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NCG · 10-07-2005, 10:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Scott Far Thunder

"George Pontis" wrote in message
t...
In article , says...
Are you adding any chemicals to lower pH? What is the phospate reading
on
your tap water?

Cheryl
No, actually using non-phosphate alkaline buffer to keep at 7.0; water
tends
to be acidic at about 6.4-6.5 . Forgot to mention that earlier, was
actually
coming back to add that info. The phosphate reading out of tap is
0.5ppm.
TIA

There are many non-phosphate chemicals to raise pH, such as baking soda.
But I
have not seen a pH 7.0 buffer for an aquarium that is _not_ phosphate
based. I
suggest that you test some of your buffered fill water with the phosphate
test kit
to rule that out.

Hmmm perhaps a clarification..I'm not using a commercial "pH 7.0" buffer;
the buffer in question is seachem alkaline buffer; it states it will
preferentially buffer at 7.8. This is greater than my needs. You can either
add the quantity directed (1 tsp/10 gallons) to get there, or add directed
dosage and then counteract with acid buffer at directed dosage to get your
desired ph. I've found that a dosage smaller than recommended also allows
you to "customize" your pH w/o putting acid back into the system. The
reason for me to use this is my tap water has basically zero buffering; it
reads kH 1 and my pH was a roller coaster. Hence, the benefit to me is not
directly the pH but rather the ability to maintain it at a level which
allows some diversity with what I do with the tank, fish and plant-wise.
I've found that a stable but buffered 7-7.2 serves better than an unstable
but "natural" 6.4-6.6 (has/will crash to abut 6.0 once the buffer is
consumed).

However, I did consider the point of is the buffer REALLY phosphate-"free"?
Tap water reads 0.5ppm; I used 2 gallons and added 1/4 tsp buffer (roughly
the same ratio as what I'm really using going into the tank) and got results
of 1.0 ppm phosphate. I guess I don't know what tolerance is allowed for
something to claim to be "non-phosphate", but it seems the buffer DOES add
phosphate, which if it accumulated, weekly water changes could lead to my
current situation of phosphate of 10+ ppm.

So, you may have found my culprit. I'll change buffers to baking soda (any
'additives' to avoid??) and see what effect this has on this tank.I'll also
see if I can find some phosphate-adsorbing media to try and lower the
existing phosphate along with aggressive water changes. Anything else I can
do to increase existing uptake by plants of the phosphate currently in the
water? TIA

lila pilamaya

Seachem's Alkline Buffer is phosphate free, although baking soda is much cheaper. In any case, your problem is not the phosphate. You will have to look elsewhere for answers.