Because water supplies throughout Australia vary greatly in their chemical composition, it is important that at least the pH and hardness of your water supply is known before it is used for keeping fish. Even if your water starts off perfect, quite drastic changes occur in it's chemistry, once it is used for aquarium fish.

It is imperative that newly purchased fish go into water that is suitable for that species. It has been established that more losses of aquarium fish occur due to incorrect water conditions, than due to disease.

SHIPPING
Most fish shipped by professional organisations like Pet and Aquarium Industries, are packed in water that has a pH of approx. 7.0 and a hardness of about 150pppm.

Fish requiring specialised conditions, such as African cichlids and brackish water fish are packed in water covering their specific requirements.

During transport, the water in the shipping bags will change with ammonia levels and carbon dioxide increasing and oxygen levels decreasing. The pH also usually drops, with levels even less than pH 6.0 being possible, depending on the length of time fish are packed...

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This topic goes on to cover -

• What to do prior to, on and after arrival
• Symptoms
• Water Quality

Written by Pet and Aquarium Industries Melbourne