Drop in pH after adding fish

[yellow05gt]

So I have a question. I just added two large fish to my reef and within the last few days after adding my pH has gone down significantly. It’s the only change to the reef and house since. The fish I added are 13.5” and 8” and are puffers. Do you think the addition of these fish is what could cause the pH to lower from 8.05 to 7.70?

 

[Doctorgori]

don’t fish “ exhale” co2 or is that negligible?

 

[yellow05gt]

This was my thoughts as well. Maybe the addition of such large fish is causing an influx of CO2 which in turn would lower the pH

 

[kingjoe]

So I have a question. I just added two large fish to my reef and within the last few days after adding my pH has gone down significantly. It’s the only change to the reef and house since. The fish I added are 13.5” and 8” and are puffers. Do you think the addition of these fish is what could cause the pH to lower from 8.05 to 7.70?

Its possible. Biotic activity does lower pH, and those are good sized fish. How many animals do you have in your tank, and how big is it?

 

[yellow05gt]

Its possible. Biotic activity does lower pH, and those are good sized fish. How many animals do you have in your tank, and how big is it?

10 fish now including the puffers, and it's a 180 (72"x24"x24"). I have a 440 display tank on the way, and that's the only reason I re-homed the puffers from someone needing to get rid of them.

 

[yellow05gt]

Do you think I should get a CO2 scrubber in place ASAP to mitigate the lowering of pH?

 

[MnFish1]

So I have a question. I just added two large fish to my reef and within the last few days after adding my pH has gone down significantly. It’s the only change to the reef and house since. The fish I added are 13.5” and 8” and are puffers. Do you think the addition of these fish is what could cause the pH to lower from 8.05 to 7.70?

How big is the tank? What are you using to measure pH?

 

[GARRIGA]

Wouldn't the tank CO2 at some point stabilize with the room? Assuming adequate aeration exists to gas off excess

 

[yellow05gt]

It’s. 72”x24”x24” 180 gallon display. And I use an Apex to measure everything

 

[MnFish1]

It’s. 72”x24”x24” 180 gallon display. And I use an Apex to measure everything

A lot of pH depends on the CO2 in the house/room. Even if you close windows, or have a party, the pH can drop. When your lights are on - assuming you have something photosynthetic the pH will go up. then down in the dark. Are you comparing it day to day at the same time - or the intraday variation?

 

[MnFish1]

BTW - the CO2 is the room is far more important than the CO2 produced by the fish. Though - I am not aware what the other 10 fish are - Oxygen would be more important than CO2. The CO2 will dissipate into the room - assuming that you have enough surface flow.