Buffer, plants?

[alex7ktrc]

Im trying to add fish to my tank with live plants, will the buffer harm them or do the plants cancel it out, because i cant get below 7.8, with 7.0 regulator. Please help, I might lose fish!!! (Don't worry though, they're only small red serpues)

 

[spinjector]

"Regulator" sounds like you are using the SeaChem product? Neutral Regulator perhaps? The SeaChem "Regulator" line is phosphate-based which could potentially give you a big algae problem. You should be using SeaChem Alkaline Buffer and Acid Buffer instead.

Here are some informative bits from the SeaChem website:

Neutral Regulator™and Discus Buffer™are phosphate based buffers providing a very strong and stable buffering system. Alkaline Buffer™and Acid Buffer™are non-phosphate buffers, which although less stable than a phosphate buffer, are ideal for the planted aquarium where high phosphate levels would lead to an algae problem.

Alkaline Buffer™ is a non-phosphate buffer to raise pH and alkalinity (KH) and buffer with Acid Buffer™. These buffers are designed for the planted aquarium or for very hard water where phosphate buffers may pose an algae or cloudiness problem. Alkaline Buffer™ raises pH and buffers between 7.2 and 8.5. It is gentle, safe, and enhances the freshwater environment.

So, you should use SeaChem Alkaline Buffer in combination with Acid buffer in the ratio shown on the label. I just checked my label, and it's 1 part Acid Buffer to 2 parts Alkaline Buffer to reach a PH of 7.0 (and they actually specify that doing it by weight is more accurate, but teaspoons work close enough). I would suggest just a tad more acid though, to tweak the PH down just a bit to 6.9 or 6.8, as what I have read indicates plants like a little acid. I believe it helps with nutrient absorbtion.

I use Alkaline Buffer in my tank; in fact it is one of the primary water treatments I do when changing water, right behind the dechlorinator. But I do not use Acid Buffer, but home-brew CO2 instead, which both lowers PH and is an important nutrient for the plants. But if you are new to planted tanks, you might not be ready to try this yet. There is planty of help (unintentional typo there but funny so I will leave it) and info about it here though if you ever want to start.

Sorry for plugging the SeaChem products so much (no I do not work for them), but they have some great plant products. They are the manufacturer of the "Flourish" line of aquarium plant fertilizers you will see us all babbling about here in the Plant Forum.

Here is a link to their plant section if you are interested. There is a lot of good reading here: http://seachem.com/products/planted.html.

 

[alex7ktrc]

Thanks alot for your help, my problem is solved I didnt think anyone was going to answer me

 

[spinjector]

No problem... Glad to be of help.