Acidosis/planted tanks

[Bumblebee]

A condition to look out for if you have heavily planted tanks with C02.

It is usually caused by a rapid PH drop at night when co2 (emitted by the plants at night, fish, and co2 if you are adding it) causes a sometimes huge ph drop. In extreme cases this may be 2-4 points on a ph chart. Usually this is not a problem when a tank is first set up but may become a problem a few months down the track when fish, plants get larger and emit more co2 and also as organic waste builds up.

with high ph loving guppies this may be a huge problem. Early warning signs may be fish gasping at surface and frayed fins (gills and fins damaged by acidic water) this will usually be noticed first thing in the morning. Fish seeming to partially recover during the day. Usually daytime ph will still read normal.

the soloution? Unfortunatly only getting up for some very early morning ph tests then adding buffers to prevent drastic drops if there is a problem.

[tidus97]

Or you can use medications such as my faveourate 'BULLSEYE PH 7.0' which will automatical raise/ lower the ph to the indicated level.(note: i have seen BULLSEYE PH 7.5 and i am sure there is others out there such as PH 6.5 and PH 8.0 etc.)

[Bumblebee]

This may be a problem though if you are very serious about your planted tank as a few of these products adjust phosphates to adjust and set ph. Simply adding a calcium carbonate soloution to raise KH (preventing the ph swing) or adding shellgrit to raise ph and kh will also work wonders. if you are 'not so serious' this wouldnt be a problem though.

[tidus97]

quote: few of these products adjust phosphates
what does this do to my plants health?

[Bumblebee]

I am unsure. They may cause unwanted rapid growth of some plants, or possibly be ineffective because the plants absorb the phosphate? I have used it in small planted tanks and there appears to be little effect. Most of these products carry warnings not to use with plants but I am unsure as to what they actually do to them. adding medications such as any of the 'Blue or greens' will kill plants and they carry no warning at all.