Do you add buffer to your top off water?

[IsaaX]

Any of you add pH buffer to your RO/DI top off resevoirs to closely match the tank's pH? If so what do you use? I know for freshwater there are pH powders available that you just add into the water to get the desired pH.

 

[WarDaddy]

Correct me if I am wrong here...

But evaporated water is h2o only... anything that would effect pH is left behind...

So adding buffer would be siilar to adding salt to your top off. Eventually you will increase the amounts of something bad

 

[IsaaX]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7902715#post7902715 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by WarDaddy
Correct me if I am wrong here...

But evaporated water is h2o only... anything that would effect pH is left behind...

So adding buffer would be siilar to adding salt to your top off. Eventually you will increase the amounts of something bad

Ah ok, I thought about it today and thought that since RO/DI water isn't buffered, I assumed it would start diluting the pH in the tank causing it to decline. Thanks for the clarification.

 

[SirLight1337]

pH will slowly decline over time as it is needed/used within the tank.

When you do water changes you generally are buffing the pH back up with fresh saltwater, and all other trace elements that would otherwise go un noticed. I put a little bit of the pH buffer in my top off water as needed to keep a stable pH.

 

[sharkdude]

kalkwasser in your topoff water is both calcium and buffer

 

[IsaaX]

Yeah, that's what i currently drip for my top off. I was just confused as to straight RO/DI being used without any decline of pH.

 

[GTR]

I'm sure your need for top off changes based on the weather, heat humidity etc.
IMO that means the amount of buffer is constantly changing based on the evaporation rate. Your corals are not using the changing amount based on the evaporation. You should (IMO) come up with a method of maintaining alk and Ca that will not change, year round.
For me I use limewater. 4g daily, 365 days a year. That's the minimum evaporation in my system and the balance is made up of pure RO/DI daily. That's anywhere from less than a gallon to over 5 gallons. That in conjunction with weekly water changes keeps everything in line.

SteveU