dKH Supplement, Which one

Timur · 03-04-2002, 03:50 AM

I just want to know what everybody uses in their tanks to get the dKH up and for a stable pH.
I was looking around and found Kent's Superbuffer dKH and also Kent's Tech CB A&B (the two part thing). Does anyone use one of these products with good results?
Any suggestions?
My corraline is in bad shape which I think because of my dKH being 5-6.

Timur · 03-04-2002, 04:47 AM

Also one addition ; I heard that CaCl will upset the ionic balance in the tank. I read Kent CB's (two part) part A contains CaCl. Is this true??

Rick O · 03-04-2002, 05:46 AM

I can't speak for the Kent products but I use B-Ionic two part calcium buffer in one of my tanks to maintain alk and calcium. I have a calcium reactor for the other.

Doug1 · 03-04-2002, 10:24 AM

I am using the Kent tech A and B , I dont think much of it, I prefer the B-Ionic and yes most use CaCl as the alk boost and long term no water change will throw Ionc balance out of whack

nickg · 03-04-2002, 11:19 AM

I used kent super buffer to raise alk, it took about 2 weeks of over dosing every day, but she's up to 12 now and holding steady. I now use kent a & b to maintain levels, and like Doug said I don't think much of the product either. Has been very slow to raise Ca.

Timur · 03-05-2002, 06:32 AM

Thanks for the replies ; I think I'll go with B-Ionic. But we dont have ESV products here so I have to order them

reefguy · 03-05-2002, 06:52 PM

what is "long term"?? i have used calcium chloride to boost my calcium level and superbuffer dKh to maintain alkalinity for over a year now. usually the two part buffers contain the above chemicals and the buffer comes in two parts because if added togther, the chemicals will combine to form insoluble calcium carbonate. i also add magnesium at half the manufacturers recommended rate every other week. this also helps to maintain ionic stability, but can also (like anything else) cause problems if not used properly.

The Shroom Meister · 03-05-2002, 08:58 PM

ESV is the way to go IMO.

tdwyatt · 03-06-2002, 02:20 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by reefguy
what is "long term"?? ...this also helps to maintain ionic stability, but can also (like anything else) cause problems if not used properly.

Craig has done some long term studies on B-ionic, etc usage with and without regular water changes. The gist of this is in his Aquarium frontiers article from Feb 1999. Most of the end discussion deals with computer modeling for the results, but the actual tanks set up to test this follow the modeling simulation.