PH Levels

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dynamic21

New Member
How are you guys adjusting/buffering the PH in the water you use for water changes? My 10 Gallon seems to have settled in at 8.3 for the past 2 weeks but I can't get my replacement water up to 8.3 for water changes. I've tried baking soda but it sits at 7.8. I don't want to add much baking soda really because 1 tsp per 5 gallons brings the PH up to 7.8-8.0 but shoots the dKH deep into the 30's.

I'm thinking of buying Seachem's marine buffer 8.3 and mixing it into every new batch of salt water. Is this a good idea? And no, the salt mix doesn't buffer the PH past 7.8, so I really do need a way to get my replacement water's PH up.
 
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reefman23

New Member
Which salt mix are you using? You may want to try one that has a higher pH. Otherwise, I use Seachem's Reef Buffer. But like you said, that can cause the pH to rise as well. What is the temp of the replacement water when you test the pH?

Jesse
 
skipm

skipm

Moderator
Staff member
Make sure that the water is well aerated for at least 24 hours after mixing the salt in, some mixes need time to stabilize before being added to the tank. The aeration will also allow excessive co2 to be blown off which also keep pH low.
 
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dynamic21

New Member
Sorry for the late follow-up. I actually realized the reason why my PH was all funky for that batch of replacement water. I was being an idiot and decided to add some calcium buffer to that batch without even testing the calcium levels.

Of course, it clouded up for a day, but it cleared itself out the next day, so I thought I didn't do much damage. I added baking soda to raise the alkalinity a bit, but then I tested the water's PH and it was down at 7.8. (Yup, disaster replacement water). Anyways, I ended up throwing it all away and starting over, this time nothing BUT salt and water. PH came in at 8.3.

I actually read a post on here the very next day about how nano-tanks don't need any additives because of the weekly water changes.... sweeet.

Just to answer some questions, I use Deep Ocean's premium reef formula. I mix it with RO water at 78 degrees, and do 50% weekly water changes. I have a 10 gallon nano tank. It's at 6 weeks now, with 2 LPS and a zoanthid frag. Haven't lost any livestock since I started, so I'm happy.
 
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