Waterchanges with Buffer?

I took sample water to the LFS yesterday to get the water params checked out before i get a CUC. This is what came back:

PH: 7.94
Salinity: 1.024
Ammonia: 0
Nitrite: 0
Nitrate: 15 - 20
KH/Alkalinity: 6

No fish, or CUC.

He said the PH and alkalinity are too low so he told me to get some Buffer to put in the tank.

I am doing a water change today for my freshwater tank and was thinking about doing one in the saltwater tank tomorrow but was wondering if doing a water change will mess up the chemistry that the buffer is creating - so is it ok to do a 10% water change?


- Tim

 

you need to get your own test kits and test the water before you do the water change. that way you can add the right amount of buffer to get the ph and kh up to where they need to be before doing the water change.
the more you do that the more you will know about adding stuff and you wont have to test every time because you will know to add this much of that to get whatever. haha! does that make any sense?
everybody always has to add something to their water change water, calcium might not be where you want it or magnesium, ph and kh. it depends on the type of salt that you use.

 

I would also watch when you take the water sample.. For example if you got up this am grabbed some water from the tank and shoved off to the LFS.. My guess is that your PH would read low as generally it will drop at night. I agree with referdude. Grab your own kits. This way you can test the water that you are about to add in to the tank to see what is missing. Hope this helps.

 

Thanks for replying, it does help ahtough i do have a red-sea marine lab test kit. I had been testing every day and have had low PH since the beginning of the cycle and i wanted a second opinion. Also the LFS wont let me buy livestock until the water at their place is tested out OK.

Also I grabbed the water from the sump (would that make a difference?) around 2:00 yesterday and it was at the store by 2:15.

I started the tank with fresh water cuz I didnt have the $$ for an RO unit. Anyway though I got a RO unit yesterday - YAY!

i'll test the PH myself as well to make sure it looks ok.
What level should the Alk be? The lfs didnt tell me that one.

 

7-11 dkh/2.5-4 meg/l is fine