Seachem Question

[goldenpuon]

Hi,

I realized when I did a water change yesterday on my 40 gallon goldfish tank that I have been putting both Seachem Marine Buffer and Seachem Replenish during each water change along with a wondershell for years, but don't remember why! lol I haven't paid much attention to this before, but looking back, I think there was a reason for it.

I typically only put in 1/3 or 1/2 of the recommended dose for each. My tapwater has a low KH (around 40-80 I think) and high GH. So to my question, is this overkill? If not, I will keep on doing it.

Thanks!

Renee

[Carl]

SeaChem Marine Buffer is basically the same as their Malawi Buffer.
These both buffer KH and enhance GH with a blend of carbonate salts.

Replenish is really only needed if RO or DI water is used or you live in an area of very low mineralization (soft water), or as a drip replacement for Wonder Shells (but this would not really be both practical nor best with goldfish)

My suggestion is to follow your current dosing, probably skip the Replenish if you do not meet the criteria I noted, and add the Wonder Shells as they dissolve, but not necessarily right after a water change. If your water is quite hard, I would consider a "1.2" does of AAP Wonder shells. As an example, instead of say a Medium Wonder Shell, use a flat-head screw drive and hammer to spit it and use just one half

Carl

[troybtj]

Seachem Replenish only boosts GH higher, it doesn't change KH at all.

The one pure KH booster is Seachem Alkaline Buffer, mostly used with planted tanks, but can be added to non-planted tanks if your pH keeps crashing from running out of KH buffering.

The Marine Buffer and Malawi Buffer are rather potent, pushing the pH up to 7.8 to 8.3, as well as boosting GH.

I try to keep my KH around 100-150ppm, but I'm also running CO₂ which eats up the KH faster, hence the reason it has the plants on the front of the bottle.

[goldenpuon]

Thanks for the replies Carl and Troybtj and explaining the reasoning behind them. I do not use RO water or DI water. I think I'll use the Replenish in even tinier amounts than I have been (just to use it up in the next few years instead of throwing it out).

Renee

[angelminx]

My water also has a low KH, and a "high" GH--even higher if I use wonder shells ALL the time (speaking of which, it's probably about time to add some more, I think I'll wait till AFTER the wall gets fixed, and I put the tank back in place, though).

Angelminx