If you were satisfied with your PH and GH beforehand, you just need to boost your GH up to at least 4.
PH Crash
- Thread starter calivivarium1
- Start date
ok... why has nobody mentioned that pH swings due to co2 are not dangerous to fish like a crash from lack of buffer?
also... 10ppm co2 is not overdoing it in the least. you pH may have crashed, but it was due to the no buffer situ, not the co2.
also... 10ppm co2 is not overdoing it in the least. you pH may have crashed, but it was due to the no buffer situ, not the co2.
Yeah, better needle valves aren't much but for now I have to make do. I'll be getting a pay raise soon and will probably tear down this tank when I move come springtime. I'll go all out at that point with something much bigger...
So, anyway thanks for the help guys. I can always count on ya'll to set me straight. So I guess I'll use baking soda for now, and then when my Barr's stuff comes in I'll switch to that(will be buying it eventually anyway). Drop checker should be on the way as well.. I checked out those DIY plans(thanks btw) but at this point I have $13 to spend more than I have an hour or two making something.
So, anyway thanks for the help guys. I can always count on ya'll to set me straight. So I guess I'll use baking soda for now, and then when my Barr's stuff comes in I'll switch to that(will be buying it eventually anyway). Drop checker should be on the way as well.. I checked out those DIY plans(thanks btw) but at this point I have $13 to spend more than I have an hour or two making something.
Simple, CO2 is not a "salt". It does not affect osmoregulation like KH does.
There are many many references about pH, but they do address additions of CO2 gas's influence on pH, so folks think it's pH change that causes issues and they apply this broadly for all cases, even where CO2 is added, and thus a myth is "born".
"Large pH swings from adding CO2 is bad for fish."
This has no basis and succinctly put: a myth.
There is physiological support, observational support(plant folks have been doing it for decades without so much as an issue with the most sensitive species), natural ecosystem support where large plant biomass changes the CO2 content every day , often moving the pH by 2-3 units, in some places, as much as 4 pH units every day and where fish are present.
KH however stays relatively stable.
pH changes even if you have no to very little KH due to CO2 also have no known negative effects, at least I've never been able to find any issues with super soft KH valves at 10ppm or less of alkalinity.
Plants want CO2.
I cannot directly measure CO2 as you get below about 10ppm of KH, but the CO2 dosing rate and concentration does not change if all you change is the KH nor does the plant demand.
If the KH keeps dropping, then it likely means you do not have enough CO2 in the system for the light and plant biomass you have. Thus adding more CO2 and adding a bit of baking soda is useful.
Plants will use the KH as a carbon source if the CO2 ppm are limiting.
So that is a good sign you are not adding enough CO2.
13$ ought to be enough to DIY a good CO2 reactor, but you still need good flow in the tank also.
Regards,
Tom Barr
Thanks for the info Mr. Barr. Though I had to read that twice(I am a Political Science major), it makes sense. I should have been more clear in my original post, however. What attracted to me of the problem wasn't so much the PH swing but rather the fact that my Dario dario were gasping at the surface for air and acting very lethargic.
I will do a water change tonight(its that time anyway) with some baking soda, then fire up the co2 tomorrow morning on a low setting again until the drop checker arrives.
I will do a water change tonight(its that time anyway) with some baking soda, then fire up the co2 tomorrow morning on a low setting again until the drop checker arrives.
hehe, whats wrong with that? I couldn't think of any other title off the top of my head that wouldn't come across as either patronizing or smart alecky...
