pH crash, lesson learned

[mmedeiros2]

Hi Mike - IslandCrow, I think it was Michael from England that posted a pic of air tubing snaked up the wall into the attic. Nice job. The tubing went through a finish wall plate that was prob. mounted to a plaster ring for a nice finish look.
Also, a buttoned up house is not a healthy house. It might be cost efective, but there should be fresh air exchange. The last days of when I was wiring houses they were starting to build completly sealed homes. They would always have a system with small finish look fans that drew air in the basement and small finished fans in the ceilings on each floor would continue forcing the air through the house and into the attic. All nursing homes, hospitals, jails, and large buildings have to have air exchangers installed.
Here is a link to air exchangers for the home. This is the way to go for us and the fish ph issues. Having it done is another issue. Nice talking to ya.
http://www.airexchangers.info/air_exchanger_basics.html

http://www.otpco.com/ProductsServices/HeatRecoveryAirExchanger.asp

 

[Lyfey]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15264385#post15264385 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by mmedeiros2
Lyfey - Mabey your house is larger, and less people and pets breathing in the house than most? Are any of the return air ducts leaking and sucking in fresh air? Not to mention you have a 125 gal. Just a thought. There is no doubt that high levels of co2 will drop your ph. I have watched it, proved it, and tested it. You would not beleive the difference with just my dog sleeping with me instead of sleeping alone. This is an issue with many. Try searching the posts and see what you come up with.

I actually gave it some thought. My apartment is only about 850 square feet. There is a window directly next to my tank which has been broken down into a 75 gallon with an oceanic model 2 sump. I had to move an hour away and I need to update my profile thanks for reminding me. I cracked the window about an inch and a half next to the tank. Its just my cat alone in the apartment when the lady and I are at work. I will test the differences now that I have some knowledge on the fact, and I have been doing some research on co2 levels since this topic has been started. Lets see if the crack does anything, last test of pH was on thursday I believe at 7pm was 8.1 with an Elos test kit. I will test again tonight at 7pm since opening the window yesterday. To make this expiriment directly not stable, I am in the process of converting over my bare bottom system to a 1-2inch sandbed. I believe this will effect the pH in its own. I have 1/2 - 1" in the tank now, I will add the rest of the ~10-15lbs of sand tonight. The sand is not live sand but will be when my culture from my 125 gallon (which is currently in its own 29 gal system) will be introduced.
Suscribed btw.

 

[Lyfey]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15264385#post15264385 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by mmedeiros2
This link was my post that IslandCrow was talking about. I run a pump from outside instead of sucking the air in. If I don't run the pump to an airstone, the ph will not climb much at all during the day. IMO air has to be drawn, or pumped into the tank to minimize the prob. if your not dosing kalk. My results are prob. worst than most because I am dealing with a 10 gal. for now.
http://reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=1530009

Lyfey - Mabey your house is larger, and less people and pets breathing in the house than most? Are any of the return air ducts leaking and sucking in fresh air? Not to mention you have a 125 gal. Just a thought. There is no doubt that high levels of co2 will drop your ph. I have watched it, proved it, and tested it. You would not beleive the difference with just my dog sleeping with me instead of sleeping alone. This is an issue with many. Try searching the posts and see what you come up with.

 

[mmedeiros2]

It is a lot easier to notice when using a digital ph monitor. Lets see how you make out though.
Now that the weather is warm, I have had my window open for over a week now 24 hrs./day. My ph hit an all time high after 5 days of the window being open. 82.5. With opening the window just in the day while at work, the ph would never go above 8.15. This shows that it took almost a week for the water to completely balance out, and this is only a 10 gal. tank. I would imagine that it would take somewhat longer for a larger tank. I will find out when my 75 goes up.