CO2/Air Pump affect PH?

[GraemeK]

Hi,

I have a Co2 system on my tank which runs 24/7 due to the fact that it works on the yeast and sugar method.

Because of the fact that my tank is heavily planted and the temperature being warm at the moment i decided to hook up an air pump to come on at night to displace some CO2 from the water.

Will this cause the PH is go up and down too much and cause harm to the fish or not?

thanks...

 

[mrV]

O2 doesn't affect level of CO2 - they don't replace with each other. Although if you use airpump and water flows better toward surface, then CO2 level could lower ("gas-changing" happens on the usrface of water).

It's still a good idea to keep airpump "on" when water is warmer than normally (and at night too).

 

[Amusebouche]

Co2 will lower ur Ph Balance but if u change ur water once a week it should be ok .

 

[Great Lakes]

Ill offer up a practical application for better understanding. My house is pretty airtight, so I don't get real good oxygen exchange. My reef tank was running at ph 7.8 This is a little low, should be above 8. With a KH of 11, it is pretty well buffered against broad ph swings. I put a 3" airstone in the back corner, and within three days, my ph was at a rock steady 8.1 This is a system with 110 gallons! I was flabberboozled at the results.

So in a nutshell, anytime you start pumping a gas into your aquarium, br it O2 or CO2, watch it carefully. You can expect some ph changes, specially if your hardness is on the low side.

GL B)