pH
What is it? pH stands for “potential for Hydrogen”. It is the measure of the acidity or alkalinity of water soluble substances.
Why is it important? In both freshwater and saltwater systems, pH plays an important role in determining the conditions for life. pH sets up the conditions for how easy it is for nutrients to be available and how easily things like heavy metals (toxicity for aquatic life) can dissolve in the water. Rivers and lakes generally range between 5 (acidic) and 9 (basic) on the pH scale. Whereas ocean water averages closer to 8.2 (slightly basic). Low pH can reduce how many fish eggs hatch and can make life difficult for fish and macroinvertebrates (the backbone of our water ecosystems).
What does it mean? The most important thing is to first establish a baseline for testing. Based on that number, we can determine if something is influencing the water’s health. For example, if the pH falls below 5 or over 10 (this can be caused by algae blooms), you will start to see fish life spans and reproduction affected.