Can Oxygen affect PH?

[digthemlows]

I added an AquaClear over the back filter and 2 fish have stopped eating.............so I checked my PH and it's about 7.6/7.8 compared to 7.0/7.2 ..........it's always spiked by a few points when I do a water change, but never much..............so I'm curious if having the extra oxygen with the areation from the aquaclear could be upping the ph??

[phidelt85]

What it's doing is aerating your water and driving off the carbon dioxide gases in your water. By doing so, you will see a rise in your pH. This is why some people age their water prior to performing water changes. If the pH of your tap water and the pH of your tank water differ by too much your fish can be adversely affected to the point that it could even kill them.

Take a reading of your tapwater right out of the tap and record that reading. Then, take a glass of tapwater and let it set for 24 hours. If you see a difference of more that .2, then it is recommended to age your change water prior to a WC.

[digthemlows]

so will aerating your water raise PH even after it has aged? Because yes, out of the tap it is about 7.6 and I age it for 24hrs to 7.2 before I put it in (then the driftwood and plants keep it around 7.0......................should I disconnect the AQ filter?

[phidelt85]

Are you adding something to your age water to drop the pH? I have driftwood and plants in my 125, and it does nothing to lower my pH. In fact, you should see a cycling of pH throughout the day and evening as plants use and expel CO2. Yes it will raise the pH if it hasn't completely reached an equilibrium after 24 hours. Do you use heavy aeration in your storage tank?

[poconogal]

so will aerating your water raise PH even after it has aged? Because yes, out of the tap it is about 7.6 and I age it for 24hrs to 7.2 before I put it in (then the driftwood and plants keep it around 7.0......................should I disconnect the AQ filter?

Your PH can go up after aging with heavy aeration. What is your KH? Your driftwood is most likely lowering your PH further in your tank because your KH is low. To keep PH from dropping it should be a minimum of 3, but even with that, driftwood can lower your PH. It happens in my tank too, and my KH is 3 in the tank.

Just curious though, are you aging your water to lower your PH? Your tap PH of 7.6 is fine for your Discus. Many here keep their Discus in PH even higher. Since I'm on a private well, my PH changes seasonally. In winter it is usually up to about 8.2 out of the tap, in summer it is 7.6. I just let my tank PH go up and down along with the seasons. I use straight, unaged tap and do 50% WCs to keep the PH stable during the WC when the tap PH and tank PH are different.

[digthemlows]

I'm just aging it to keep the tank from spiking with a water change.....I do a 20% change every other day without aging and do a 50% once a week and let it sit in buckets (otherwise my pH will jump from 7.1ish to 7.8 during the change) I unplugged the aquaclear filter and I'm going to see if it affects anything, otherwise I think I have two discus that are being picky for other reasons.....the only real change was adding the filter and I want to rule it out......these were two of my biggest eaters and now they're hiding in the corner.......this is live blackworms too, which they all always love!

[digthemlows]

Just did a full test
PH = 7.5
GH = 6
KH = 3 (although it started to change at 2, so 2.5 might be more likely)
NO2 = <.3
Amonia = 0

Seems good to me.........

[guille2007]

Are you adding something to your age water to drop the pH? I have driftwood and plants in my 125, and it does nothing to lower my pH. In fact, you should see a cycling of pH throughout the day and evening as plants use and expel CO2. Yes it will raise the pH if it hasn't completely reached an equilibrium after 24 hours. Do you use heavy aeration in your storage tank?

My water ph raises from 7.4 to 8.3 after just 4 hours of heavy aireation.

[phidelt85]

My water ph raises from 7.4 to 8.3 after just 4 hours of heavy aireation.

I see the same thing in my 30gal "storage tank" I think it's a matter of the quantity of storage water you're trying to age.

[guille2007]

I see the same thing in my 30gal "storage tank" I think it's a matter of the quantity of storage water you're trying to age.

Yes, it seems that way, my storage tank is likely yours, 35 gal, the speeding up that CO2 is out also depends of the strength of aireation.

[phidelt85]

Yes, it seems that way, my storage tank is likely yours, 35 gal, the speeding up that CO2 is out also depends of the strength of aireation.
Exactamente, compadre!!

[guille2007]

Exactamente, compadre!!


Oh que sorpresa que hablas espanol, eres de aqui tambien?, veo que te llamas Jose :)

[phidelt85]

Oh que sorpresa que hablas espanol, eres de aqui tambien?, veo que te llamas Jose :)

No, yo vivo en los Estados pero mis padres son the Puerto Rico!! :D

[guille2007]

No, yo vivo en los Estados pero mis padres son the Puerto Rico!! :D

Ok, encantado de conocerte, estamos en el mismo hobby, veo por tus post que tienes buenos conocimientos y experiencia con los discos :)

[kaceyo]

Huh?

[phidelt85]

Huh?

LOL!! sorry Kacey, it was just a bit of a sidebar discusssion. :D

[kaceyo]

No Prob Jose. ;) Carry on.
I've been married so I'm used to not being able to understand a word someone is saying.

Kacey

[guille2007]

Ok Kacey :), here it is the translation :), Jose help me if any bug


Oh que sorpresa que hablas espanol, eres de aqui tambien?, veo que te llamas Jose :)

Oh what a surprise you do speak spanish, are you also from here(Cuba)?, I see your name is Jose(spaniard name)

[guille2007]

Kacey this another one :)


Ok, encantado de conocerte, estamos en el mismo hobby, veo por tus post que tienes buenos conocimientos y experiencia con los discos :)

Ok nice to meet you, we are in the same hobby, I see based on your posts that you have good knowledge and experience with discus

[phidelt85]

......., I see based on your posts that you have good knowledge and experience with discus

:D :D :D He's such a nice guy!! Still learning for sure thanks to this great place

[kaceyo]

Thanks for the clarification. I feel included now. :) But I was sure the word "aqui" had something to do with water. Shows what I know, lol.

Kacey

[digthemlows]

Oh que sorpresa que hablas espanol, eres de aqui tambien?, veo que te llamas Jose :)

I thought it was "Thanks for such a great post, I would like to send you 10 free discus" :):D:p but I guess I was wrong.......he he he