I have read that your not suppose to use carbon in the filters when you have discus is this true? Also, does having air bubbles increase ph? My ph has always been 7.2 with plants and pessurized CO2. Just this week I removed the carbon and added the air bubbles and my ph spiked to 7.6. Any one know what might have caused it?
Discus tank ?
- Thread starter rdzralph
- Start date
Some Discus folks don't like carbon and consider it a breeding ground for Hexamita(flagellated protozoans)..for this reason they suggest you remove the carbon.
what is the normal pH of your tank with pressurized CO2 turned off?
CO2 can lower the pH. it is often used as an indicator of CO2 levels..but if you remove the pressurized CO2 the pH will go back to normal(assuming you have enough buffers to begin with)
I suspect that when you added air bubbles you increased surface aggitation which would off gas the CO2. this would have about the same effect as turning the CO2 off.
what is the normal pH of your tank with pressurized CO2 turned off?
CO2 can lower the pH. it is often used as an indicator of CO2 levels..but if you remove the pressurized CO2 the pH will go back to normal(assuming you have enough buffers to begin with)
I suspect that when you added air bubbles you increased surface aggitation which would off gas the CO2. this would have about the same effect as turning the CO2 off.
Air bubbles have no effect on pH, except to outgass CO2.
When you are adding co2, it lowers the pH but once the co2 is removed from the water, the buffers are self restoring and the pH will rise to its natural level.
Carbon should not effect pH either.
When you test your tap water do you either bubble it a glass for an hour or leave it sitting overnigh before testing? if not you may not be getting an accurate reading of your tap pH.
I do not run carbon on any of my tanks unless I need to remove medications. This includes both tanks with discus.
When you are adding co2, it lowers the pH but once the co2 is removed from the water, the buffers are self restoring and the pH will rise to its natural level.
Carbon should not effect pH either.
When you test your tap water do you either bubble it a glass for an hour or leave it sitting overnigh before testing? if not you may not be getting an accurate reading of your tap pH.
I do not run carbon on any of my tanks unless I need to remove medications. This includes both tanks with discus.
two tanks is correct..air bubbles would not normally have an effect on pH except that may off gasses CO2 .. which..
if you are adding the correct dose of CO2 your pH should drop..then go back to normal after CO2 is turned off.
if you are adding CO2 in the right amount the bubble may off gas and counter act the CO2. thereby allowing the pH to stay at normal.
as mentioned ...test your tap water after it has had a chance to stabilize(add air bubbler or other circulation)
I have planted Discus tank with pressurized CO2(it does drop with CO2 injection then goes back to normal when it is turned off) I use a drop checker for this.
I do not add airstones/bubblers.
if you are adding the correct dose of CO2 your pH should drop..then go back to normal after CO2 is turned off.
if you are adding CO2 in the right amount the bubble may off gas and counter act the CO2. thereby allowing the pH to stay at normal.
as mentioned ...test your tap water after it has had a chance to stabilize(add air bubbler or other circulation)
I have planted Discus tank with pressurized CO2(it does drop with CO2 injection then goes back to normal when it is turned off) I use a drop checker for this.
I do not add airstones/bubblers.
No bubbles in any tanks unless they use sponge filters. One discus tank has a sponge filter, the other does not.
