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RE: CO2 and sources



-----Original Message-----
Date: Thu, 20 Dec 2001 14:33:17 -0800 (PST)
From: Scott Hieber

If plants are using more CO2 than respiration provides in the tank then
the CO2 levels can drop below atmospheric equilibrium levels and CO2
will enter the tank water from the atmosphere.  That (in my experience)
requires a lot of light, can drive the pH > 9 and result in an
environment that is hostile for most plants.


Roger Miller"


> I think you missed the point that several of us
> were trying to make...that it had to come for [sic]
> the air or organic processes in the tank...I think
> everyone settled on the air having too little.

> A couple of us got into the meaning of equilibrium --
> I don't think there was any actual disagreement--we
> were just being facetiously detailed (or perhaps
> minutely facetious)...

And I'm glad we "went there". Otherwise, I'd still be laboring under the
false impression that there's about 10 times as much CO2 as there actually
is in the water ;-) (I found the mistake in my original calculations -
didn't add enough "0"s when converting ppm to a percentage in the air
concentration.)

> Truth is, I'm not sure where this CO2 thread is
> going but I think everyone agrees that the air
> has too little CO2 to be a source for the levels
> in (non-injected) aquariums...

This is certainly the case for well lighted tanks, and I don't believe
anyone questions this conclusion - even initially. Now I believe we're about
to head into that somewhat murky area where we debate whether or not it's
"necessary" to supplement a not- so- well lighted tank.

> The source of the CO2 in water, not at all uncanny,
> is not the air then, but organic processes or tanks
> of CO2 (or sometimes volcanoes if I remember the
> posts correctly) ;-) .

What about a diffuser stone placed inside one of those "flowing sand"
volcano sculptures that are available for the tank? ;-) ...

-Y-

David A. Youngker
nestor10 at mindspring_com