Hello I just bought some Proper pH and I looked at the instructions and it said it is a phosphate buffer and should not be used on real aquarium plants...anyone know why???
Phosphate buffer bad for plants?
- Thread starter PinkPlaty
- Start date
Plecosterone
We don't need no stinking badges!
I wouldn't use that stuff. Unless your pH is off the scale one way or another most fish will do fine in anything from about 6-8. Plants need phosphates so I would imagine the proper pH neutralizes it. I will repeat....I would not use it in your tank. If you need to adjust pH, find a different way to do it. Crushed coral for example will take the pH up and peat will lower it.
Phosphate buffers uses phosphate, sodium or potassium for example, to maintain a steady pH. As noted, plants use phosphate as a macro nutrient so any buffering effect will be short lived as the plants will consume it.
It was a common belief that phosphates can lead to algae, and in a highly lit environment like a planted tank it would cause algae issues. That has been proven false. However, there is little reason to tamper with the water's pH unless you're at the extreme ranges so why waste money trying to fix nothing?
It was a common belief that phosphates can lead to algae, and in a highly lit environment like a planted tank it would cause algae issues. That has been proven false. However, there is little reason to tamper with the water's pH unless you're at the extreme ranges so why waste money trying to fix nothing?
I need to test my tap and see what the deal is. I only have tested the pH which is like about 7-7.2 when it comes out of the spigot and I tested it a few hours later and it maintained that. I am going to get a kH and a GH test done so I can see what the heck i need to do. I took out my driftwood and have been doing water changes and the pH is not registering on my test kit because it's so low, which goes down to 6.