Re: ph Control

[IDMiamiBob <IDMiamiBob@aol.com>]

Gareth writes:

<<snip> In
> addition to my Apisto tanks I have a 150G Plant tank. So there you go.
> Why can't I use CO2 injection to set my ph at whatever level I need for
> the particular fish in the tank. I realize it isn't very cost effective
> but I just wonder if it is worth looking into. My tap water is extremely
> soft KH 1 GH4 PH 7.4. and I don't have many problems keeping my fish
> alive and healthy but I do seem to have problems spawning them. <snip>>
>>

It seems to me that CO2 injection is going to work just fine, especially as
your water is already kind of soft.  You may tend to see the plant metabolism
in its day/night cycle drive the pH up during the day and allow it to go back
down at night.  That is probably not the best arrangement for breeding
Apistos, but if you can establish enough COO2 in the system to keep pH below
7.0 at all times,  it should help promote spawning.

You mention having A. cacatuoides in other tanks.  This species is less pH
sensitive for spawning.  They will probably spawn at 7.4 just fine, although a
sex-scewing may occur as the fry grow up.

Certainly CO2 injection will help the plant growth if lighting is adequate.
But that's another list, so I won't go into it here.

You might experiment with a DIY yeast-based CO2 generator (see the Krib)
before investing in a full-blown bottled injection system.

Bob Dixon