Top off Water

[sac10918]

hi
Do you buffer your top off water for pH? I have been running my 24g HQI with fans to keep the temp down, and the water has been evaporating quick so that I need to add top off daily. I use RO water, just wondering if I need to buffer it for the pH. Also, Is it better to let the top off water drip in since it has no salinity, or is it okay to pour it straight in by the glassful?
Thanks

 

[reefnut]

No don't buffer the top off water. Just keep an eye on your tank's alkalinity and calcium.

 

[sac10918]

Thanks reef nut....
What about actually adding the top off....Should I drip it in to the tank or is it okay to pour it in quickly?

 

[chipmaker]

Its bewst to add top off water slowly as possible, preferably a litle at a time over a period of time. Avoid inducing too much of a change or shock on the system all at once. Idealy, if using a ATO setup it wil add smallamounts of water all day long as needed and it in no way impacts the system with a sudden change. So when doing it manually I normally pour my top off water intothe hob resivoir or slowly trickle it into the display tank.......I also take care of my top off two or more times during the day if I am around instead of all at once at one time........but it usually does take a lot of additonal water to make much of a impact or influx on a typical system.......

 

[mopar9012]

When i used distilled water (i dont anymore becuase its not that great for your tank) i would have to buffer it. The levels in that water were so low that one gallon of that water would bring my tanks levels down so much.

 

[reefnut]

Even distilled water (which is fine to use) would not need a buffer. Adding a buffer to the top off water will just throw off the chemistry in the tank. Test the tank, not the top off water...

 

[murph145]

i use RO/DI water as my top off i have a jbj auto top off system which incorporates a float which sences the drop in water level in your sump and then actuates a small power head in my 5 gallon resevouir and then slowly pumps some fresh top off water into my sump until the float is then turned off