super low ph (4.6)

[anewbie]

My probe suggest my aquarium has a ph close to 4.6 (doubt this is accurate); mrs. google sez my fishes will immediately die. Why haven't my fished died ?

I rephrase the question and now mrs google is tongue tied and saying:

Presence of Acid-Tolerant Bacteria: While common aquarium nitrifying bacteria (like Nitrosomonas and Nitrobacter) are inhibited below a pH of 6.0, natural environments host diverse, specialized acid-tolerant nitrifying microorganisms (both bacteria and archaea) that can function efficiently even at a pH of 4.6 or lower.

(the way i rephrase it was to then ask why they didn't die in the wild)

I want a divorce from Mrs. Google.

 

[MacZ]

Why haven't my fished died ?

Because the number went down slowly and the fish are naturally adapted to soft acidic water. Simple as that. Google will only tell you things about average aquariums and fish unless you dig very deep. Special cases like this (and most of us here) are barely mentioned.

 

[dw1305]

Hi all,

My probe suggest my aquarium has a ph close to 4.6 (doubt this is accurate); mrs. google sez my fishes will immediately die. Why haven't my fished died ?

What @MacZ says. At low pH levels <"tannic and humic substances"> may be important, and I would expect that if you lowered the pH of RO water with a strong acid (HCl etc.), the fish wouldn't last long.

....... Presence of Acid-Tolerant Bacteria: While common aquarium nitrifying bacteria (like Nitrosomonas and Nitrobacter) are inhibited below a pH of 6.0, natural environments host diverse, specialized acid-tolerant nitrifying microorganisms (both bacteria and archaea) that can function efficiently even at a pH of 4.6 or lower.

This reflects recent advances in research on nitrification. I'll pass you over to UKAPS, for this thread - <"https://www.ukaps.org/forum/threads...nces-university-of-wisconsin—milwaukee.71023/">.

I never believed that nitrification would only happen in <"high ammonia / high carbonate hardness"> scenarios, it just doesn't make any ecological sense.

I want a divorce from Mrs. Google.

I know what you mean, but actually she has got a lot better recently.

cheers Darrel

 

[anewbie]

Hi all,

What @MacZ says. At low pH levels <"tannic and humic substances"> may be important, and I would expect that if you lowered the pH of RO water with a strong acid (HCl etc.), the fish wouldn't last long.

This reflects recent advances in research on nitrification. I'll pass you over to UKAPS, for this thread - <"https://www.ukaps.org/forum/threads/correspondence-with-dr-ryan-newton-school-of-freshwater-sciences-university-of-wisconsin—milwaukee.71023/">.

I never believed that nitrification would only happen in <"high ammonia / high carbonate hardness"> scenarios, it just doesn't make any ecological sense.

I know what you mean, but actually she has got a lot better recently.

cheers Darrel

This also (I think) ignores the effect of such low ph on ammonia in the first place.

 

[Jacobus]

For your info: 5-6 weeks ago my A. flabellicauda spawned at pH 4.2. Now mother and offspring are doing well in pH 4.9.