Co2 and PH Swing

[zer0signal]

I broke down and bought a Aquatek Mini and Paintball Tank that is set to arrive today. I have been using Citric Acid and Baking Soda as my means for get CO2 into the tank. I normally just let it run through the night w/o any issues, but obviously it consumed a lot of Co2.


So the new one comes with solenoid which I was thinking I might throw on a lamp timer, but I am concerned with the PH swings that might ensue if I did this. I have low KH ~3, so PH is normally around 6.4/5, I also stock GBR's, Angels, and Tetras. I don't want to create a lot of stress with Yo-Yo'ing PH over the night and AM. Am I really going to create problems with this, or do you guys not have any issues?

Thoughts?

 

[PerfectDepth]

No issues whatsoever. Keep in mind that without co2 injection, a change in pH always accompanies a change in KH and TDS. When pH drops due to co2, the only thing that changes is co2 concentration.

Just think.. if this was really a problem, how would anyone who injects co2 ever accomplish a large water change? No one adds co2 to the new water before a water change, so obviously the pH will be jumping up a full point or more in no more time than it takes to refill the tank. I've never seen my fish look stressed after a water change. On the contrary, they tend to color up and show spawning behavior, just like they tend to do in non-co2 tanks.

 

[tiger terror]

No issues whatsoever. Keep in mind that without co2 injection, a change in pH always accompanies a change in KH and TDS. When pH drops due to co2, the only thing that changes is co2 concentration.

Just think.. if this was really a problem, how would anyone who injects co2 ever accomplish a large water change? No one adds co2 to the new water before a water change, so obviously the pH will be jumping up a full point or more in no more time than it takes to refill the tank. I've never seen my fish look stressed after a water change. On the contrary, they tend to color up and show spawning behavior, just like they tend to do in non-co2 tanks.[/QUOTE/]

+1

sit in silence...

 

[coralbandit]

Timer on 1 hour before lightsturn on.
Off one before lights go off.
Dou you have a dc or just going to watch the pH?
1 pt swing in ph is what most shoot for if not a little more.
Move up amount carefully.
Enjoy!!

 

[zer0signal]

Timer on 1 hour before lightsturn on.
Off one before lights go off.
Dou you have a dc or just going to watch the pH?
1 pt swing in ph is what most shoot for if not a little more.
Move up amount carefully.
Enjoy!!

Yeah I use a drop checker, monitor kh/ph chart, and really just observe how the fish are responding. I have had it running at around 2.4-2.8bps on a 36G, drop checker is more yellow than green (when I am at 2.8bps, tend to back this off a little at night), but fish look well while at or between these levels.

Yeah, you're right about the WC aspect, I guess I looked at it as. You really only do a big WC change once a week or so. I was worried about that swing on a daily/nightly basis. But I guess its not too much to be concerned about.

 

[Mebbid]

From what I understand, the pH shock is more of a result of osmotic stress, i.e. stress being places on the body by a sudden drop or increase in the dissolved minerals (likely TDS) in the water without the fish being able to adjust to it. pH is really just a quick look at the contents of the water.

There has been no evidence that I have seen of pH shift from Co2 causing damage to fish. Co2 is not a change in the dissolved minerals, but rather just a form of dissolved acid.

That's a horrible explanation to it.. but yeah. I can't think of a better way to put it.

I guess to summarize it we could say: Low pH because of co2 does not equal low ph because of kH.

 

[zer0signal]

From what I understand, the pH shock is more of a result of osmotic stress, i.e. stress being places on the body by a sudden drop or increase in the dissolved minerals (likely TDS) in the water without the fish being able to adjust to it. pH is really just a quick look at the contents of the water.

There has been no evidence that I have seen of pH shift from Co2 causing damage to fish. Co2 is not a change in the dissolved minerals, but rather just a form of dissolved acid.

That's a horrible explanation to it.. but yeah. I can't think of a better way to put it.

I guess to summarize it we could say: Low pH because of co2 does not equal low ph because of kH.

That makes sense Mebbid, Co2 is an acid so it would not affect the TDS. Whereas a WC would decrease or increase (in some cases) the TDS. Which then the fishes body would have to learn/adapt to process the increase or decrease of the minerals in the water.

Feel much better about all this now! Thanks guys!

 

[tiger terror]

From what I understand, the pH shock is more of a result of osmotic stress, i.e. stress being places on the body by a sudden drop or increase in the dissolved minerals (likely TDS) in the water without the fish being able to adjust to it. pH is really just a quick look at the contents of the water.

There has been no evidence that I have seen of pH shift from Co2 causing damage to fish. Co2 is not a change in the dissolved minerals, but rather just a form of dissolved acid.

That's a horrible explanation to it.. but yeah. I can't think of a better way to put it.

I guess to summarize it we could say: Low pH because of co2 does not equal low ph because of kH.

As usual,Mebbid you do not disappoint...

sit in silence...