Marine Buffer 250g SEACHEM

Marine Buffer ™ 250g 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 marine pH to 8.3. It will not increase the pH above 8.3 even if overdosed inadvertently. 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 Marine pH and Alkalinity MultiTest™ fromSeachemTo check the pH and total alkalinity. Use Marine Trace™ to restore the appropriate trace 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 the chemistry of buffer systems, 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 such that the combined product pushes the pH towards 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 pK of the buffer system towards 7.8, and a buffer that targets 8.3 will never quite reach it. Therefore, the pK of Marine Buffer is actually slightly above 8.3 to counter 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 precise dosing, use the digital spoon scale.Seachem .

Dissolve in at least one cup of fresh water. This dose will also increase the 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 original pH and alkalinity. After that, use every two weeks or every month 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 seawater, Marine Buffer® produces little precipitate 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 better at overcoming acids in environments with intense biological activity, which leads to heavier acid production, such as in a typical reef aquarium.

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

This is a temporary magnesium carbonate precipitate. Don't worry, it will dissolve in about half an hour. Sometimes this can happen if your magnesium levels are 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 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 buffer system and target a defined pH in water that has no buffering capacity (no acids and/or bases present). In an established aquarium, this is generally 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.