Salt mix and ph

[Don_Jorge]

Will most reef salt mixes get me a ph over 8.1? I'm currently using instant ocean sea salt the purple bag and constantly have ph at 8.0 and i feel like i shouldnt have to be dosing buffer if im doing 15% water changes weekly. is my problem that i havent been using the reef crystals or other reef salt mixes or is there more to it than that?

 

[redfishbluefish]

Don't dose anything. Simply stop breathing! :eek: Carbon Dioxide acidifies the water, lowering the pH. Anything you add to raise the pH will also raise the alkalinity. As the saying goes, don't chase pH. And a pH of 8.0. is just fine. When we use to have people over (pre virus), the people breathing would drive my pH to 7.8 or so....and all was fine.

 

[Don_Jorge]

Don't dose anything. Simply stop breathing! :eek: Carbon Dioxide acidifies the water, lowering the pH. Anything you add to raise the pH will also raise the alkalinity. As the saying goes, don't chase pH. And a pH of 8.0. is just fine. When we use to have people over (pre virus), the people breathing would drive my pH to 7.8 or so....and all was fine.

what salt do you use? should i at least switch to reef crystals for extra mag and Ca?

 

[Jekyl]

what salt do you use? should i at least switch to reef crystals for extra mag and Ca?

Salt mix is like asking a favorite ice cream flavor. I use coral pro and love it. Everyone has their own preferences though

 

[Don_Jorge]

Salt mix is like asking a favorite ice cream flavor. I use coral pro and love it. Everyone has their own preferences though

what alk do u get with that?

 

[redfishbluefish]

I also use the purple box Instant Ocean. It's a salt that perfectly works for me. As far as my opinion on salt, it's like sauce (or as some would say, gravy)....it's more a personal preference. I don't think any one salt is "better" than any other salt. I don't know what changing to Reef Crystals would do for you, short of it now being your favorite sauce. :eek: I didn't like it because water changes caused for too high a swing in alk.....I'm a low alk user....and I don't remember, but RC was up there...12-13 or so. I do my water changes and maintain alk and calc by dosing.

 

[Don_Jorge]

I also use the purple box Instant Ocean. It's a salt that perfectly works for me. As far as my opinion on salt, it's like sauce (or as some would say, gravy)....it's more a personal preference. I don't think any one salt is "better" than any other salt. I don't know what changing to Reef Crystals would do for you, short of it now being your favorite sauce. :eek: I didn't like it because water changes caused for too high a swing in alk.....I'm a low alk user....and I don't remember, but RC was up there...12-13 or so. I do my water changes and maintain alk and calc by dosing.

thats exactly what ive been having to do, i dose 10 ml Ca and 5ml alk to get my alk between 9-10 and ph at 8.4 but it drops before my next weekly water change and alk stays the same, so im just confused at this point

 

[redfishbluefish]

You need to dose daily, if not more frequently. I dose three times a day.....well, I don't do it, my automated pumps do it. :cool:

 

[Jekyl]

Coral pro and IO are both hjgh alk

 

[Don_Jorge]

but wont that drive alk too high?

 

[redfishbluefish]

I just pulled these alc, calc and mag numbers for popular salts from HERE: