Help with low ph and alk (seachem builder and buffer?)

[bbrian189]

okay I think I might buy seachem reef buffer and reef builder. I have a lot of sps and corals for a 40g tank.

My current levels, again, are:
Alk: 5
PH: 7.8

After reading I think that I should start off using the buffer.. because my ph is a little low and my alk is really low.

Should I just start off with the recommended 1tsp and use the water bottle drip method?

Or.. should I start lower than normal?

I also plan on doing a pretty big water change.. about 15 gallons. Should I do the change.. then test.. and then dose if necessary (after the water change)?

Or

Should I dose first. than wait. then water change if needed?

Or would either way be fine hahaha. Anyway srry for all the questions.. I just am worried about my tanks levels, so any help is greatly appreciated.

I tried to bold things to make it easier to read btw.. haha not sure if it worked.

Please help me out.

 

[dougers31]

Do you dose regularly? I would do a water change and then see where you're at, maybe two seperate smaller water changes would be better though. I wouldn't worry about ph untill you get your alk where it needs to be(8-10 is a good range). From what I've heard if your alk is good and your oxygen levels are good then your ph should be ok.... If you have alot of sps and are not dosing either 2 part, kalk, etc you should probably look into it, my 30 gal tank(decent amount of sps) uses approx 60 mil of alk and cal per day. Whatever you do be sure to not change your parameters too quickly.

 

[pumarjr]

i too have a 40 gal tank, once a week I do an 8 gal water change, i'm lowering that to 5 gal tho starting today. What salt brand are you using? how long has your tank been est? did you use LR or DR? BTW, I use the sachem reef buffer, it is a great product.

PS: Finally made your first post!:1smile1

 

[bbrian189]

Do you dose regularly? I would do a water change and then see where you're at, maybe two seperate smaller water changes would be better though. I wouldn't worry about ph untill you get your alk where it needs to be(8-10 is a good range). From what I've heard if your alk is good and your oxygen levels are good then your ph should be ok.... If you have alot of sps and are not dosing either 2 part, kalk, etc you should probably look into it, my 30 gal tank(decent amount of sps) uses approx 60 mil of alk and cal per day. Whatever you do be sure to not change your parameters too quickly.

No I dont dose regularly. Thats why im looking into getting the seachem stuff. Maybe I'll do the wc first.

 

[bbrian189]

i too have a 40 gal tank, once a week I do an 8 gal water change, i'm lowering that to 5 gal tho starting today. What salt brand are you using? how long has your tank been est? did you use LR or DR? BTW, I use the sachem reef buffer, it is a great product.

PS: Finally made your first post!:1smile1

hahaah yeah. I went to make an account and it said i already had one hahaha. My tank is about 1.5 yrs old. I used Live rock. I use IO reef crystals.

It seems like a really simple and easy product to use. I have 2 part.. but we never figured out the dosing. The reef buffer and builder seem a lot easier.

 

[pumarjr]

i mix one teaspoon to a cup of ro, add to the tank and it brings your tank to a happy, but temp, medium. the only way to have perfect ph is to stop checking it.

 

[bbrian189]

i mix one teaspoon to a cup of ro, add to the tank and it brings your tank to a happy, but temp, medium. the only way to have perfect ph is to stop checking it.

hahahah I think your right. Do you just dump it in all at once in your sump? Or drip it?

Should I start with that dose or start off a little slower?

 

[Curtie44]

Drip it slowly. You do not want to raise your alkalinity/pH too fast or you will risk shocking your corals. After you dose, wait a few hours then measure. If it's still low then wait till the next day and dose again, wait a few hours, measure. Repeat 'till your levels are where you want them. FWIW, I've used the Kent Superbuffer dKh to address the exact issue with perfect results (over a couple of days).

 

[Boboreef]

Kalkwaser should take care of it !!

 

[jelly]

go get 2 boxs baking soda. arm and hammer works well. oput 2 1/2 cups on a baking pan and heat at 300 degrees for an hour. once dont add to a gallon or water and mix and let clear up. get online and find a alk calculator and add how much it tells you to. it works great its what i do for my tank. when you bake the baking soda it will drive off and PO4 and when you add it to the tank it will raise the ph for a little. you can also make it with out baking the baking soda. the affect this will have is the same but the ph will not raise it will lower it slightly. goodle randys recipe 2 part and he had a while write up on it. very good info,

not baking soda is the same thing as soda ash