carbonate-bicarbonate buffer

[Texreefer]

I have been using this and have decided it works great, buy yourself a box of baking soda and a box of washing soda. mix 1 part washing soda with 6 parts baking soda for a base mixture.. then add 2-4 tsp in a quart of fresh water to tank per day until desired alk is reached.. you may need more or less depending on your tank size.. best part is for about $3 you can make 20 times more buffer than you would get buying say marine buffer

[Tim Marvin]

You can also use Kent Kalkwasser and add your buffer and calcium from one product. I don't add anything else. Additives are all gimmic. Most synthetic salts have too much trace elements in them already. Lab salt mixes have far less additives.

[Texreefer]

Tim i agree with you except that i will dose magnesium on occasion because its trend is to decrease in my tank and that affects the buffering capacity of the tank

[Tim Marvin]

Fritz salt is one of the best on the market, and is made in Houston. It is a semi-aqueous salt mix. http://www.fritzpet.com/

[Tim Marvin]

I don't even test for magnesium. My buffering is sky high.

[Tim Marvin]

Actually Fritz is up in Dallas Ft. Worth area. :oops: