Is reef buffer safe for long term use?

[Timmy77]

Ok my tanks been up and running for a year now and I can't seem to keep my PH up. I've used reef buffer by seachem and it works but it goes right back down after a few weeks. Now I add a small amount to every other days make up water. This seems to be keeping my PH up. Is this safe? I figure it's better to keep it constant than up and down all the time. According to the instructions you can't over dose with this product.

[mmHg]

What kind of bioload and filtration are you running? Sand bed? Tank size? Freshwater filtration? Buffer solutions can do a great job of maintaining pH, but it'd be nice to better understand why your pH keeps dropping so rapidly. For the record I use seachem's buffer as well and dose about a teaspoon every 2 weeks in my 75g to keep my pH where I want it. Give us a little more info and maybe we can help you out.

[Timmy77]

125g tank
40g sump
125LB live rock
2 clowns
1 blenny
3 cardinals
1 royal gamma
20 hermits / 10 snails

I'm running a mag 18 on my return with a 20w Uv on one of the returns
1 power head in the display
I will be adding a tunze 6060 soon

[Timmy77]

Oh, a clam and a few corals and polups as well.

[Sea monkey]

using reef buffer alone all the time is going to really mess up your water chemistry. Your alk will go through the roof and your calcium is going to be really low. Should try and find a more balanced solution like kalk.

[Timmy77]

i bought some kalk but I don't know how to use it

[mattb]

Buffer isn't meant to increase your pH... Use it to maintain your alk. Don't worry much about your pH, most buffers effects are limited. You could try venting your skimmers air intake to the outside. Kalk dosing will also temporarily increase your pH.

To dose kalk, 2 tablespoons of kalk per gallon. Mix it and drip it into your tank.

[Timmy77]

[Sea monkey]

id test your alk and calcium before you start anything new.