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Originally Posted by aromano
Just curious given the mass of the Earth's atmosphere and CO2 being present at roughly 400 PPM globally where could the additional CO2 be coming from that's causing their problem in that room? Super tight non ventilated room ? Seems like you would need continuous extra CO2 to effect pH that much.
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Yeah mostly ventilation issues, most modern buildings are constructed with the heat insulation as a priority which also makes them pretty well sealed.
Also, in doors CO2 levels are always much higher than outdoor CO2. One study found leves change between 550ppm to 1400ppm (
https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/...=.8632f5fbfafa). And the main source of CO2 in doors is humans and any other animals. If you have a gas burning furnace, gas burning oven or fireplace, those add to it as well. Most of the pH related entries happen during the winter since people spent more time in doors, windows are closed and furnaces are working. Also atmospheric CO2 levels increase in northern hemisphere winter since land photosynthesis decrease. Keep in mind 400ppm is also average atmospheric CO2 level. Levels can be a lot higher in cities or even higher in a house next to a highway or factory.
For an aquarium anything that is living in the tank and has a net CO2 production are also sources. Unlike ocean we dont have large number of phytoplankton or sea grass or other autotrophs to consume CO2. That is why fuges with macro algea are great ways to control pH.