Marine Buffer 50 grams SEACHEM

Marine Buffer™ 50g SEACHEM

- Increases and maintains the pH at 8.3 in all saltwater aquariums
- Can be safely used in reef aquariums
- Contains borate for added stability
- Contains magnesium to mitigate the effects of precipitation

Overview

Marine Buffer® will safely raise the marine pH to 8.3. It will not increase the pH above 8.3 even in the case of accidental overdosing. Marine Buffer® is a blended product and is not just sodium bicarbonate or sodium carbonate, which are commonly sold as substitutes. These products can raise the pH to dangerous levels if not used correctly. Marine Buffer® contains sodium, magnesium, calcium, strontium, and potassium salts of carbonate, bicarbonate, chloride, sulfate, and borate. Use the pH and marine alkalinity MultiTest™ from Seachem to check the pH and total alkalinity. Use Marine Trace™ to restore the appropriate trace element levels and feed NutriDiet® Marine Flakes for thriving and healthy saltwater fish.

Total alkalinity is a measure of three main ions: carbonate, bicarbonate, and borate. In saltwater, bicarbonate pushes the pH towards 7.8, carbonate pushes the pH towards 9.1, and borate towards 9.5 or higher. Due to buffer system chemistry, the closer you get to the pH of the pK of a buffer system, the harder it is for the pH to change. So, if you mix a buffer so that the combined product pushes the pH to 8.3, the more you use, the more stable the pH becomes. This is the principle of Marine Buffer™. It is a mixed buffer that drives and maintains your pH at 8.3 because of the mix. The catch with this seemingly simple solution is that most salt mixes contain substantial amounts of bicarbonate salts. This shifts the buffer system's pK towards 7.8, and a buffer that aims for 8.3 will never quite reach it. Therefore, the pK of Marine Buffer is actually slightly above 8.3 to counteract the influx of bicarbonate with each water change. Marine Buffer™ was the first buffer on the market that contained borate salts (which makes a saltwater buffer system much more stable), and Marine Buffer™ remains the most effective pH buffer on the market for marine aquariums.

Sizes: 50 g, 250 g, 500 g, 1 kg, 4 kg

Instructions

Add 5 g (1 level teaspoon) for every 80 L (20 US gallons). For accurate dosing, use the digital spoon scale. Seachem . .

Dissolve in at least one cup of fresh water. This dose will also increase alkalinity by approximately 1 meq/L.

Add daily until the pH stabilizes at 8.3. This will take from one day to a week, depending on the initial pH and alkalinity. Afterwards, use every two weeks or monthly to maintain a pH of 8.3.

If this practice is not adequate, then overcrowding, overfeeding, or any other mismanagement should be investigated as a probable cause.

In ionically balanced marine water, Marine Buffer® produces few precipitates or cloudiness.

If a significant precipitate forms upon the addition of Marine Buffer® that does not dissolve within approximately 15 minutes, then an improper ionic balance was present.

A water change must be initiated whenever possible before any new use of the product.

Efficiency improves with continuous use. Do not mix directly with a calcium, magnesium, or strontium supplement.

FAQ translates to "Frequently Asked Questions" in English.

What is the difference between Reef Buffer™ and Marine Buffer®?

Marine Buffer® has a pK of 8.3. pK is a number that represents the pH of a buffer. Reef Buffer™ has a heavier carbonate influence than Marine Buffer®, giving it a higher pK. For this reason, Reef Buffer™ is more effective at overcoming acids where intense biological activity occurs, resulting in heavier acid production as in a typical reef aquarium.

When I added Marine Buffer™ to my tank, I got a very light, white, and fluffy precipitate. What should I do?

This is a temporary precipitate of magnesium carbonate. Don't worry, it will dissolve in about half an hour. Sometimes this can happen if your magnesium level is on the high side.

I have a freshwater planted tank. I use Acid Buffer™ to lower the pH. According to the label, I also need to use Alkaline Buffer™ to target a specific pH. My question is, can I use Marine Buffer® instead? And if so, at what dosage?

I would not use Marine Buffer® in this situation because the ingredients are different from those used in Alkaline Buffer™ and are designed to reach a pH of 8.3. The ratios on the labels of Acid Buffer™ and Alkaline Buffer™ are designed to create a buffering system and target a specific pH in water that has no buffering capacity (no acids and/or bases present). In an established aquarium, this is usually not the case. I would only use Acid Buffer™ to lower the pH and KH, or use Alkaline Buffer™ to increase the pH and KH.