WHITE water

[o0jmadr0x0o]

i have been having a low PH problem. my PH was around 7.7
so i went out and bought seachem marine buffer
http://www.fish.com/itemdy00.asp?T1=710356 500

i set up a 20g tank to mix salt, buffer and RO water in. followed all instructions and everything, left it circulating and heating overnight, until this morning i awoke to my mixing tank completely white and everything coverd in a white dust. is this normal and just needs more mixing time, or did i screw up adding the buffer?


side question, is it a bad idea to have a mixing tank with 20g of saltwater ready for my use, if there is nothing in the tank will the parameters stay as good as when they come out of the RO. i tried this once before with a rubbermaid container and a weird film developed in the container over time, when i tested the water, the nitrites where through the roof, if i used a glass tank, will i have this problem again

 

[Aqua Pro Builder]

i have been having a low PH problem. my PH was around 7.7
so i went out and bought seachem marine buffer
http://www.fish.com/itemdy00.asp?T1=710356%20500

i set up a 20g tank to mix salt, buffer and RO water in. followed all instructions and everything, left it circulating and heating overnight, until this morning i awoke to my mixing tank completely white and everything coverd in a white dust. is this normal and just needs more mixing time, or did i screw up adding the buffer?


side question, is it a bad idea to have a mixing tank with 20g of saltwater ready for my use, if there is nothing in the tank will the parameters stay as good as when they come out of the RO. i tried this once before with a rubbermaid container and a weird film developed in the container over time, when i tested the water, the nitrites where through the roof, if i used a glass tank, will i have this problem again

Pretaining to your first question: What is your sequence and the amount of mixing? Can you detail it better?

Pretaining to you second question: I had one rubbermaid giving ammonium smell if I leave the water there for one or two days.

 

[lfsmarineguy]

Some types of PH buffer can cause calcium and other elements to precipitate out of the water column. Seachem makes a reef specific PH buffer and a reef specific carbonate builder that won't effect the water parameters the same way as most buffers. If the RO and salt mix didn't need buffing I wouldn't have dosed it. I use RO top off water to mix my buffers in. If I had to assume, and correct me if I am wrong, you added the full dose for your tank to the 20g mixing tank essentially overdosing it?

 

[o0jmadr0x0o]

well my ph was at 7.7 witch i thought was low,thats why i got the buffer.
i did not dose for my whole tank just the 20g.....would i be better of putting the buffer in the top of water instead of my saltwater mix. i thought since it was a marine buffer i would need to add it to saltwater

 

[deelucky]

if that stuff(buffer) doesnt get mixed real well it will leave white reside all over the place.i had this problem before and just stop using buffers all together.i will only make water the day before water change.only using a powerhead,no heater(not in the summer heat atleast).

 

[Aqua Pro Builder]

As LFS said, it looks like you over dose your 20G saltwater mixing tank.

It would be better you mix the buffer with just RO water and wait for it to clear. Make sure no residue is at the bottom or at least, when you dump this mixed R/O water into the DT, the undissolved chemicals do not get to your main tank and eaten by fish or fell on corals-they burn. I have seen fish die after they eat the buffers. Pour this buffered water into a high flow area SLOWLY so that it does not saturate the area immediately around where it enters your DT. Never mix you calcuim additives it this concentrated buffered water. Calcium and such will precipitate out of the solution.

Note: It is not the same
pouring concnetrated buffered fresh water into a big volume of saltwater
as
pouring saltwater into concentrated buffered fresh water

 

[KathyC]

Regarding your question about where/when to mix your water..yes a glass tank is fine.
Many reefers use a Rubbermaid 'Brute' garbage can (too large for your needs) as they are considered 'food safe', meaning no chemicals will leech out of the container & into your water.
Lowes usually carries them and they come in a couple of different sizes.

It is also suggested that you mix your water about 24 hours in advance of using it as the salt mix reacts with your RO/RODI water upon mixing and can possibly damage your corals. During the waiting time the water should aerate the water so it is rich in oxygen when you add it to your tank.