What do you use to buffer your aquarium water ?

by alexmtl Mon May 30, 2016 6:15 pm

What do you use to buffer your aquarium water ?

I have been using cuttlefish bones that I purchase for $1 at the local bulk dog/cat food store. However I find that it probably raises the nitrogen levels if you do not adequately age it. What are you using and where do you get the carbonate ?

Do you use tums, crushed shells, baking soda or leave it to your local water supply?

by l_l_l Tue May 31, 2016 8:35 am

I've seen people using aragonite as substrate and all of them seem to really like it. This is coming from a couple of African cichlid keepers.
It's supposed to buffer at around 7.7. This is NOT based on experience tho so you can't take my word for this! lol

by Fores41 Tue May 31, 2016 9:50 am

My water is hard enough already at about 31 degrees hardness or 540 tds and ph of 7.5 tap water is good enough unless I need it softer then I mix with bottle water.

by **Biulu** Tue May 31, 2016 10:22 pm

I know that Gary adds Epsom salts after each water change for his high tds livebearers.

Personally I am way too happy having water that is not so hard after all those years in Mexico!

by Suprd71 Wed Jun 01, 2016 3:24 pm

South and Central cichlids are my thing, my tap water is very neutral on all counts, so adequate for both species of fish. I have kept Malawi Mbuna a couple of times over the years and used both Aragonite sand and crushed coral to make water more friendly to them. Either substrate raised Ph to 8 even from 7 even.

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What do you use to buffer your aquarium water ?

What do you use to buffer your aquarium water ?

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Re: What do you use to buffer your aquarium water ?

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Re: What do you use to buffer your aquarium water ?