Kent Superbuffer dKH opinions?
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GoVols
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Just John
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My pH is always 8.0-8.2, but the alkalinity always drops to the 6.5-6.7 range. I have to adjust it at least twice a week to keep it above 7. I adjust it to about 7.5-7.8 when I do. This is a 13 gal tank with just corals, no fish.
gbroadbridge
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Dropping from 7 to 6.5 is not a big issue.
That is seawater.
I'd just be dosing baking soda, rather than an expensive version.
That is seawater.
I'd just be dosing baking soda, rather than an expensive version.
gbroadbridge
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0.7 grams of Arm and Hammer baking soda will raise your Alk from 6.5 to 7
Honestly, that is all you need, unless you like spending money.
Honestly, that is all you need, unless you like spending money.
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Just John
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That's what I do now, but going from 6.5 to 7.5 and back again twice a week seems like a lot of fluctuation for the animals, but I don't really know. I could avoid that large fluctuation by measuring alk and dosing every day, but I would like to not have to do that.
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GoVols
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Your right, stability is key.
That buffer may contain borate???, which I don’t like.
Can you buy something like a Red Sea ReefDose 2, so that you can automate your cal and alk demand, on a daily rhythm?
gbroadbridge
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0.5 is nothing in terms of stability.
Your tank does more than that in a 24 hour period.
This is with a dosing schedule that is close to consumption.
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GoVols
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0.5 is nothing in terms of stability.
Your tank does more than that in a 24 hour period.
Just for the record he’s saying 1ppm (6.5 to 7.5) twice a week not .5ppm
gbroadbridge
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Yes, but Baking soda is still the best method of correction.
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Just John
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I was under the assumption that it buffered both pH and alk from swings. I guess that was incorrect. I would really like to find a way to maintain a more constant alk without frequent adjustments.
gbroadbridge
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Baking soda does not affect pH.
if you want a pH adjustment you bake the baking soda in an oven.
Crazy but true.
Dkmoo
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whats ur mag level? - as long as the increased consumption isn't due to abiotic precipitation (which mag will help address), then 1 dkh swing 2x a week is nothing to worry about. are you also consuming 6-7 ppm of CA with each 1dkh of Alk? that's the chemical ratio for calcification (2.7dkH to 20ppm Cal)
my tank sucks up 2 dkh daily.... just as a point of ref. only way to maintain stability is with autodoser.
my tank sucks up 2 dkh daily.... just as a point of ref. only way to maintain stability is with autodoser.
Randy Holmes-Farley
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Here’s a copy and paste of why I recommend avoiding Kent Superbuffer and similar products that contain borate:
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IMO, it is not preferable to add extra borate in an alkalinity supplement. Such supplements are supposed to replace what is lost as corals calcify. They do not use up borate, so it can build up.
Such additives are more suited to, and more often used in, fish only tanks where you are not offsetting calcification loses, but rather are just trying to buffer the water against pH changes.
using borate in a buffer probably causes no substantial harm, especially if you do regular water changes, but I see no reason to add it, especially since commercial buffers that contain it always cost more than grocery store baking soda.
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IMO, it is not preferable to add extra borate in an alkalinity supplement. Such supplements are supposed to replace what is lost as corals calcify. They do not use up borate, so it can build up.
Such additives are more suited to, and more often used in, fish only tanks where you are not offsetting calcification loses, but rather are just trying to buffer the water against pH changes.
using borate in a buffer probably causes no substantial harm, especially if you do regular water changes, but I see no reason to add it, especially since commercial buffers that contain it always cost more than grocery store baking soda.
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Just John
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I just have a softies tank, so I have never bought those test kits. I did not think they were necessary. Maybe I am wrong
gbroadbridge
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Soft coral do use calcium and magnesium but at a very slow rate.
If you are doing regular water changes it is probably not necessary to test.
You should be testing Salinity and Alkalinity regularly.
If you are doing regular water changes it is probably not necessary to test.
You should be testing Salinity and Alkalinity regularly.
