rjordan393
Reefing newb
Is buffer the answer for a dropping pH. Not always. Dosing on a daily basis can mess up your tank chemistry. Overnight drops of 0.1 to 0.2 can be considered normal. The pH should climb back up during the day.
What is not known or considered by many marine aquarist's is that the "carbon dioxide" concentration in the home has an effect on the pH. I started to study these effects after I noticed my pH dropping while the lights were on.
My tank was located in my basement recreation room and sometimes I needed to use a supplementary non-vented natural gas heater. I discovered that the gas heater gave off sufficient CO2 to drive down the pH lower then normal. What I did not know is at what concentration does CO2 affect the pH downward.
I been out of the hobby for about 8 years and I am trying to recall an article I submitted to "Aquarium Frontiers Online Magazine" and was accepted and published. I cannot find access to all the issues to find the article, If someone knows a source where I can search for all their issues, I would appreciate it. I am going to try the public library. But know this: In homes that are well sealed, CO2 can easily rise to 800 ppm or higher depending on how many people are in the home and whether the family spends a lot of time cooking on gas appliances. The ambient level is approximately 340 plus ppm. The article lists the data I collected and mentions the instrument I purchased to monitor the CO2 concentration in the indoor air. The monitor was expensive.
So what can a hobbiest do?
1. Open a nearby window to dilute the high concentration.
2. Ask a biologist what large indoor plants work best at removing CO2 and their needs.
# 1 would not be popular when the airconditioning or furnace is on but the Spring and Fall weather should allow you to do this. Do not forget to close and lock it when you leave the house.
Aerating with skimmers and airstones will not give good results because CO2 readily enters saltwater at the air/water interface. CO2 enters the water about as fast as its removed. The answer lies in control of the indoor concentration to keep the pH more stable.
What is not known or considered by many marine aquarist's is that the "carbon dioxide" concentration in the home has an effect on the pH. I started to study these effects after I noticed my pH dropping while the lights were on.
My tank was located in my basement recreation room and sometimes I needed to use a supplementary non-vented natural gas heater. I discovered that the gas heater gave off sufficient CO2 to drive down the pH lower then normal. What I did not know is at what concentration does CO2 affect the pH downward.
I been out of the hobby for about 8 years and I am trying to recall an article I submitted to "Aquarium Frontiers Online Magazine" and was accepted and published. I cannot find access to all the issues to find the article, If someone knows a source where I can search for all their issues, I would appreciate it. I am going to try the public library. But know this: In homes that are well sealed, CO2 can easily rise to 800 ppm or higher depending on how many people are in the home and whether the family spends a lot of time cooking on gas appliances. The ambient level is approximately 340 plus ppm. The article lists the data I collected and mentions the instrument I purchased to monitor the CO2 concentration in the indoor air. The monitor was expensive.
So what can a hobbiest do?
1. Open a nearby window to dilute the high concentration.
2. Ask a biologist what large indoor plants work best at removing CO2 and their needs.
# 1 would not be popular when the airconditioning or furnace is on but the Spring and Fall weather should allow you to do this. Do not forget to close and lock it when you leave the house.
Aerating with skimmers and airstones will not give good results because CO2 readily enters saltwater at the air/water interface. CO2 enters the water about as fast as its removed. The answer lies in control of the indoor concentration to keep the pH more stable.
