seachem tanganyika buffer

[cu0ngsayz]

anyone use this stuff in the lake tanganyika tanks? i wanna give it a try but i was wondering if i was to stop using it would it affect the fish and kill them? how would i introduce them to a high PH level? do i slowly raise the PH everyday then stop at the desired PH? thanks in advance

[Andrew_B]

That stuff is a gimmick. It's worse for your tank to jack around with the pH than keep it stable with tap water alone.

[mnemenoi]

I have used it and did notice a slow increase in Ph, that being said I utilize limestone and Aragonite to raise it as well and with TR fish its likely unnecessary. Perhaps with delicate or WC fish it might be usefull

[AhKwaB]

It actually works good if you do it properly.

To alter the water chemistry you would have to start with RO/DI or a bit of aged tap would work as well.
You need to make sure it is stabilized prior to be introduced.
After you have start using it all your water changes would need to be with these methods.
Frequent water changes is a must since waste will lower pH and cause fluctuations and with that, problems.
There are DIY recipes for similar buffers online that I have seen been used and mentioned here as well as other forums.

[cu0ngsayz]

seems like too much of a headache

[AhKwaB]

It is, even for wildcaught fish.

[crazy42bmx]

All i keep are tang fish in my house. Iv used this stuff for years now and like the results i see and get out of my fish. Tho i dont have an ro unit i do use this in addition to a.few other chemicals and salts. Iv noticed over time keeping these particular fish that if u give them the high ph they are used to colors become better. Even in very young fish as well. Personally i like the stuff and have used it over and over. Never had an issue or problem one.

[moganman]

Use natural resources to control ph. Period.

[AhKwaB]

Use natural resources to control ph. Period.

how would you get your pH upwards of 9 with natural resources?
please do share.

[crazy42bmx]

Our tap isn't the best around to begin with. So if thats what ur going on for "natural" then ur idea of natural is a lil off id say. They make products specifically designed for fish in which do better in specific water conditions. Dont really think a blue discuss would like ph of 7.8
so we have these helpful products to make our parameters close to what they would be in the wild.
jmo.....

[supadave]

That stuff is a gimmick. It's worse for your tank to jack around with the pH than keep it stable with tap water alone.

I doubt very seriously that Seachem Tang Buffer is a gimmick . I have used quite a bit of different Seachem products and they have all performed exactly as advertised...and then some .

[cu0ngsayz]

Use natural resources to control ph. Period.

I think you meant stabilize the ph? Like using holey rocks and CC in the filters? Haha

[Andrew_B]

Okay maybe gimmick was the wrong word. I agree about seachem products working as they should. Meant more towards why use this particular product. I'm sure it raises the pH as intended, but I seriously don't see how using it is more beneficial and healthy for the tank than say keeping a stable 7.8 pH from the tap. Tangs aren't sensitive fish, even the WC ones can normally breed in a bucket if the water is clean. The hassle of exact dosings, you would probably also have to do water changes with buckets as dosing during a python WC would have pH fluctuation. Houston tap has higher than normal pH to begin with, why mess with it. I think I push 8.2 in my troph tanks

[wesleydnunder]

PH fluctuations aren't the issue. Rapid changes in TDS which affect osmolarity are the issue. Fish have no receptors for ph and have no idea if the water is 7.0 or 8.0

The above post makes a good point. In order to keep the TDS stable, the buffer and new water would need to be pre-mixed beforehand. Lake Tanganyika is the end of the chain and as a result, the parameters are extremely stable. I'm certain WC Tangs would enjoy conditions closer to their natural environment, just as WC discus thrive in the conditons from which they originate. As pointed out, however, both types of fish readily acclimate to our local water and the slippery slope of monkeying with water chemistry is not a necessity.

Mark

[mnemenoi]

Certain non cichlid tangs have proven to be a bit more sensitive to water parameters and this supplement could prove effective in those instances I imagine. The Tang killifish and some of the inverts springing to my mind initially.