Avoiding PH Crash

Soulmanure

Soulmanure

Soulmanure
Jan 27, 2005
78
0
0
54
San Francisco
I'm hanging out between a rock and a hard place. Here's the story: I purchased a JBJ regulator and set it up w/a 5 lb tank, only to find, after the second c02 tank emptied way too quickly (in three or four days), that the regulator was bunk. Now I don't have any c02 going into the tank, and I have to send the regulator back and then wait for a new one to come in the mail. In the meantime, I'd rather not attempt a DIY set up because, well, difficulties and annoyances with that led me down the pressurized road.

So here's my Q:
Can I dose with excel for a couple of weeks in order to keep my c02 and PH levels groovy? Or will the excel not do that trick?

Thanks in advance!
 
Excell will have no effect on pH but will provide the carbon your plants need. pH really does not matter so yes you could use excell until you get your co2 system up and running and everything will be fine.
dave
 
I was afraid of that--it's the ph rise I'm afraid of. the fishes have been through a few too many ph fluctuations in switiching over to the pressurized system. Hmmm....mayhaps they will just have to rough it.
 
pH changes without a change in TDS will not hurt your fish. What is comonly called pH shock is really osmotic shock caused by changes in dissolved solids. Since co2 has no bearing on dissolved solids, KH or GH your fish will not feel the effects of the pH swings it creates. My tanks are usually 6.6 in the morning when the lights come on and 7.2 by afternoon. I have on several occasions shut off co2 and had the pH jump to almost 8 from 6.8. The fish do not care. change the dissolved solids levels rapidly and you will have problems.
Dave
 
Good information to know--I can now relax a bit. Thanks for the peace of mind, daveedka.
 
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