Adding air to salt water?

[droth]

I'm wondering if it would beneficial to add an air stone to the large pale that I'm mixing my salt water in? Sometimes my water can sit for a week or two with just a heater and power pump. What are your thoughts on this?

David

 

[PRC]

No airstone...

What do you mean your water can "sit"? As in, no flow?

 

[droth]

No it does have a power head to move the water around but I only change about 20 percent of the aquarium water ever two weeks so it does sit for a while. So no air you say, thanks.

 

[tnconcept]

I dont think there is any life that you would be preserving in that mix water. So air stone is not need. Maybe a pump to keep it mix very well. Just my 2 cent.

 

[BL1]

Air stones are a fresh water technology. There's no reason to use them. If you do it'll mess with the pH of your water.

 

[droth]

Thanks for the comments gang. I'm just trying to think outside the box for anything that may help make the water quality better for my aquatic family.

David

 

[Sunshine]

What are your thoughts on aerating your water to get rid of Co2 ? I heard that Co2 produces carbonic acid that can drive Alk and PH down. I have this problem with my water in my freshwater tank and my pond. Someone told me this, I don't know all the in's and out's of the logic. I have PH out of my tap at 9, but some how it will go down in the tanks and pond.

 

[Sunshine]

Guess no one has heard of doing this ..

 

[sen5241b]

I use airstones occasionally to create flow but they really do not add that much oxygen to the water --skimmers will though.

 

[Sunshine]

Thanks Sen. I don't know if it works or not. My ALK is always low, and someone suggested doing this.

 

[Mandarin66]

i never measured my ALK lol

 

[Sunshine]

From what I've read, it's suppose to be around 8 drops or above. The last time I tested, it was 3 drops .. or 53.7 ppm. It's the same in my freshwater also. It's an ongoing battle :frustrat:

 

[Mandarin66]

what does ALK do?

 

[Sunshine]

All I know is that if the Alk is too low, it lowers the PH. At least that is the way it is in my tank. I've had my freshwater crash a lot. I don't know all the technical part of what ALK does. Someone more knowledgeable in that will have to chime in.

 

[Mandarin66]

i dont see nothing wrong with my ph it still at 8.0 and i use air pumps all the time

 

[Sunshine]

I don't test a lot, I probably should .. but the last time I tested, my PH was 7.2 in the freshwater and 7.6 in the saltwater.

 

[Mandarin66]

damn that low lol

 

[Piratefish]

I don't test a lot, I probably should .. but the last time I tested, my PH was 7.2 in the freshwater and 7.6 in the saltwater.

Wow that is low so is your Alk you should try dosing with Bionic or Bluk reef supply has a cheaper two part system that is very easy to use and cost effective.

What kind of salt are you using?

 

[Sunshine]

I'm using Oceanic now. I have tried Kent and SeaChem. The same thing happens no matter what salt I use. I even add buffer to the salt when I mix it. The water in the tote is PH 7.8 KH 10 drops .. 179.

 

[Piratefish]

Well I guess that it depends on what type of coral you are keeping. Try checking your Mag and Ca as well. I know that Bulkreefsupply.com has two systems for the Alk and Ca, one will slightly raise the Ph and One will lower it. I have found that my sps coral like higher Alk up around 10 or 11 dkh. Keep in mind that dosing 2 part will also over time raise the salt level so keep an eye on that if you dose.