On to the next problem.........

M

Mooch28

AC Members
Dec 24, 2004
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Toronto (Brampton)
Yep, at it again......so any ways here it is.

I was looking at a chart for ph, and Kh value to figure out C02 levels. Well i tested my water, and KH is rated at 4.5 while PH is rated at 7.2 which means my current C02 level is at 8.6 ppm. The PH has been steady for weeks, but im not sure of the KH, because i just bought the test kit yesterday. Well anyways....the next step for me will be to inject C02. However for me to reach a goal of 25-30 ppm of C02, i will have to drop my PH down too 6.6/6.7

Will this not harm my fish? I have a community tank, where the fish are.....

Dwarf gouramis
Rams
Clown loaches
Barbs
Platies
Diamond tetras
Rasboras

Im just a bit concered here with such a large ph swing?

Edit: Chart can be seen here.....http://www.csd.net/~cgadd/aqua/art_plant_co2chart.htm
 
My fish didn't bat an eyelash when I added CO2 - I did add one bottle at a time so the shift was gradual, over about a week.

The pH without CO2 was 7.4, it's now 6.4 - 6.6 (lower in the morning, higher in the evening because I use DIY so CO2 is injected 24/7). It's gone down to 6.2 and none of the fish looked remotely unhappy.

RTR's been at this a long time, he won't steer you wrong ;)
 
Second opinions are always allowed and welcomed! ;)

But do remember that osmolarity does matter a great deal. If you had low pH and low KH water and did the same pH change in the opposite direction by dumping in bicarb all at once, you could shock/kill the fish. Not by the pH change itself, but by the dissolved solid addition of too-large amounts of bicarb (sudden increase in TDS and osmolarity). The acidification of dissolved CO2, or loss thereof as the plants use it during the light cycle is metabolically trivial.
 
Mooch28 said:
What do others think?

Not that i dont trust you RTR, i just want other opinions.....
Click to expand...

I think RTRs words are second to those in the Bible! :laugh:
And of course...he's right. Fish have to physically transport all kinds of stuff in and out of their system and alot happens through their gills. These transport systems can change due to the environment, but cannot change instantly. If the environment changes too rapidly, the fish is left with too much/too little stuff that is either detrimental or essential to the fish. That is referred to as shock (osmoregulatorily speaking of course) and can lead to death. :(
 
RTR said:
Second opinions are always allowed and welcomed! ;)

But do remember that osmolarity does matter a great deal. If you had low pH and low KH water and did the same pH change in the opposite direction by dumping in bicarb all at once, you could shock/kill the fish. Not by the pH change itself, but by the dissolved solid addition of too-large amounts of bicarb (sudden increase in TDS and osmolarity). The acidification of dissolved CO2, or loss thereof as the plants use it during the light cycle is metabolically trivial.
Click to expand...

Sorry, but could you put that in more simple terms......i have no idea what your saying. I say that in the most respectful manor by the way......

Ill take a stab at it though. Ok, so if i add C02 too fast, then its bad right? is that what your saying?

Thanks.
 
Can't blame you for that Mooch.......heck they lost me somewhere way back there as well.:)
Just bring it down slowly and the fish will be fine. An example: My tap water is 7.4. I do 50 - 60% water changes with that water, into a tank that reads 6.4. The fish love their change and swim right into the on-coming water. Never had a problem over pH.
BTW - I've known RTR for years and, like myself he can be a bit crotchety, but his word is gold, IMO. I don't care what anybody says.............:)

Len
 
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