Are your fish acting strangely due to water quality or other environmental factors?

[Cobyx]

I find this topic quite fascinating, as it relates to marine fish, but also makes me think about the implications for my planted tanks with CO2 supplementation. If the balance is off, I suppose it could lead to some inebriated fish, which is an amusing thought.

"CO2 can concentrate in the bloodstream of reef fish, and they will eventually suffer the effects of hypercapnia due largely to inadequate respiration (not enough oxygen getting to their brains and organs)." It seems that fish experiencing this issue display signs of disorientation and poor decision-making; they lose their sense of direction and also become overly bold, losing their natural fear of predators. Essentially, they appear to be intoxicated.

https://reefs.com/fish-can-get-drunk-on-co2/

[skymist]

So my EasyCarbo's made them into CO2 guzzlers?

[Cobyx]

The study I mentioned is linked through the article, though I haven't had a chance to thoroughly examine it yet to see if the findings also apply to freshwater fish. Offhand, I'm not aware of any reason why it wouldn't, except possibly if it's pH-dependent, but biologically speaking, it shouldn't make a difference.

As I mentioned earlier, I still think that as long as the plants are absorbing the CO2, there shouldn't be an issue, but it's possible that this could be the explanation for some unusual behavior in people's fish that hasn't been accounted for before.

[skymist]

I was just about to dive into the link, but I thought I'd share my initial thoughts first. Having now read the article, I see it specifically focuses on reef fish and the effects of CO2 on them, particularly at pH levels below 8.1. Given my tank's pH is around 6.5, I reckon if this were applicable to freshwater fish, mine would be utterly inebriated, stumbling about and warbling off-key tunes while proclaiming their undying affection for the plants and driftwood.

Drink!

[Cobyx]

It seems like FW keepers should also be mindful of this, even if the study only looked at reef fish. As long as the plants are using up the Co2, it shouldn't be a problem, but if the balance is off, it could potentially cause issues in our tanks.

[boomer]

Akasha, this issue revolves around CO2 gas, not liquid carbon - that's a different story. CO2 gas can indeed be problematic for freshwater fish. We've discussed this before, actually - last year, to be exact. I recall an article from PFK that sparked the conversation, which I'll link below:

http/www.practicalfishkeeping.co.uk/content.php?sid=6769

The blue citation in my signature, by the way, originated from that same article.

[vyno9]

I'm intrigued by the concept of "poor judgment" in fish. What exactly constitutes this? Is it when a fish takes a reckless leap at a gap in the decor, only to find itself wedged in a rather undignified position? Or perhaps it's when a normally timid fish decides to pick a fight with a tankmate known for being a bit of a bully?

I'm struggling to imagine how scientists would quantify "poor judgment" in fish. Did they observe fish swimming erratically, bumping into things, or making unusual decisions? Or was it something more subtle, like a change in social behavior or an increase in risk-taking?

It's also possible that the scientists noticed changes in breeding behavior, with normally shy fish becoming more bold or aggressive. Or maybe they saw fish taking more risks when foraging for food, like going for a baited hook. Although, I seem to recall that research has shown some fish are more prone to taking bait due to genetic predisposition – unless, of course, they were all drunk at the time.

[Cobyx]

I'm still curious about how they figured out "poor judgement" in fish. I think it's based on how they react to predators - like, do they swim away or just hang around, thinking they're invincible or something.

[skymist]

Just when you think you've got it all figured out, something new comes along and throws everything into question. I'm starting to second-guess all my decisions about my tank, and it's really frustrating. I've had two fish die recently and now I'm worried that my liquid carbon is the culprit. I know it's supposed to be good for the plants, but what if it's harming my fish? It's making me rethink everything I thought I knew about keeping a healthy tank.

[Cobyx]

No, this issue specifically concerns gas CO2, not liquid carbon. Boomer's clarification is spot on. I want to reiterate that as long as the CO2 level is suitable for the plants' consumption, it won't pose a problem.