does anyone buffer top-off water?

[Detritus07]

Probably a dumb question, but should I? (I use a ro/di unit if that matters.)

[jeremai]

No.

[phil121]

I buffer my water. A good RO/DI is going to produce water with a PH close to 6.

 

At least in my experience.

[Detritus07]

No.

Fair enough. thanks

[skydive]

I don't buffer mine either.

[constantocean]

I buffer mine, but I certainly know I don't need to, I figure it's just an extra little precaution and an easy way to keep my pH up. no harm done.

[HecticDialectics]

I buffer my water. A good RO/DI is going to produce water with a PH close to 6.

 

At least in my experience.

 

While this is true, it does not mean you should buffer the top-off water. PH is a funny thing. RO/DI water should technically be around a neutral PH... which takes on whatever PH you add it to. That's my basic understanding anyway. Anyone with science skills is welcome to elaborate/explain...

 

But no, you should not buffer top-off water.

[SaltWaterNewb]

The reason you are topping off in the first place is because water has evaporated from your tank. When the water evaporates, it leaves behind the salt and other goodies that was in the salt mix used to make your SW. That includes what ever buffers are in your mix. Since that is still in your tank water, now slightly more concentrated due to the evaporation, adding the top off water just brings it back to the original levels. Doing your weekly water changes replenishes these elements. So there would be no need to add anything to the top off water unless you are originally have pH troubles or are otherwise dosing other things that your tank needs. Am I correct in my thinking?

[lakshwadeep]

Yes, you are right. Water that evaporates from the tank is generally pure (this is how distilled water is produced), and any buffer introduced will not evaporate with it. Personally, I don't think buffers are ever necessary since water changes (and even calcium/alkalinity dosing) provide natural buffering.

[Detritus07]

The reason you are topping off in the first place is because water has evaporated from your tank. When the water evaporates, it leaves behind the salt and other goodies that was in the salt mix used to make your SW. That includes what ever buffers are in your mix. Since that is still in your tank water, now slightly more concentrated due to the evaporation, adding the top off water just brings it back to the original levels. Doing your weekly water changes replenishes these elements. So there would be no need to add anything to the top off water unless you are originally have pH troubles or are otherwise dosing other things that your tank needs. Am I correct in my thinking?

That makes sense

 

Yes, you are right. Water that evaporates from the tank is generally pure (this is how distilled water is produced), and any buffer introduced will not evaporate with it. Personally, I don't think buffers are ever necessary since water changes (and even calcium/alkalinity dosing) provide natural buffering.

Thanks guys

[HecticDialectics]

Here we go

http://www.reefkeeping.com/issues/2005-05/rhf/index.php#8

[bluesky]

I don't buffer mine either.

 

I don't buffer either ... should i?

[HecticDialectics]

I don't buffer either ... should i?

 

Yes. Absolutely...

 

 

(Did you even READ the thread? )

[FateX9]

hmmmm...that link really has nothing to do with this? all it states is that ro/di water has low pH values because CO2 gets into the water, but it's easy to get rid of CO2 in water

and it also states that ro/di water has lower buffering capacity

well good thing youre not putting anything that requires a stable pH into that water then isnt it?

as saltwaternewb stated when water evaps, thats all that evaps and the buffering capacity of the remaining water only increases therefore buffering the unbuffered ro/di

by adding more buffer to the system is like adding saltwater instead of freshwater for top offs, youre gunna just end up with higher levels

[M@!]

I buffer my top off water with garlic.

[masterbuilder]

I read the link....

 

Quote:

 

" The pH of the combination of two solutions does not necessarily reflect the average (not even a weighted average) of their two pH values. The final pH of a mixture may actually not even be between the pH’s of the two solutions when combined. Consequently, adding pH 7 pure water to pH 8.2 seawater may not even result in a pH below 8.2, but rather might be higher than 8.2 (for complex reasons relating to the acidity of bicarbonate in seawater vs. freshwater). "

 

So...Hectic...explain to me...why add buffer?

[frankthetank]

I started buying alkaline water from the water store. It's RO/DI water (oppm) then they add Calcium (22ppm) and it's at a PH of 8.1. So I don't need to buffer the top up water anymore.

[Mr. Fosi]

So...Hectic...explain to me...why add buffer?

 

I thought his comment was sarcasm...

[masterbuilder]

Ahhhhhhhh.... need the coffee to kick in

[HecticDialectics]

hmmmm...that link really has nothing to do with this? all it states is that ro/di water has low pH values because CO2 gets into the water, but it's easy to get rid of CO2 in water

and it also states that ro/di water has lower buffering capacity

well good thing youre not putting anything that requires a stable pH into that water then isnt it?

as saltwaternewb stated when water evaps, thats all that evaps and the buffering capacity of the remaining water only increases therefore buffering the unbuffered ro/di

by adding more buffer to the system is like adding saltwater instead of freshwater for top offs, youre gunna just end up with higher levels

 

You don't think the link I posted has anything to do with this? Were you in the section on "Final Effluent PH"? Did you not get the sarcasm in my last post saying "Yes, Absolutely!" either?

 

And btw, when you're trying to make an good argument, it's generally not a good idea to say "this link has nothing to do with this" and then your examples are exactly why it's relevant. I mean, point three says exactly what you just said, sort of. I think you're characterizing the relationship of the ro/di and tank PH as too linear, when in fact, it isn't really linear, as point three in the link I provided explains. The fact that the RO/DI has an extremely low buffering ability is why it's so easy for the PH to change... hence why it's not a problem to put the seemingly low PH water into our tank...

 

I thought his comment was sarcasm...

 

 

It was sarcastic.

 

I'll repeat just for fun:

 

<No Sarcasm Zone>DO NOT BUFFER YOUR TOP OFF WATER</End No Sarcasm Zone>