does salt mix set your ph or must u add buffer?
- Thread starter drea
- Start date
lion_crazz
Active Member
Depends on the salt you are using. Always test a new batch of salt after you have had it mixing for 24-48 hours.
Oceanic gives me an excellent calcium and magnesium level, but a very low alk, so I add dkH buffer to my water change water every week.
Oceanic gives me an excellent calcium and magnesium level, but a very low alk, so I add dkH buffer to my water change water every week.
alyssia
Active Member
Originally Posted by lion_crazz
Depends on the salt you are using. Always test a new batch of salt after you have had it mixing for 24-48 hours.
Oceanic gives me an excellent calcium and magnesium level, but a very low alk, so I add dkH buffer to my water change water every week.
I have a dumb question...how does buffer work? Will it only raise it too a certain level or can it raise it too high? I've always wondered.
Depends on the salt you are using. Always test a new batch of salt after you have had it mixing for 24-48 hours.
Oceanic gives me an excellent calcium and magnesium level, but a very low alk, so I add dkH buffer to my water change water every week.
I have a dumb question...how does buffer work? Will it only raise it too a certain level or can it raise it too high? I've always wondered.
lion_crazz
Active Member
Well, if you add too much buffer, it will raise the pH too high. If you keep your kH/alk level within the safe range (8-12 dkH), your pH will only be raised to 8.3.
lion_crazz
Active Member
Well the key is knowing your alk and calcium levels. If these are in line, you will not have pH problems/fluctuations.
It may not be affecting them now, but I would rather be safe than sorry.
Alkalinity buffers do not buffer water quickly. They are designed this way so as not to stress your fish with quick fluctuations in alkalinity and/or pH.
Did you test the alk and calcium on this tank?
If you alk is low, your pH will have a hard time keeping stable. Carbonate hardness (kH) determines how stable your pH is and how prone it is to fluctuations. If your kH is in the safe range, it will resist fluctuations by buffering the pH back up before it is able to sink down below 8.0 or 8.1. If the kH is not in the safe range, your pH will be able to drop because there is not enough carbonate hardness to keep it up consistently.
It may not be affecting them now, but I would rather be safe than sorry.
Alkalinity buffers do not buffer water quickly. They are designed this way so as not to stress your fish with quick fluctuations in alkalinity and/or pH.
Did you test the alk and calcium on this tank?
If you alk is low, your pH will have a hard time keeping stable. Carbonate hardness (kH) determines how stable your pH is and how prone it is to fluctuations. If your kH is in the safe range, it will resist fluctuations by buffering the pH back up before it is able to sink down below 8.0 or 8.1. If the kH is not in the safe range, your pH will be able to drop because there is not enough carbonate hardness to keep it up consistently.
alyssia
Active Member
Originally Posted by lion_crazz
Well the key is knowing your alk and calcium levels. If these are in line, you will not have pH problems/fluctuations.
It may not be affecting them now, but I would rather be safe than sorry.
Alkalinity buffers do not buffer water quickly. They are designed this way so as not to stress your fish with quick fluctuations in alkalinity and/or pH.
Did you test the alk and calcium on this tank?
I will. My other parameters are fine (ha ha) but I will check the alk and calcium also, I used purple up in that tank
I'm sure I threw my levels off.
Learned my lesson with that one.
Well the key is knowing your alk and calcium levels. If these are in line, you will not have pH problems/fluctuations.
It may not be affecting them now, but I would rather be safe than sorry.
Alkalinity buffers do not buffer water quickly. They are designed this way so as not to stress your fish with quick fluctuations in alkalinity and/or pH.
Did you test the alk and calcium on this tank?
I will. My other parameters are fine (ha ha) but I will check the alk and calcium also, I used purple up in that tank
Learned my lesson with that one.
lion_crazz
Active Member
Yeah, I am not a fan of Purple Up because it raises calcium levels. Overdosing purple up or using it unncessarily leads to a high calcium level and usually a low alk level.
Someone once told me that that was a Marc Weiss product. Is that true, do you know?
Someone once told me that that was a Marc Weiss product. Is that true, do you know?
alyssia
Active Member
Originally Posted by lion_crazz
Yeah, I am not a fan of Purple Up because it raises calcium levels. Overdosing purple up or using it unncessarily leads to a high calcium level and usually a low alk level.
Someone once told me that that was a Marc Weiss product. Is that true, do you know?
I don't know, and as always, thanks for your help!
drea, sorry for hijacking your thread.
Yeah, I am not a fan of Purple Up because it raises calcium levels. Overdosing purple up or using it unncessarily leads to a high calcium level and usually a low alk level.
Someone once told me that that was a Marc Weiss product. Is that true, do you know?
I don't know, and as always, thanks for your help!
drea, sorry for hijacking your thread.
