How To Buffer Ph without Raising It?

Hello. So recently when I test my water for my 55 gallon tank its buffer is very low, which as I understand it makes it easy for the Ph to change, but my overall Ph reading is right around 7 (where I want it). I have a 10 pound bag of Aragonite that I bought without doing much research and found out putting it in your filter or tank can raise it as high as 8.0! Is their a way I can keep my Ph at 7 while buffering the water to make it less perceptible to Ph swings? Thanks

 

Ph and kh are effectively linked, so raising kh to provide a buffer will increase your ph. Adding crushed coral will help raise your kh but it will be a slow raise, not an instant jump and will be slowed down further when you change your water (assuming your source water is low in kh too). How low is your kh in your tank as it stands? Are you changing water regularly?

 

Since KH and pH are linked and your pH is around 7 (neutral) your KH must be on a safe level and hence no need to do anything. Your KH can be as low as 3° without any pH fluctuation outside the norm to be expected.
You can lean back and relax. Nothing to change on a running system.

 

There are lots of buffer systems. They can be used to buffer pH to levels anywhere from highly acidic to highly alkaline, depending upon the buffering chemicals. Aquariums are typically kept in a range between 6.0 and 8.3. The two buffer systems that are most useful over that range contain either phosphates or carbonates/bicarbonates. Folks with planted tanks often shun phosphate buffers as an excess of phosphates can cause issues with algae. For those who want to keep their pH at a neutral 7.0, phosphate buffers such as API Proper pH 7.0 or Seachem Neutral Regulator are suitable. For those who want to avoid phosphates, Seachem sells Acid Buffer and Alkaline Buffer which are used in combination to achieve whatever pH you desire. You use different ratios of the buffers depending upon the target pH.

As MacZ indicates, if your pH is at neutral and you are satisfied with it there, you might not need to add any type of buffer at all. If the pH starts to drop, you can add 1/4 teaspoon of baking soda (sodium bicarbonate or potassium bicarbonate) to your 55 gallon tank to raise both the pH and KH. Check the pH after 24 hour and add another 1/4 teaspoon if needed.

 

As MacZ indicates, if your pH is at neutral and you are satisfied with it there, you might not need to add any type of buffer at all. If the pH starts to drop, you can add 1/4 teaspoon of baking soda (sodium bicarbonate or potassium bicarbonate) to your 55 gallon tank to raise both the pH and KH. Check the pH after 24 hour and add another 1/4 teaspoon if needed.

I might add: To prevent injury to your fish add baking soda always dissolved in water, never the powder directly.
And I have to underline: Doing nothing is very much the best option in this case.

 

For what it's worth I run all my non-buffering substrate tanks at 0.5dKH and I never have any pH swings. Large, frequent water changes to replenish that 0.5dKH is probably why I never have any issues with pH. (RO water buffered with potassium bicarbonate).

Degassed pH of 7.1 / 7.2 is where it sits when I buffer to 0.5dKH.

I think you are fine as is.

When you say your buffer is low, are you referring to KH? If so, what level is it at?