Chaloupa has good advice. I agree on the Mandarin...do not consider one in a tank smaller than 75g except in rare instances. I would suggest you do not use a pH buffer for your tank unless your pH is less than 7.8, in which case you likely need to adjust something else, and not use buffer at all. What kind of buffer are you using? How often are you using it? What does the pH read before using it? What does the pH read after using it?
If you provide more information like tank size, when you started it, when you first had 0 nitrite and 0 ammonia, what all your levels are (specific gravity, temp, ammonia, nitrite, nitrate, pH, calcium, alkalinity, magnesium, and phosphate), what brand test kits you use, what additives you use, what salt, what your daily/weekly/monthly maintenance schedule is, etc. Provide as much info as possible.
Taking a read through my guide for just starting out, and also the chemistry guide would be a good read to skim through to see if you're missing anything that may be a key to your tank's current challenges.
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~ Mindy
SPS fanatic.
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