C02 Raising Ph

[FrankyFish]

Hi,
I am new to keeping plants in my aquarium. I am currently using the DIY mixture spoken about here on the site. The thing is, my ph swung from 7.4 and is now at 6.8. The only thing is that in that tank along with those tetras and danios, there is some platys. I know that I am kind of out of platies ranges with that value , anything I could do ? My GH is of 80 and my Kh only of around 30.

Thanks!

 

[katana750]

Hi,
I am new to keeping plants in my aquarium. I am currently using the DIY mixture spoken about here on the site. The thing is, my ph swung from 7.4 and is now at 6.8. The only thing is that in that tank along with those tetras and danios, there is some platys. I know that I am kind of out of platies ranges with that value , anything I could do ? My GH is of 80 and my Kh only of around 30.

Thanks!

Somebody will probably explain this better, but adding Co2 creates carbonic acid in the water lowering your ph, more co2 more acid, gh remains the same I am pretty sure.... its a bit of a science and if you are interested you can learn about the chemistry through a few searches. I beleive the platies perfer harder water, but I am sure they would be just as happy if the water chemistry remains stable as opposed to always fighting your water conditions. Tetras like a more acidic water and Danios I am not sure.

I have the same issues, acidic hard water...... Fish seem happy though.....plants----still working on that

Good luck

 

[Mikaila31]

A drop is normal as stated above. Those fish are hardy and neither one will be bothered by a 6.8 ph.

 

[SuperColey1]

Your Ph may fall to 1 whole point below its normal eventually. This is nothing to worry about. Ph has nothing to do with water hardness.

Most fish even though sites will tell you they want a Ph betwee x and x can actually live in a much wider bracket, so I wouldn't worry about it.

My Tap is 7.2-7.4 With CO2 I am 6.2-6.4 I have fish mainly from South America which are said to prefer in the 7 region but they are perfectly happy in this lower concentration. The CO2 will not have affected my water hardness.

Andy