Buffer! Re: pH all over the place...all of a sudden

[Jason in Oakland]

Well, I got some more strips (all the Petco had, had no time
unfortunately to look for something of higher quality)--did a
"control" test and found the pH test to be worthless (actually because
the KH is low--the Mardel strips even say so), but other ones
concurred with my liquid reagents.

My tap water has a KH of about 20 ppm....VERY, VERY low. GH of around
50 ppm--kinda soft (which apparently is good for golden barbs &
ottos).

So there is either rotting food or leaves (I gravel vac every time I
clean), I guess, but there have been no changes to my feeding habits
over the past few months, and as infrequent as my water changes were
(about every 3-4 weeks), they did the trick (I gravel vac each time I
do a water change, about 50%).

The problem seems to be the low-alkalinity water. This is something
that more frequent water changes obviously will *not* help. I have to
somehow balance the water, raise its KH.

So.....what kind of buffer should I use that raises KH from 20ppm to
the "ideal" 120-180ppm range, puts pH in the 6-7 slightly acidic
range, and is phosphate-free (I don't want green water again!)? Any
suggestions?

(I also tried Seachem's Liquid Acid buffer, and it predictably reduced
my already-low KH from 20, to zero....and tap water pH from about 8.3
to below 5)

Thanks, everyone!

[chas good]

On 13 Jul 2004 23:44:54 -0700, (Jason in
Oakland) wrote:

>Well, I got some more strips (all the Petco had, had no time
>unfortunately to look for something of higher quality)--did a
>"control" test and found the pH test to be worthless (actually because
>the KH is low--the Mardel strips even say so), but other ones
>concurred with my liquid reagents.
>
>My tap water has a KH of about 20 ppm....VERY, VERY low. GH of around
>50 ppm--kinda soft (which apparently is good for golden barbs &
>ottos).
>
>So there is either rotting food or leaves (I gravel vac every time I
>clean), I guess, but there have been no changes to my feeding habits
>over the past few months, and as infrequent as my water changes were
>(about every 3-4 weeks), they did the trick (I gravel vac each time I
>do a water change, about 50%).
>
>The problem seems to be the low-alkalinity water. This is something
>that more frequent water changes obviously will *not* help. I have to
>somehow balance the water, raise its KH.
>
>So.....what kind of buffer should I use that raises KH from 20ppm to
>the "ideal" 120-180ppm range, puts pH in the 6-7 slightly acidic
>range, and is phosphate-free (I don't want green water again!)? Any
>suggestions?
>
>(I also tried Seachem's Liquid Acid buffer, and it predictably reduced
>my already-low KH from 20, to zero....and tap water pH from about 8.3
>to below 5)
>
>Thanks, everyone!

Seachem neutral regular but it does contain phosphates

Could try baking soda to boost kh.

[The Outcaste]

On 13 Jul 2004 23:44:54 -0700, (Jason in
Oakland) bubbled forth the following:


>So.....what kind of buffer should I use that raises KH from 20ppm to
>the "ideal" 120-180ppm range, puts pH in the 6-7 slightly acidic
>range, and is phosphate-free (I don't want green water again!)? Any
>suggestions?
Try a good sized handful of crushed coral, 1 handful per 10 gals.

My tap water is 7.0 ph, <0.5 dKH, 1.5 dGH. A 25% change every 6 days
would stabilize at ph of 6.0, after 8 days, ph was WAY below 5.0.
After adding coral, the tanks all stabilized at 6.8 ph, 3 dKH, and 6
dGH, even after 2 weeks with no water changes; I could probably go
longer but nitrates start to climb.

If the white coral won't fit in with the color of your gravel, add it
to the filter. Do keep a piece or two visible, as it will slowly
dissolve.

HTH