Ph....to buffer or not

[jimjam35]

Hey guys so I got my tank off to a decent start so far


Cycling and going nicely started getting a diatom bloom the other day
Ammonia of down to zero, just waiting for nitrite to do the same

My question here is that I have been doing PH tests and it has settled at around 8-8.2 based on API ph test

I know that's "œacceptable" now if I want to make the tank a steady 8.2-8.3 for corals and inverts do I buffer the PH to keep it or do I wait for corals and check the Alk and other levels to help level off Ph? As if I read correctly PH is controlled by other chemical factors....

Also I have been checking routinely at 6pm as I read it goes up and down through out the day, so figure best to check routinely at same time.



So do I buffer my PH or routinely check and get all chemicals in check and adjust accordingly??

I know it's strongly opinion based but I feel like LFS love to sell a buffer at 16$ than something else to adjust what I threw out of Whack and so forth and make easy money, would just like some input from people who have established tanks and a lot more experience with it

 

[mcgyvr]

No...no...no...no... Throw your ph kit in the trash and never look at it again...
Monitor and adjust your alkalinity if needed when you have a decent amount or corals

 

[outssider]

ph down to as low as 7.8 is still fine.....ph is a function of CO2 so don't worry about ph at all unless you have gobs of people in the house and closed up windows. alkalinity is what you want to check not ph. buffers will not permanently raise ph but they will raise your alkalinity.

 

[jimjam35]

so PH is thrown out window when corals are brought into the mix? Or simpler put to the bottom of importance since it fluctuates with Other elements?

 

[Dr. Reef]

all chemicals that are buffers for pH are actually alkalinity buffers and have a very temp effect on pH. I wouldnt use any pH buffers and settle with more fresh air either in the room or pulling fresh air for skimmer.
pH can swing throughout the day with CO2 concentration and photosynthesis.

 

[ohashimz]

I would never use ph buffer.
If you want to improve ph, follow the natural ways if doing so
Increase airiation
Get more fresh air in the tank room
Using co2 scrubber(this is more costly than the rest)what's your alk? If you can, increasing all a bit will also help with ph. Like using kalk..

But never use ph buffer.

 

[Uncle99]

8.1-8.2 is a bit hard to do without large refuge or scrubber
7.8 is easy to keep in average dwellings, mine been 7.8-.7.9 forever tons of corals and growth

 

[billdogg]

No...no...no...no... Throw your ph kit in the trash and never look at it again...
Monitor and adjust your alkalinity if needed when you have a decent amount or corals

^^^This^^^ x 1000
And, what all of them said. I have not checked pH in at least 25 years. When I did, and thought that there was some magical number I had to chase, I added way too much buffer and raised by alkalinity to dangerously high levels, it all precipitated out, and I ruined a whole bunch of impellers.

Worry about Calcium - I shoot for 450, alkalinity - 8.5ish for me, and magnesium - 1350 here. And about the Mg - if it is low, you can add alkalinity supplement all day long and it won't budge. Get the Mg in line first, then work on adjusting the Ca and Alk.

 

[jimjam35]

Excellent guys this is just the information I wanted to get....no a quick fix but exactly what to test and do..... everyone is great on this forum Thanks a million and putting me back on track

 

[jimjam35]

So now we know that, any recommendations on brand of kit test??

 

[billdogg]

Salifert is my go-to for all testing. The kits are easy enough to use and provide very repeatable results.

 

[Dmorty217]

No...no...no...no... Throw your ph kit in the trash and never look at it again...
Monitor and adjust your alkalinity if needed when you have a decent amount or corals

+2 I have been keeping saltwater tanks for nearly 21 years now and I have never checked the PH once