Tag pH

Proper monitoring of water quality in aquaculture production systems is critical to enable appropriate and timely management decisions. It requires reliable equipment, trained technicians that follow instructions and apply quality control measures, proper reagents and calibrated equipment, and appropriately collected water samples that are promptly analyzed. 

The authors believe that dry-out periods likely destroy most organisms in pond bottoms, and liming of the entire bottom area should be done only to neutralize soil acidity and increase pH for organic matter decomposition by soil microorganisms. 

The ideal pH for most aquaculture species is between 6.0 and 8.5. Lower pH values may result in decreased growth and survival, and greater susceptibility to disease. pH typically is lowest in the early morning, increases during the afternoon and declines at night. 

A significant correlation was established between ovarian fluid pH of stripped eggs and subsequent hatch of hybrid catfish eggs. 

Pond pH had a strong effect on the effectiveness of a product applied to remove excess phosphate to control algal blooms in eutrophic aquaculture ponds. 

Since catfish fry survival lowers if subjected to an abrupt pH rise of 0.5, the authors recommend measuring pH in transport tanks and receiving ponds and the addition of buffering agents to transport tanks. 

The pH of shrimp pond water is influenced by source water, pH and acidity of bottom soil, shrimp culture inputs and biological activity.