PH 7.6, help with buffer dose

90 Gallon tank

according to buffer directions i need to add

14! Table spoons!

Can I do this all at once?? Should I??

Thanks

 

Hi franchise52

is your aquarium stocked at present?
is it relatively new?
what test kit are you using to get the 7.6? as many people have tried to fix problems that have actually been nothing more than faulty test kits

do you have a sump?
what is your water , especially water surface movement like?
what time of day are you testing? test late afternoon when lights have been on for most of the day, as that will tell you what the peak PH is rather than the low PH which you would get if you tested early hours of the morning

do you or have you tested Calcium and Alkalinity dkh? as I would suggest ensuring these are within acceptable parameters 1st before making any adjustments on your PH alone
tell us a bit more about the system as IME buffers to increase PH are not always required

Simple fixes like - ensuring test kit is accurate, creating more water surface movement to allow O2 to exchange with CO2 (Co2 holds down a waters PH) and testing at the same time of day, late afternoon etc

 

I do have a sump.

Tank has one fish and 4 shrimp, 8 snails

My LFS gave me the 7.6 number

water moverment on surface good with 2 locline spray nozzles returning water

tank 5 weeks old

 

5 weeks is a relatively new tank Franchise52

there are all sorts of reactions occuring within the tanks chemistry still
you may have growth spurts of various algaes, these will create additional CO2 at night, leading to PH drop
you may find that at present it varies between 7.6 - and 8.0 depending on time of day
whereas in a couple of months time, it varies between 7.9 and 8.3 over the same period of time

how are the inhabitants at present? if they seem healthy and happy enough
I would avoid adding the buffer at this stage

my opinion is, it will naturally increase as the tank matures, without the need for buffers

I would however invest in your own test kit in the mean time, as my cynical nature tends not to want to trust people with the ability to sell me cures, to diagnose a problem

Steve

 

Just leave it lol. I wouldn't stress about it. My PH stays at about 7.8 - 8.0 with no problems. IMO you are just fine.

 

Thanks guys!!;D

 

Agreed...so long as the pH is stable a lower number is not generally an issue...I have systems that run in the 7.7-7.8 range with no issues.

Furthermore buffers can cause issues with other params over the long-term.