Should i buffer top-up water

At present i do not buffer my top-up water, but was just wondering if i did would this keep my big 3 in-check or at least help keep them stable

How many of you do?

 

I do, with baked baking soda and have great results.

 

Great poll!

I'll bet most people on here will say no.

I've been hung on this question for quite some time.

The owner of my LFS has been in business for over 20 years and absolutely believes it is necessary to buffer top off water. It's the next question I always hear him ask when questioning folks after the, "you use RODI water right?". His website even says to buffer top off water.

At the moment I'm only using buffer in top off of my freshwater tank.

What still has me on the fence about NOT using buffer in top off was an article written by Randy Holmes Farley saying it was not necessary. It's from 2005 but I don't question his knowledge on chemistry...

Link
Reverse Osmosis/Deionization Systems to Purify Tap Water for Reef Aquaria by Randy Holmes-Farley - Reefkeeping.com

 

I use Kalkwasser in my auto top off with my ro/di water.

 

We buffer our top-up water...works really well for us.

 

In this case I should revise my vote, but...... I'll just add my two cents.

If you need buffer AKA adding alkalinity to your tank, add it to your top off instead of directly to the tank.
If you don't need to add anything to your tank and always test within proper range for alkalinity, then you don't need to add it to your tank or top off water.

Good point fat *******.

 

could you clarify what you mean by adding buffer? Sorry, if that's a no brainer but do you mean calc, alk, both?

 

I use Alk buffer in my Top off, but only because my tank evaporates like clockwork. It goes through 6.5 gallons ever 4 days, give or take .25 gallons. It works pretty well, but I have been thinking about stopping this practice and move to some dosing pumps for Alk and Calc - just for a tad bit more control

I voted Yes, but I may stop doing it in the next few months just to try out dosing with dosing pumps.

 

Would like a little clarity, myself.

If you're asking about adding buffers to the top-off to maintain tank parameters where compounds are being utilized by corals, many folks dose that way.

If you're referring to buffering the top-off to match the tank's pH, etc., I'd recommend against it; you could fudge your chemistry. You're maintaining your parameters by replacing only what has evaporated-- pure water.

 

I am in agreement based on what I've learned/read. If you dose 2-part or use calc reactor to maintain CAL/ALK, no need to add anything to top-off. It only makes your math/formulas more complicated.

If you don't dose anything at all, then buffering top-off may help params stay longer in line before next water change/correction.