top-off water

adidas · #1 03-25-2006, 10:50 PM

how do you guys prepare your topoff water? My auto top-off isn't setup yet since moving, but last time it was up, I had PH problems.. isn't the PH lower in fresh water or something?

i have crabs · #2 03-26-2006, 12:37 AM

ya fresh water is around a ph of 7 somewhere i think if you had a ph problem before mabey start dosing some ph buffer every few days or once a week mabey
http://www.seachem.com/products/prod...ineBuffer.html

adidas · #3 03-26-2006, 12:47 AM

should i just buffer my top off water?

my ph is fine right now, but once i hook up auto top off i dont wanna have ph probs

adidas · #4 03-26-2006, 12:50 AM

i wasnt even aerating my topoff before, but i've since found out we should. I had crazy evaporation before as well (250mh over a 20g) but now i'm runnin a 120g.

i have crabs · #5 03-26-2006, 01:07 AM

i tried to add the ph buffer to the freshwater but after a day or 2 it got stinky and very cloudy,that might not be the case it the water had some circulation and airation.

Skimmerking · #6 03-26-2006, 02:14 AM

my topp off is 8.3 which is really good

mark · #7 03-26-2006, 12:46 AM

If you are using ro/di you'll find the pH right from the output is less than 7.0 (think I measured 6.8). If it's aerated it will become more neutral, so ideally one would aerate for a day before adding to lessen the pH swing.

That being said, I'm not and my pH is steady but then I don't have much in the tank nor evap'ing much either .