can be used to determine salinity, oceanographers measure conductivity, temperature, and depth (CTD) when studying seawater.  Oceanography is the study of the ocean, and oceanographers have a very important job in climate research. Because the ocean stores so much heat, the ocean has a large effect on our world’s

How often you replace your pH probe depends on how much you use it, the temperature and type of sample you are measuring, and the care and maintenance of the probe. Most people get a good 12-18 months out of a pH probe before needing to replace it.  Measuring pH is important. A pH probe