Factors that affect pH in QT tank?

themcfreak · Jun 7, 2018

Morning world! As the title states, I am looking at what all affects pH in a quarantine tank. I recently set one up, and just put a pH probe on it that I had lying around. It has been less than 24 hours, so I don't know what the pH will do long term, but just curious what all affects it.

I know in reef tank, it is increased by aeration generally (or chemical) and decreased by livestock (corals). However, since there are no corals, would one expect the pH to rise to high amounts? What would keep it low in QT tank? I'm not worried about chasing any numbers here, just as long as it is stable. But curiosity kills the cat

Brew12 · Jun 7, 2018

themcfreak said:
Morning world! As the title states, I am looking at what all affects pH in a quarantine tank. I recently set one up, and just put a pH probe on it that I had lying around. It has been less than 24 hours, so I don't know what the pH will do long term, but just curious what all affects it.

I know in reef tank, it is increased by aeration generally (or chemical) and decreased by livestock (corals). However, since there are no corals, would one expect the pH to rise to high amounts? What would keep it low in QT tank? I'm not worried about chasing any numbers here, just as long as it is stable. But curiosity kills the cat

It doesn't matter if it is a QT or a reef tank, pH is determined by only 2 factors. Alkalinity and CO2 content. Assuming alkalinity is constant the only variable is CO2. If CO2 goes up, pH goes down. If CO2 goes down, pH goes up.

Empress · Jun 7, 2018

Brew12 said:
It doesn't matter if it is a QT or a reef tank, pH is determined by only 2 factors. Alkalinity and CO2 content. Assuming alkalinity is constant the only variable is CO2. If CO2 goes up, pH goes down. If CO2 goes down, pH goes up.

Well said, Brew! CO2 is just "dirty air", correct?

Brew12 · Jun 7, 2018

Empress said:
Well said, Brew! CO2 is just "dirty air", correct?

Not sure if I would call it dirty, but you could look at it that way.

I prefer to think of it as used. Put a fish in a plastic bag for shipping and it will start turning the O2 into CO2 and will drop the pH. I busted my son one night when my wife and I were away. We told him he could have 1 friend over. I logged onto my controller and my pH was crashing. He had 5 friends over and they had built up enough CO2 in the house that my pH went from 8.2 to 7.8. Silly kid!

Empress · Jun 8, 2018

Brew12 said:
Not sure if I would call it dirty, but you could look at it that way.

I prefer to think of it as used. Put a fish in a plastic bag for shipping and it will start turning the O2 into CO2 and will drop the pH. I busted my son one night when my wife and I were away. We told him he could have 1 friend over. I logged onto my controller and my pH was crashing. He had 5 friends over and they had built up enough CO2 in the house that my pH went from 8.2 to 7.8. Silly kid!

LOL. That's actually pretty funny how you caught him! Kids sucking up all the air. Tell them to hold their breath next time!