pH buffer

[txg8gxp]

Just though I would see what everyone likes for pH buffers, Liquid, Powdered, or mineral blocks. Any input would be awesome, Thanks stephen.

[Europhyllia]

for your R/O top off water or for your R/O water before you make it into saltwater?
I've been using kalk for my top off water. I got Seachem's Reef Buffer for my R/O water I make saltwater with but I always forget to use it.

[txg8gxp]

Why not use the same buffer all the time? Is it mainly a cost thing, or for other reasons?

[Europhyllia]

I want the kalk dosing to keep my alk and calcium up. Maintaing a desirable pH is a positive side effect of the kalk. :)
For actual buffering RO to be made into saltwater the Seachem product would be much easier to dose. That's why I bought that. I'm switching now from Reef Crystals to Tropic Marin which appears to mix at a better pH without RO buffering so I may not use the Reef Buffer at all.

[saabtech]

all of my buffering comes from saltwater changes and mineral blocks.

[txg8gxp]

Good info.

[Ping]

Baking soda is the cheapest buffer. You could pay more but why?

For a nano, I would use B-ionic two/three part system.

Kalkwasser, calcium chloride, and baked baking soda, is what I dose.

[aquasport24]

What is your PH at? why you feel the need to raise PH? Becareful w/ nano tank, it's not as forgiving as a big tank, so raise it very slowly if you HAVE to.

[corruption]

Ping: You can get baking soda 'pre-baked' as well -- washing soda is exactly this... costs about 50 cents more than baking soda on average, can save you a bit of time too :)

-Corruption