O2 levels

I am currently having a problem with my tanks, the two mounted in the wall (backsides are in the mechanical space), pH is currently low. But my other two tanks are just fine, which makes me believe that i have a higher concenteration of CO2 in the mechanical space. i was hoping there was another way, other than ozone, to get more oxygen into my aquarium. I don't think that bubbling more air from the mechanical space would help raise my O2.

Thanks,
Dustin

 

Dustin75

IMO you have probably isolated the cause of the problem as the CO2 wont be escaping that enclosed space as quickly as you want it to

can you incorporate any vents in the surrounding area
could you locate fans in the mechanical space that could be directed to circulate the air in and out of said space

Steve

 

I agree with Steve, but also to clarify adding O2 (oxygen, not air) doesn't affect pH directly. Exchanging air in the area to reduce CO2 is what you need to do as long as you have a source of air that has less CO2 in it.

Do a test by removing a cup of tank water from the tank and take it to another room or outside and run an airstone through it for some minutes and then retest pH, if it rises then you've found a better source of air with lower CO2 (at least at that particular time).

 

What makes you focus on O2? What is your ALK?

 

I tried the cup of water trick and the pH went up by .1 -.2, so I assumed this must be because the tanks are in a mechanical space. The readings from my salifert test kit said my ALK is 11.5dKH on one tank and 10.6dKH on the other. As a side note I dose with B-Ionic, and I use pH meter, not a test kit, so I'm sure my reading are accurate. Will an ozone generator bring up the o2 content.

Thanks,
Dustin

 

Good place to read: Ozone and the Reef Aquarium, Part 1: Chemistry and Biochemistry by Randy Holmes-Farley - Reefkeeping.com

The best thing is to install a fan into your mechanical room as Steve mentioned, your open tank surface require's fresh oxygen in order to perform a gas exchange.

 

I may be stating the obvious, but what was mentioned is important. It is about gas exchange, not O2 content. It isn't that the mech space does not have enough O2, it is that it can't get rid of enough CO2. If you skimmer is in there, it is driving off CO2, but if all it does is collect in the space, then it does not help. Fresh air exchange in the mech space to rid CO2 is the key. If you can't route fans or what not, perhaps you may be able to reroute your skimmer air draw to fresh air. Then it would not be sucking off a CO2 rich space. Just make sure it is not restrictive to hamper skimmer performance. I tried this on mine, but it did me no good. The house has increased CO2 durring Winter, not just the closet my sump is in.