Just added pH buffer to tank . . .

R

riseandfloat

New member
Last night I added an 8.2 pH buffer in my tank because it usually resides around 7.9-8.0. So I stopped by my local fish store last night and picked up an 8.2 pH buffer by aquarium pharmaceuticals and added the specified amount directly into my tank when I got home. I hope this is normal, but a lot of my corals did not open up all the way today. I am assuming they are adjusting as the pH should have risen. Is this noraml or should I be worried? They actually closed almost immediately after I added the buffer into the tank. It does not say anything about invertebrates anywhere within the buffer instructions. I assumed it was safe to add since it was used for saltwater. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.
 
No I haven't measured for alkalinity. Do you think my corals will be okay? Most of them seem to be slowly opening back up besides my green star polyps. I will measure for alkalinity as soon as I can...
 
I added a Ph buffer a few months ago and it spiked my alk from 8 to 11 in 12 hours! Luckily I was able to test and catch it quickly. After several water changes, things stabilized. Didn't lose anything. And it didn't do much for my Ph either. I quickly figured that a Ph around 8.0 - 8.1 is good enough for me if my corals are happy. It's not the ideal pH according to most people but I'm getting good growth.

Bottom line...I'm with RHF, measure alk asap!
 
well the only kit I can find that I have on hand is a carbonate hardness ( KH ) test kit. I tested three times and my KH level is at about 12.5 degrees dH. The recommended level for saltwater is between 8-10 degrees dH. I also tested my pH and it is at 8.0. I hope I haven't harmed any corals with this.

I plan on doing a PWC tonight and then another tomorrow night. Does this seem like a good idea? How many water changes should I perform and how should they be spread apart? I plan on doing 5 gallon water changes. The tank is only 29 gallons. Please suggest any helpful thoughts.
 
12.5 dkH is not that high to worry about. I would just not add any more buffer until the alk. drops back down to normal levels from consumption. It will not take that long and will be less stressful than doing large water changes.
 
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okay thank you...like I've stated numerous times, some of the corals not opening up stresses me. I don't want to lose anything but I will give them time. no patience BLAH
 
The damage of increasing your pH to quickly has been done. Your pH should have staiblized by now. You don't want to add to the fire. :)
 
One other thing you should consider is the method you add any buffer to your tank. It is preferable to add it in small amounts to a sump. If you do not have a sump and add it directly to your tank, then you have to add just enough to make sure it completely disolves in the water you are mixing it in. If you add to much, it will not completely disolve and solid crystals will land on your corals which is not good at all. If that happens, you want to get the crystals off your corals asap.
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13594225#post13594225 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by HighlandReefer
One other thing you should consider is the method you add any buffer to your tank. It is preferable to add it in small amounts to a sump. If you do not have a sump and add it directly to your tank, then you have to add just enough to make sure it completely disolves in the water you are mixing it in. If you add to much, it will not completely disolve and solid crystals will land on your corals which is not good at all. If that happens, you want to get the crystals off your corals asap.
Click to expand...

I think this might be my problem Highland. I added all of the buffer at once and it did not dissolve. Also, there were a lot of corals that had crystals settling on them but I did not think of "dusting" them off; I did not do anything. Will this kill the coral? Should I do some kind of dip for the ones that are still not opening? My lights have not turned on yet today, but I have a feeling the same ones that had crystals settle on them are not going to open. I thank everybody for their suggestions/help.
 
Oh, always dissolve such additives in fresh water before adding them. I didn't realize you added it dry. Undissolved buffer on them will be very irritating as it dissolves in place.

If there is any left, blow it off gently. If not, there isn't much you can do about it now.
 
There is not any left now, it has been about 36 hours since I added the buffer. Do you think it could be so irritating that it would kill the corals it dissolved on? I hope it only stresses them for a period of time and they will come back. I understand I can't really do anything about it now; I just wish I wouldv'e been more careful and put a post on here before I added the buffer. Once again, do you think it could be so irritating that it will kill the corals it dissolved on?
 
Once again, do you think it could be so irritating that it will kill the corals it dissolved on?

It could, yes.

What brand? Does it not say to dissolve in fresh water first? If not, I'd complain to the manufacturer.
 
It is made by Aquarium Pharmaceuticals. It does not say to dissolve in freshwater first. I read through all of the directions thoroughly before I placed the buffer in the tank.
 
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