buffer top off water ?

[btodd43]

I am finding out that RO water has a ph of 6.0 and low alk, I'm wondering if you should buffer your top off water . I am using Kents Super buffer Dkh. Does it raise Ph or only alk ?Thanks
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[SnowManSnow]

I've never buffered topp off after running it through RODI. I only add salt to water change water. Besides adding B-Ionic to the tank on a regular basis thats all I add. The salt mix takes care of the ph and the B-Ionic takes care fo CA and ALK. I just dont worry bout top off. It just seems to regulate to the tank since its in such small quantities.

Anyone else?

 

[Anonymous]

IIRC, ro/di water will take the same pH value as the water you add it to. I don't worry about buffering it either.

 

[Anonymous]

I am finding out that RO water has a ph of 6.0 and low alk, I'm wondering if you should buffer your top off water . I am using Kents Super buffer Dkh. Does it raise Ph or only alk ?Thanks

Yes, RO will have a low alk, since there is not much in there. Use buffer if the tank water needs it, not the top off, as others has mentioned.

 

[btodd43]

Ok thanks. My concern is that when I mix up my water change water (Tropic Marin Pro Reef) to 1.025 (refract) The alk is 3.1 meg/L and the ph is 8.0 or under after mixing for 24 hours.So I have to put alk buffer and ph buffer to the waterchange water. Seems like I shouldn't have to add anything to that salt mix....?
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[Anonymous]

Ok thanks. My concern is that when I mix up my water change water (Tropic Marin Pro Reef) to 1.025 (refract) The alk is 3.1 meg/L and the ph is 8.0 or under after mixing for 24 hours.So I have to put alk buffer and ph buffer to the waterchange water. Seems like I shouldn't have to add anything to that salt mix....?

Don't add buffer to your water change water. If the ALK in your tank is lower than you would like then dose your tank.

 

[Anonymous]

I agree with Guy. There is nothing wrong with adjust the waterchange water, but for practicality, it is more efficient and less prone to error if you measure the tank water and dose to it instead of working on that 5 or 10% of water for water change.

 

[Anonymous]

In simplest terms, if your alk/calc/pH is in proper levels, the small amount of top off water with a low pH you add isnt going to make a difference. That is what the buffer system in your tank is for, to "eat up" any differences and keep the pH steady.
Alkalinity is the measurement of how much can be added without a pH swing.
Do not add any buffers to water you are mixing unless you are adding it immediately, as a precipitation event will take place if it sits.

Using b-ionic alk/calc is the best product I have ever used. In the summer months, when I am adding a lot of top off water, I am using the duo in larger amounts to stabilize my low pH top off water. In the winter, I don't use as much, and my water changes keep the lvels pretty consistent.

 

[Anonymous]

You can also raise the PH- not the buffering capacity- by simply aereating the water before you mix it with an airpump and airstone.