I put a tablespoon of buffer to a gal of fresh saltwater and added it to my 30 gal nano. Some of the creatures are acting a lil funny, not opening up all the way etc. Did i add too much? lfs said i was low on buffer and to follow dirs on container. Directions say 1 teaspoon to 20 or 30 gals so i added too much. Im gonna do a water change today to see if everyone goes back to normal. Gonna buy test kits today too so i can measure it myself.
can too much buffer hurt tank?
- Thread starter seaduck
- Start date
Steven Pro
New member
Yes, too much buffer can be bad. I believe 1 tablespoon is like 3 or 4 teaspoons, so you over did it.
Make sure you check your calcium levels. A while back I was continually adding buffer trying to bring up my PH. At the time I wasn't testing alk and calcium.
Things got very bad. When I finally tested, alk was through the roof and calcium was only around 200.
I had a complete coraline die of, and lost all but 3 pollups on my softball sized trumpet.
Things got very bad. When I finally tested, alk was through the roof and calcium was only around 200.
I had a complete coraline die of, and lost all but 3 pollups on my softball sized trumpet.
Yes, it can be bad. There is a a forum devoted to reef chemistry here:
http://reefcentral.com/forums/forumdisplay.php?s=&forumid=112
http://reefcentral.com/forums/forumdisplay.php?s=&forumid=112
Billybeau1
Premium Member
Yes, ph buffers are not generally a good way to maintain pH. The raising affect is short term and your alk is probably extremely high. It will fall on its own but a water change is a good idea.
Billybeau1
Premium Member
Low pH is almost always excessive CO2 in the home.
More aeration with fresher air and limewater are fine ways to go.
Give this a read when you get time
Low pH: Causes and Cures
http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2004-09/rhf/index.htm
and
What your grandmother never told you about lime
http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2005-01/rhf/index.htm
More aeration with fresher air and limewater are fine ways to go.
Give this a read when you get time
Low pH: Causes and Cures
http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2004-09/rhf/index.htm
and
What your grandmother never told you about lime
http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2005-01/rhf/index.htm
kpcollins31
New member
Good article - I used to always have a pH ~7.8. After reading the article, I started dosing Kalkwasser to balance calcium and alkalinity while also removing CO2 from the water to raise pH. It has worked very well - pH now maintained at ~8.4 and it is very simple to do. There has been a positive change in all my corals.
Kevin
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