CO2 injection and ph drop......

[in2spd]

I set up the CO2 system yesterday and this is what the tank looks like b4 http://im1.shutterfly.com/media/47b9da08b3127ccec6ae9e14474c00000040O08Bbtm7FuybA9 vPho/cC/f%3D0/ps%3D50/r%3D0/rx%3D550/ry%3D400/ . Ill post pics after of co2 injected updates. Anyways my tanks ph was 7.4 naturally and i was wondering how long should i take to lower the system to 6.5???? I lowered the system .1 over a 20 hour period. Another question is that i have been doing a 40% w/c every 6 days and my water is the same ph naturally after sitting and being aireated as the tank. Now that my tanks ph will eventually maintain at 6.5 how can i do a w/c that will not hurt the discus when my tanks ph is 6.5 and the w/c barrel is at 7.4???? Do i add the water very slowly, which i do anyways with a powerhead and a hose that takes 20 minutes which may not be slow enough. Or will the disc's be able to handle a ph fluctuation i assume that may drop a few points and the co2 system ph controller (millwaukee sms122) reconize and balance the ph fast enough? Any suggestion will help.

[coloradobob]

I don't think you have quite so concerned about the ph changes. I have the same equipment for CO2 as you. My tap water is around 7.8 and I keep the tank around 7.0 with the CO2 injection. I have not had any problems with my fish (including the discus). I just do my water changes with tap water. I think you find that when you do the water change the ph swing will be quite small.

[calihawker]

I agree. I've had no problems at all. My water is normaly 7.2 and the tank is kept at 6.35 and right after water change it levels out at around 6.85 then the c02 drops it back down after about 4 hr's.

Usually it's not the rapid climb in ph that stresses fish, it's with a rapid lowering of ph. But even in my tank with a .5 drop in 4 hr's, I've never seen the fish even remotely stressed.

I'm curious why it takes so long for your c02 system to drop the tanks ph?

Absolutely beautiful tank by the way:D:D


Steve

[in2spd]

I had set up the co2 for the first time yesterday as all that growth is without co2. I didnt know if the co2 drop of nearly 1 full point would harm the disc's that's why i set up the co2 only to drop a little. Ill still probally only drop it slowly in the next few days as i have done this good without it so far and also there has been egg's every week in the tank without any positive results. Hopefully that will change sooner or later. Thanks 4 the replies!

[cyberhog05]

In my 180gal my ph starts at 7.5 and I lower it down to 6.5. I run around 4-6(roughly) bps to achieve drop. It has been this way for a while now and I have seen no trouble at all. Co2 goes off at night and back on 1.5hrs before lights on.