Acid Buffer 300g

Acid Buffer is a non-phosphate buffer to lower pH and buffer with Alkaline Buffer. Both buffers are designed for the planted aquarium or for very hard water where phosphate buffers may pose an algae or cloudiness problem. Acid Buffer lowers pH and buffers between 5.0 and 8.0 when used with Alkaline Buffer. As Acid Buffer lowers pH, it converts carbonate alkalinity (KH) into available CO2. It may also be used to safely lower pH in marine water.

DIRECTIONS: To lower pH, use 2·g (1-4 teaspoon) to every 80 L (20 gallons*) daily until intended pH is reached (this dose lowers alkalinity by about 0.2 meq/L (0.6 dKH)). Best if added directly to aquarium. If water is soft or not well buffered, use with Alkaline Buffer.

TIPS: Larger doses may be required in very hard (KH) alkaline waters. If using with RO or DI water for a water change, then use with Alkaline Buffer at a fixed ratio (indicated on container) to set the desired pH. Once pH is set, add water to aquarium as soon as possible to avoid pH fluctuations (for best results, base ratio on weight of product added).
Acid Buffer Support

Q:I’m using Acid Buffer in my planted 125 gallon tank. It says on the bottle to use with Alkaline Buffer to achieve a preset pH. How do I accomplish this? Also, when I do partial water changes, how is the pH to remain constant

A: If Acid Buffer and Alkaline Buffer are used together in DI or RO water in the ratios indicated on the bottle, after a few hours of equilibration, the pH indicated on the bottle will be attained. If you are not using DI or RO water, then you will have to experimentally determine the appropriate ratios for your source water. As the water’s hardness increases, you will require less and less of Alkaline Buffer. If your source water is very soft and has organic acids or tannins in it, either naturally or from using moss, then you will require proportionately less Acid Buffer. When you do partial water changes, the better approach would be to pretreat the new water with these buffers according to the bottle or experimentally determined ratio for the pH you wish. Alternately, you could add the buffers to the tank after making the water change, although there will be more potential for temporary fluctuation this way.

Q: What is the difference between Neutral Regulator, Discus Buffer, Alkaline Buffer, and Acid Buffer?

A: 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.

Q: We have a 110 gallon freshwater tank and purchased the Acid Buffer to aid in lowering the pH. We set up a 10 gallon test tank to see what results we might expect on a smaller scale. The buffer was added to the test tank but did not dissolve.

A pH test 24 hours later showed little, if any, change. My question is – can the buffer be added directly to the tank without being disolved first. What would be your recommendation for lowering the pH without adding stress to the tank.

A: It is recommended to add the buffer directly to the aquarium without pre-dissolving. This buffer, like all aquarium buffers, are designed to work with the biological load of an aquarium. This product will help to dissolve your existing buffering ability and suppress your pH. The natural acid production in the aquarium will help to keep the pH down. In using this buffer in a body of water without fish or other sources of acids, gasses will equilibrate with this water in time (hours) making the buffer seem ineffective. However, in an aquarium with fish and/or plants you always have acids produced to off set any gas that may equilibrate with your water. Our buffer is designed to work in conjunction with this process. To use this product, I would follow the instructions of 1/4 teaspoon per 20 gallons. Check pH daily and dose daily until your desired pH is reached.

Q: I have a freshwater planted tank. I’ve been using Acid Buffer to lower pH. According to the label I should use Alkaline Buffer as well to target a pH. My question is, can I use marine buffer instead? And if so, at what dosage?

A: I would not use Marine Buffer in this situation as the ingredients are different than what is used in Alkaline Buffer and is designed to achieve a pH of 8.3. The ratios on back of the labels of Acid Buffer and Alkaline Buffer are designed to create a buffering system and target a set pH in a water that does not have any buffering ability (no acids and/or bases present). In an established aquarium, this is generally not the case. I would only use Acid Buffer to lower pH and KH or use Alkaline Buffer to raise pH and KH.

Q: I’ve been using Acid Buffer for 4 days now. My aquarium water pH is 7.6 kH 7 and gH 6. It is a planted tank. When I add Acid Buffer to my tank, pH drops to 6.7. When I measure pH the next day it is at 7.3. I do add Acid Buffer for 4 days, everyday. Do I have to do that everyday until pH will set at 6.8 and will not go back to alkaline? How long will Acid Buffer keep water at 6.8 level? I’m using tap water with pH 7.6 kH 7 and gH 10 and do 25% water changes every 3 weeks.

A: What you are experiencing is normal for a planted aquarium. The heavier the aquarium is planted, the greater the pH fluctuation may be. During daylight hours plants go through photosynthesis. During this process CO2 (carbon dioxide) is used as a source of carbon. CO2 (carbon dioxide) is a potential acid source forming carbonic acid in water and since CO2 is used during daylight hours (photosynthesis), this potential acid source is eliminated. During night time plants respire CO2 thus introducing a potential acid source into your water column. This is the reason why pH fluctuates in a planted aquarium from night to day. A solid KH value will minimize these fluctuations. Your given KH value seems sufficient. The only way to combat a rising pH during the day in your aquarium is to introduce an acid source. A heavier fish load or our Acid Buffer will do the job. A heavier fish load would be a more constant acid source than having to add our Acid Buffer daily as this is labor intensive. Our Acid Buffer, along with any acid present, will do the job until it is neutralized by a base. Neither is necessary given the fact that pH fluctuations are expected in planted aquariums and will be kept to a minimum if a sufficient KH value is present.

Q: I have been using your Acid Buffer for awhile, and it has always been pink. I received a bottle from a mail order company and this stuff was white. Is this the same product?

A: Yes the product is the same. To streamline manufacturing processes, we simply opted to stop adding the red dye. It’s function has not been affected in any way.