zeone03

I've got a 20g tank that I have a DIY CO2 using a 2L. My water's ph from the tap is about 8.5. My DIY CO2 drops the ph down to around 7.2. I'll have my plants on Thurs and planned on dosing using the EI method. Would doing a 50% water change and putting water in with a ph of 8.5 and then dropping back down to around 7.2 be too much of a ph swing.

Also I hooked the CO2 up yesturday to make sure I was doing the DIY CO2 right and work, which it is pretty good. I'm using a hagen ladder to disolve it which is does probably 90% (the bubbles shrink to almost nothing by the time they reach the top). Since my plants won't be here until thurs can I just leave the CO2 running or should I take it out until I get the plants?

Thanks
Jason

Jookie

I would just leave it on. I have never killed plants from pH swings. Fish and shrimp are more fragile in that respect. In fact, I am switching to PPS method just to avoid the pH swings with water changes for the health of my animals.

zeone03

I'll be getting some fish once things get setup and running smoothly and stable. To avoid the ph 8.5 to 7.2 swing could I lower the water change % and dose a little less to compensate for changing less water weekly.

K20A2

That’s a nice serious drop in PH. Something I would like to achieve for sure. Mind sharing some details about what kind of filter you are using and the placement of your hagen ladder?

zeone03

I have a Aquascape filter and the ladder is just to the right of it.

$eaba$$

I'm just starting DIY co2 on my 20 gallon high. My pH is around 7 all the time. Will the co2 mess with my pH at all, and if so, around how much? Should I be worried?

John N.

The addition of gas CO2 will lower your pH to a certain degree. Usually around 0.5-1.0 pH using DIY CO2 and a good diffusion method like the hagen ladder. I don't think there should be anything to worry about.

If you want to do less frequent waterchanges to bimonthly, you can dose your fertilizers less and at the same time reduce the lighting period to 8 hours.

-John N.


-John N.