Does anyone agrees on this??? Regarding Co2 in CRS tank....

[newlife]

Aquatic animals are not affected by pH as much as we think they are. Animals that live in water (fish, shrimp, crayfish, etc.) have osmostic-regulatory systems that govern how much water enters and leaves their bodies to keep them at a state of equilibrium. Equilibrium means that the animal can excrete waste (not necessarily poop) from their bodies as fast as they can take water in. The most important factor is TDS (total dissolved solids), which in its simplest terms in the combination of KH and GH (but it is actually more than just those two). If the TDS remains constant and you inject CO2, the animals in the tank will not even notice any fluctuations in pH regardless of time of day. What is important is the state of equilibrium the animals maintain due to TDS. Does that make sense?

But the presence of co2, though undetected by the shrimp, will inevitably react with the shell of the shrimp. This causes degrading shrimp shell. This is just one of the negativity of co2.

[WiNd.feNg]

bro if the basis is true, fluctuations in pH will inevitably still affect the gH, kH.

For one, there is bound to be more pH fluctuation with the insertion of co2. Combine this with the lower tolerance levels (ie less efficient regulatory systems) of shrimps as compared to other organisms and the results may not be desirable.

[Koji™]

Originally Posted by WiNd.feNg

bro if the basis is true, fluctuations in pH will inevitably still affect the gH, kH.

Isn't the fluctuation of KH that will affect the GH and PH?

[WiNd.feNg]

kH acts as a buffer to pH, ie like a sponge which absorb excess acid from the water so as to maintain pH. when pH drastically change, ie too acidic, you kH (sponge) might not be able to absorb all the acid in the water hence causing a pH crash. hahaha, hope this helps

Do you mean that you can keep BKK or normal CRS without PH level lowering soil? Just use CO2 only as long as TDS is in equilibrium?

Originally Posted by Limy

But the presence of co2, though undetected by the shrimp, will inevitably react with the shell of the shrimp. This causes degrading shrimp shell. This is just one of the negativity of co2.

erm,really?

CO2 + CaCO3 = ?

[silane]

Originally Posted by Limy

But the presence of co2, though undetected by the shrimp, will inevitably react with the shell of the shrimp. This causes degrading shrimp shell. This is just one of the negativity of co2.

CO2 + H2O --> H2CO3 form carbonic acid which some claimed that it can corude shrimp shell. And if this is a fact, then shrimps in acidic range of water will have the same effect,

Originally Posted by silane

CO2 + H2O --> H2CO3 form carbonic acid which some claimed that it can corude shrimp shell. And if this is a fact, then shrimps in acidic range of water will have the same effect,

I've read up on this actually, I think the author based it on research papers. You are right, every single invertebrae actually needs more alkalinity to varying degrees. However, the reason why people use 6.5 pH is because nitrates and nitrites are less destructive in this pH range. So it's a cost/benefit analysis, really. And if your shrimps can take it, why not? In essence, I've always thought since then that you only use pH 6.5 because there is less chance of toxicity for weaker species, although it is not really good for the shrimp shells.

Then again, theres always the argument that the ancestors of the CRS were, in fact, under pH conditions of 6.5 or lower.

In the end, I don't believe that pH should be seen as an absolute value unless you are studying pure chemistry. When used in the real world, it is always relative. For instance, in medicine, the normal blood pH for humans would typically be between 7.38 and 7.42. Any lower, and you would have smth known as acidosis, and any higher, you would have alkalosis.

Ok, I'm way off topic now, but i hope i've made my point- that the shrimp probably have their own definition of what is too acidic and what is too alkali. For all you know, if the CRS's normal pH is around 6.5, a pH of 6.8 could mean that it is too alkali, even though science defines it as an acidic condition.

I don't think it's as simple as an equation.