choosing the best carbonate ph regulators

[MackyD]

I've recently been running a pH regulator, specifically the Seachem one set to pH 7, but unfortunately it's been a few months now and I've been plagued by cyanobacteria.
The Seachem regulator uses phosphate buffers, so I'm starting to think that might be the culprit - does anyone know of a carbonate-based pH regulator available in the UK that I could try to see if it makes a difference?

[boomer]

For the love of our aquatic friends, let's not resort to chemicals to balance nature's harmony. Instead, let's work in tandem with nature, allowing it to thrive as it should.

To start, what are the pH, GH, and KH levels of your source water? These three parameters are intricately connected and should be considered as a whole when making adjustments. I'm not convinced that the Seachem regulator is the direct cause of your cyanobacteria issue, but one thing's for sure – ditching the chemical approach will undoubtedly benefit the health and well-being of your fish.

[MackyD]

Hi Boomer. I'm not sure what you mean by 'chemicals' in this context - aren't these products essentially just crushed rock. I think they're similar to what a marine aquarist would use, like putting limestone in the tank or filter. You're probably aware I had some issues with fish mortality in the past, but raising the pH with these products actually fixed the problem. I'm currently using the Seachem 7.0 product, but I'm trying to find a non-phosphate alternative to see if that's what's causing my cyanobacteria issue.

[boomer]

I've recently been running a pH regulator, specifically the Seachem one set to pH 7, but unfortunately it's been a few months now and I've been plagued by cyanobacteria.
The Seachem regulator uses phosphate buffers, so I'm starting to think that might be the culprit - does anyone know of a carbonate-based pH regulator available in the UK that I could try to see if it makes a difference?

Seachem certainly doesn't reveal much about what's in their product, but they do mention phosphates, which is a major concern - adding phosphates to an aquarium is a definite no-no in my book. Their claims about neutralizing chlorine, detoxifying ammonia, and altering pH levels seem unnecessary and potentially hazardous. I wouldn't recommend using this product in a planted aquarium; in fact, they explicitly advise against it.

The phrase "fish acclimated to neutral pH" raises some red flags for me. It's simply not natural - no fish in their natural habitats live in pH 7 water. This seems like another example of meddling for no good reason.

Regarding your previous issue with raising pH to address a problem, I'm not familiar with the details, so I won't comment. However, I do notice that you haven't mentioned the fish species or the GH, KH, and pH levels of your source water. If you could provide this information, I might have more insight to offer.

I recall a similar experience from about 25 years ago when I was persuaded by well-meaning forum members to use a product to raise my pH. I ended up using dolomite in a nylon pouch in my canister filter, which kept the pH around 6.5 for several years. My tap water at the time had a natural pH of 5 or lower. I didn't notice any significant improvements in my fish, which were all soft water species. The pH was stable, and dolomite is a pure calcium and magnesium carbonate - no unnecessary additives or risks to the fish. I eventually stopped using it, and I've come to realize that there are many myths in this hobby that we'd do well to question.

[coltin]

I'm still waiting for some specifics about your setup. What species of fish are you keeping in this tank? Also, what are the pH, GH, and KH readings of both your aquarium water and the source tap water?

[TwinTankman]

I had a quick look into the Seachem Neutral Regulator, but they don't make it easy to find out what's in it. According to Seachem, it's supposed to adjust pH to neutral and maintain it, soften water by precipitating calcium and magnesium, and remove chlorine, chloramine, and detoxify ammonia. It also contains phosphate buffers and conditioning agents.

I don't use dechlorinators myself since I have well water, so I wouldn't use this product anyway, especially after what boomer said. If you're looking to raise your pH, I'd suggest trying crushed coral in a filter bag or adding it to your substrate if you use sponge filters. Alternatively, you can raise the KH with baking soda, but keep in mind it'll add some sodium to the water. A rough guide is to add 1/2 teaspoon of baking soda per 100 liters to raise the KH by about 1 dH, which will also push the pH towards 8.2.