Water parameters question

[gte539f]

Which water parameters directly affect your fish? Ammonia, nitrates, nitrites, sg, pH? Do things like Mg, Ca, have any affect on them or is that strictly for corals and such?

[iamwrasseman]

am.no2 ,no3 ,ph and temp ~yes they effect fish but fish can deal with lower sg mg and ca . the two latter dont really matter in a fish only tank .ammonia is the big one to keep in check but the answer is not as simple as that either .there is tons of treads here on RC that would be benifiscal to read and i suggest that you catch up as there really is no simple answer but it is easy to keep fish if you keep your tank simple and do regular water changes .

[BloodyWelsh]

NH3, NO2, NO3, SG, pH will definetly impact your fish directly. All living things are "designed" to live in a certain set of parameters, pH especially. All of the nitrogen compounds that are common in an aquarium all affect fish, and other aquatic inhabitants is very specific ways as well. Magnesium, Calcium, Alkalinity and the others can affect fish but not directly. Usually high or low levels of the last 3 mentioned cause a a change to another parameter (such as pH for example) and that other parameter change will in turn disrupt the fish. Aquariums are a very delicate and sensitive chemistry experiment...