Adding buffer

[NaCl_H2O]

Hey, false hopes keep me going at work, why not at home :unsure

I was testing a bunch when I was trying to get my Ca reactor, etc. balanced out. I was mostly looking for ballparks, looking to see relative changes from the day before. However, I am still a little SG & PH paranoid, but only cuz things have gone haywire before and I am still "compensating" for my errors :angel

Someday I will be confident again like Larry and be able to say "Heck, the water is clear, must be good"

[Instar]

JimD - picture Linus and his security blanket. As long as i have it, I won't need it. Sure as I let go if it, then I'll wish I hadn't. :unsure

When the water is clear, that is good! When I was trying to start up a new tank of green water, it just wouldn't grow in that tank so I made it into something else. Now that I want clear, its green. So confidence comes and goes with clarity. I know its not the test kits, cause that is not a factor for me. (Why does that sound like a TV show line?) Really confidence has nothing to do with it, you gotta just be a nut or thrill seeker to go testkitless. :w00t

[Instar]

However, I am still a little SG & PH paranoid, but only cuz things have gone haywire before and I am still "compensating" for my errors

Ok, Steve, I reread your test results for new mixed Oceanic. Now I understand what happened that you summarized in this quote.

[NaCl_H2O]

I have come to my own conclusions on Oceanic ...

Not a good choice for new tanks - Out of the bucket, Ca is too high and Alk & PH are too low. I setup my system using Oceanic and struggled to balance out everything. Now that my tanks are approaching a year runing (has it been that long?), I am still using Oceanic but the system seems to be reaching a maturity level that's keeping things much more stable. Ca 350-400, dKH 10, PH 8.1. A 15-20% water change with Oceanic has no noticable impact on PH or dKH, and the Ca gets a little boost (maybe 25ppm).

So, I like Oceanic for an established tank, and really like the way it dissolves, but would probably start a new tank with something else next time.

[longhorn_20m]

Okay purchased three new test kits:

PH 7.7
KH 4 KH value in dKH
Calcium, off charts, around 20-25 drops need to change colors, i put almost 40

I'm running the RO/DI right now and will make 5 gallons for water change. Once mixed up, I will take measurements and post.

[longhorn_20m]

Okay so mixed up a batch of water using Oceanic.

PH: 8.3
KH: 10-11 dKH
Calcium: 600+

So I guess I will try doing a 5 gallon waterchange every day/two days and hopefully get my system back in order.

[longhorn_20m]

Guys another question.

Would it be a good idea to switch salts? I was thinking about buying a bucket of red sea salt and use this. I would just do my five gallon water changes with this over a week or two and should completely replace the water I have.

Is this a good idea?