Lowering PH using CO2

[shrimp]

:huh: Hi guys, I tried using the concentration of CO2 to lower the PH level of my CRS tank. the shrimps seems to become more active and is more willing to show themselves. Normally they will hide in between the moss and is quite reluctant to show themselves.

I understand that using this method to lower the PH not as good. Can anyone tell me their method of lowering the PH level naturally??? :huh:

[silane]

You can use peat or peat moss.

[Robin]

i didn't know lowering ph levels with co2 is bad. Why?

[Nickel]

You can use peat or peat moss.

Will peat moss turns water brownish ? If yes, any other methods of lowering PH without colouring the water ? ADA soil may not be possible unless I remove all the sand, which may then affect the CRS already inside tank.

Pls advise what to do if only way out is to change to ADA.

Many thanks.

[shaman]

Just add 1 layer of ADA on top of your current substrate. Does clay balls used for planting palm trees help to lower PH?

[shrimp]

I heard from a friend that water that is over concentrated with CO2 is toxidic. I am not sure why too.

[retardo]

Too much CO2 in the water will displace O2 (oxygen). Under normal circumstances, this usually does not happen (either injected with DIY CO2 or pressurized). The O2 content in water is usually not affected just because CO2 is injected, but high concentrations of CO2 will cause your fish or shrimp to begin suffocating. The telltale sign is fish and shrimp at the surface of your tank.

[shrimp]

Too much CO2 in the water will displace O2 (oxygen). Under normal circumstances, this usually does not happen (either injected with DIY CO2 or pressurized). The O2 content in water is usually not affected just because CO2 is injected, but high concentrations of CO2 will cause your fish or shrimp to begin suffocating. The telltale sign is fish and shrimp at the surface of your tank.

yah I noticed that the shrimps started to spring with sudden movements in the tank and started to swim around the surface of the tank. A few even looks as though they are have sudden fits, tiwitching around UPSIDE DOWN. :shocked: I quickly lower the CO2 rate and luckly no casualty was resulted. :rolleyes: >>happy ending

[Frank]

With a permanent CO2 test there should not be any problems further.

[Nickel]

Just add 1 layer of ADA on top of your current substrate.

Thanks. Will do that. But will delay any change to water parameters as just found at least 2 pregnant CRS today with dark brown eggs on their legs. :D

[silane]

I used these before I use Adasoil, they are oak bark extract.

[azn_fishy55]

Using CO2 to lower will be rather troublesome.First,it would cause alot of stress to your shrimp if the CO2 concentration is over 40 ppm.Secondly if your keeping plants,you will need to balance out the other factors of plant growth like light and nutrients.Using natural stuff like what fruitpie was showing is better that dumping any of those nasty chemicals in the tank.If your gonna use some Aqua Soil just put a small layer on top and that should be fine but for asthetic reasons I'd change the whole substrate but thats just me :D.

[Nickel]

Hi, I am thinking of using ADA Soil to lower PH from current 7.6 to below 6.0 for my CRS tank.

Like you mentioned, for asthetic reason, I prefer to change the substrate totally into ADA. Can advise how nest to do it without too much disruption and risk to CRS already in tank ? I do not have any other tank to house them temporary and afraid change of tank will be greater risk.

BTW, what is likely reason that PH can shot up in a 3ft tank (cycled for 1 month and now about 3 months) when only 10 CRS inside with 1 DW and some moss ? No died shrimps and miminal feedings.

Thanks for all advises.

[azn_fishy55]

Any change anything?Added any rocks?Did anything different?

[Frank]

@ Nickel
Maybe the water is not puffered enough. That can happen when the (carbonate- ?) hardness of the water is too low. PH changes are possible then.

[Nickel]

Thanks for advices.

azn_fishy55 : nothing aded/change. Only the K-leaf solution added to try to lower the PH. However, no visible effect.

Frank : I go check the hardness to see if within acceptable range.

Regards.

[shrimp]

Hi, I am thinking of using ADA Soil to lower PH from current 7.6 to below 6.0 for my CRS tank.

Like you mentioned, for asthetic reason, I prefer to change the substrate totally into ADA. Can advise how nest to do it without too much disruption and risk to CRS already in tank ? I do not have any other tank to house them temporary and afraid change of tank will be greater risk.

BTW, what is likely reason that PH can shot up in a 3ft tank (cycled for 1 month and now about 3 months) when only 10 CRS inside with 1 DW and some moss ? No died shrimps and miminal feedings.

Thanks for all advises.

I have just change my soil to Ada soil for the smae pupose of lowering the PH. I have about 30 CRS in my 2 ft tank... in order to cause less disruption I added the soil bit by bit until I am satisfied (about 2 inches of soil) with the amount that is in the tank. None of the CRS died during and after the movement.

I observed the shrimps in the tank and noticed that after added the soil the CRS started to move about in the open more often, instead of hiding in the moss. I also notices that the CRS have the habit of scratching the soil... not sure why... in the past they will scratch the drift wood in the tank... I guess they are flawing their clippers... :huh:

[Nickel]

I have just change my soil to Ada soil for the smae pupose of lowering the PH. I have about 30 CRS in my 2 ft tank... in order to cause less disruption I added the soil bit by bit until I am satisfied (about 2 inches of soil) with the amount that is in the tank. None of the CRS died during and after the movement.



Thanks for sharing.
1. You mean add ADA soil over the existing sand right ?
2. How many kg you use to reach 2 inch of ADA over the existing sand for 2ft tank ?
3. How far (difference) did the PH drop to from initial after adding ?

Sorry for many questions but I think it will be useful to many of us fighting the same PH problem.
Cheers.

[shrimp]

I used it over the current sand but I think it will be better if you can remove the current soil and change the water before putting in the Ada soil to effectively reduce the PH level. The sand that i have is a mixture of sand and corals hence the KH poses some resistance to the effects of the Ada soil. I measured the soil and only noticed a PH drop from 7.5 to 7-6.5, quite marginal.
Half a bag of Ada soil that cost about S$38 is more then enough to fill a 2ft then to 2 inches.

I drew the following diagram in paint as I do not have a scanner for reference. This diagram is taken from the instructional guide that came with the Ada soil. Hope it is of some use.

[dom]

One of my friend using vinegar. Guess what? His shrimp still kicking and breeding. And some of them using Sera Peat. But will have blackish water.

[shrimp]

One of my friend using vinegar. Guess what? His shrimp still kicking and breeding. And some of them using Sera Peat. But will have blackish water.

Blackish water may not be good for keeping CRS heard from a friend that it may tint the colouration of the shrimp, especially the white band.

[Robert]

Hi,
the peat will have no effect on the shrimps color. You can't tint them with peat.

Be very careful if you add vinegar. Natural vinegar is less acid than the concentrated but it also has a pH 2-3 or even less. Concentrated vinegar is a strong acid with a pH of 1-2 and can cause a lot of problems. Don't use it! If you use normal vinegar, use a bucket full of water from your tank and then drop slowly the vinegar. Measure the pH all the time, measure it a few days later. Repeat it several times to make sure the amount is ok and the effect is stable. And even if you've done all this, I don't recommend to use vinegar.

The best method to lower the pH a bit is to use peat or other natural stuff e.g. oak bark extract which slowly reacts with water. If the pH is already below 8, there is actually no need to change it. If the other parameters are ok and if you keep them well (!) with enough food, places to hide, good filtration etc. the shrimps will breed and you will also be able to raise the shrimplets. I did it for years and only my CRS made some trouble. But it came from the high KH (15dKH, later on 19dKH), not from a pH of 7.5-8 .

regards
Robert

[milalic]

I used these before I use Adasoil, they are oak bark extract.


How much would you put in your tank?

[myrontay]

Used 100% ada soil and my pH is currently 5.7.

[discuz]

Hi,

few (2)months back my water ph is 7.0 (with CO2 off) at night, by next evening, my ph is down to 6.3 after 6-7 hrs of CO2 at about 2bps. (45G)
(it's go round and round, at time i'm worry about the big change in ph during day and night, but shrimp are still ok)

but now, without CO2 at night, my ph is 6.1 and after 6-7 hrs of CO2, ph down to 5.8. (a bit worry on low ph)


Not sure is there anything to do with KH.
Now, even with 10% water change, my ph keep at 6.2(without Co2).


mk

[Jenova]

Hi,

few (2)months back my water ph is 7.0 (with CO2 off) at night, by next evening, my ph is down to 6.3 after 6-7 hrs of CO2 at about 2bps. (45G)
(it's go round and round, at time i'm worry about the big change in ph during day and night, but shrimp are still ok)

but now, without CO2 at night, my ph is 6.1 and after 6-7 hrs of CO2, ph down to 5.8. (a bit worry on low ph)


Not sure is there anything to do with KH.
Now, even with 10% water change, my ph keep at 6.2(without Co2).


mk


Hi Discuz,

Are you using ADA soil? Using CO2 to lower pH is dangerous. It will weaken the water KH. Try to avoid that if you can, else your shrimps will be drinking "tap-si cola" very soon.

IMHO,
John

[discuz]

Hi,

Actually CO2 dosing is more for my planted and the ph down is part of the side effect.
Think i just have to control by water change and balance my KH to hold the ph. thank

anyone can advise?

mk

[silane]

Hi,

Actually CO2 dosing is more for my planted and the ph down is part of the side effect.
Think i just have to control by water change and balance my KH to hold the ph. thank

anyone can advise?

mk


I don't think there is other way except to put carbonate to increase the alkalinity.

A slow decrease of PH to 5.8 is OK for CRS, so don't worry. :)

[shrimp]

I don't think there is other way except to put carbonate to increase the alkalinity.

A slow decrease of PH to 5.8 is OK for CRS, so don't worry. :)

Do you on your CO2 24/7? cause if the CO2 is 10 hrs a day the PH will swing right?

I noticed that the shrimps are much happier when there is no PH swing.

Please correct me if I am wrong. :)

[milalic]

Anyone have added HCL(muriatric acid) to lower the PH?
From what I see all of these methods we are talking about release some kind of acid to the water(Peat, CO2, oak bark extract, vinegar, etc).

[silane]

Do you on your CO2 24/7? cause if the CO2 is 10 hrs a day the PH will swing right?

I noticed that the shrimps are much happier when there is no PH swing.

Please correct me if I am wrong. :)

I on CO2 during photo period, seems that there is no effect on them for the PH change even though the PH changes.

[Repz]

When do you leave your lights on ? from what time ? does it matter if you start your photo period at 4pm and leave on for 8 hrs?
and finish at 12am?

the weather is too hot in the day for me to want to leave the lights on during the day.

[Frank]

When do you leave your lights on ? from what time ? does it matter if you start your photo period at 4pm and leave on for 8 hrs?
and finish at 12am?

the weather is too hot in the day for me to want to leave the lights on during the day.

That´s what most people do I believe.
I want to see my shrimps when I come home from work. :)
My way:
light on 4-5 hours
light off 3 hours
light on 5-6 hours