Post by Allaquatica on Sept 24, 2006 3:00:57 GMT -5
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 and similar fish 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.
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 and similar fish 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.
