will aragonite reef sand buffer my pH to 8.1-8.5

[sweeTang21]

sand will do very little if for say, your ALK is off as well. Buffers help get both ALK and pH in the right areas, this is what creates stability. unless this happens, pH can rise and fall as much in a day as it wants. Sand may help as an "agent" but it alone is not enough to get RO filtered water of 7.0-7.8 pH up to its goal of 8.2-8.3 pH.

 

[troutking]

sand will do very little if for say, your ALK is off as well. Buffers help get both ALK and pH in the right areas, this is what creates stability. unless this happens, pH can rise and fall as much in a day as it wants. Sand may help as an "agent" but it alone is not enough to get RO filtered water of 7.0-7.8 pH up to its goal of 8.2-8.3 pH.

so what should i do to keep the pH at 8.3

 

[sweeTang21]

lol, use a buffer. I find the powder works pretty well. After its buffered to the proper levels, then you should be okay without using it during water changes. Reason being is that unless you do 100% changes, your existing water will help stabilize the new water. Sand as i said earlier will act as an AID with very good buffer properties in aiding to keep your ph high.

seachem make a REEF buffer in powder. I know petsmart carries it and other LFS's should have some form of buffer.