Need Buffers

[Nevergone815]

since i set up all of my tanks i have used tap water. the problem doesn't lie in the fact that the ph is roughly 6.6 - 6.7 with the occasional 6.8. my problem is more of the fact that it has no alkalinity or buffering capacity. i looked everywhere in the local pet shop and can't find the stuff that my test kit recommends i get (Buffer Up). my alkalinity is 0 and i know that i need 120-240 ppm for my community tank. since i can't find the stuff to raise it, is there another way to do it? maybe natural things or things i can buy in a grocery store? please help! the next closest pet store is like and hour drive away from me and i don't have a car or the funds to pay the taxi ride and then find out that they might not have it either.

 

[steelhealr]

Hi...I don't normally recommend that one adds/buffers a tank unless there is a need to do so specifically. I checked and saw that you have betta's, not my area of expertise, but, if yoiu NEED to increase your alkalinity, you can do so with some baking soda (sodium bicarbonate).

I use one tsp for my 46G bowfront and add it slowly, over 1-2 hours. If you are going to add this to your 10 gallon, you could mix 1 tsp in a cup of water and then add a little less than 1/4 cup of the water. Make sure you check your pH daily while you do this and only once a day. DO NOT MAKE radical pH changes in the tank. It will shock the fish. Remember that 1/10th or 0.1 change in pH is a 100,000 change in hydrogen ions. SH

 

[IceH2O]

Better than and more stable would be the use of crushed coral or argonite. Either of these will raise your PH as will the baking soda.

The difference being that you'll need to add BS everyday while you just add the CC or A until its dissolved before you add it.

 

[steelhealr]

Crushed coral takes weeks to months and this was listed as an emergency. SH

 

[tttnjfttt]

you'll need to add BS everyday

As far as I am aware, you should not have to keep re-adding the baking soda. It doesn't react in the water, and just stays in the tank, until it is removed with water changes.

 

[steelhealr]

Agreed....I only have needed to do it a few times and seems to last for awhile. SH

 

[IceH2O]

Crushed coral takes weeks to months and this was listed as an emergency. SH

The lower the PH the quicker it dissolves. With a Ph of under 7 it should dissolve pretty decently. If it was a ph of 8 it would take longer. Either way a slow dissolve or quick he is looking for a buffer, the coral dissolving will automatically add buffer.