{"product_id":"seachem-alkaline-buffer","title":"Seachem Alkaline Buffer","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eHard water without the algae bloom phosphate buffers bring.\u003c\/strong\u003e Seachem Alkaline Buffer is a non-phosphate, sodium bicarbonate based buffer that raises carbonate hardness (KH, the thing that stops your pH moving) and holds freshwater pH between 7.2 and 8.5. One level teaspoon per 80 litres lifts alkalinity by about 1 meq\/L — 2.8 dKH. Used alone it settles a tank above pH 7.6; paired with Acid Buffer it will hold a target anywhere from 6.5 to 8.0. Stocked in 70 g, 300 g, 600 g and 1.2 kg.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch3\u003eWhy a buffer rather than a pH-up product\u003c\/h3\u003e\u003cp\u003eA pH crash is almost never a pH problem. It is an alkalinity problem. KH is the reserve that absorbs the acid nitrification produces, and it is used up steadily — fastest in RO, rainwater and naturally soft tap water. Once KH reaches zero, pH falls off a cliff overnight.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eRaise KH and pH holds itself. This product does that without adding phosphate, which matters because phosphate-based buffers hold pH very firmly but leave behind exactly the nutrient that feeds algae.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch3\u003eKey features\u003c\/h3\u003e\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eRaises KH and pH together\u003c\/strong\u003e — one level teaspoon per 80 L adds about 2.8 dKH of buffering reserve\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eContains no phosphate\u003c\/strong\u003e — no phosphate dosed into a planted or display tank, so no feeding the algae you are trying to be rid of\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eTargets a specific pH with Acid Buffer\u003c\/strong\u003e — published ratios for pH 6.5, 7.0, 7.5 and 8.0 rather than dosing blind\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eDoes not change GH\u003c\/strong\u003e — no calcium or magnesium, so shrimp and plant general hardness stays exactly where you set it\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eDry powder\u003c\/strong\u003e — no shelf-life clock the way a liquid buffer has, and the big packs are a fraction of the cost per dose\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\u003ch3\u003eSpecifications\u003c\/h3\u003e\u003ctable\u003e\u003ctbody\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003cth\u003eType\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eNon-phosphate carbonate buffer, sodium bicarbonate based\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003cth\u003epH range\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e7.2 – 8.5\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003cth\u003epH when used alone\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eAbove 7.6\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003cth\u003eStandard dose\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e1 level teaspoon (6 g) per 80 L\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003cth\u003eEffect of one dose\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eAlkalinity +1 meq\/L (+2.8 dKH)\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003cth\u003eEffect on GH\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eNone — contains no calcium or magnesium\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003cth\u003ePhosphate\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eNone\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003cth\u003eWater type\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eFreshwater, including planted\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003cth\u003ePack sizes\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e70 g, 300 g, 600 g, 1.2 kg\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003cth\u003eForm\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eDry powder\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003c\/tbody\u003e\u003c\/table\u003e\u003ch3\u003eDosage and directions\u003c\/h3\u003e\u003cp\u003eSeachem's published dose is 1 level teaspoon (6 g) for every 80 L, daily, until the pH you want is reached. Every figure below produces the same result: alkalinity up by 1 meq\/L, or 2.8 dKH.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ctable\u003e\u003ctbody\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003cth\u003eTank volume\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003cth\u003eOne full dose\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003cth\u003eAlkalinity change\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e4 L\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e0.3 g\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e+1 meq\/L (+2.8 dKH)\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e40 L\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e3 g (½ teaspoon)\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e+1 meq\/L (+2.8 dKH)\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e80 L\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e6 g (1 teaspoon)\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e+1 meq\/L (+2.8 dKH)\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e200 L\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e15 g (2½ teaspoons)\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e+1 meq\/L (+2.8 dKH)\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003c\/tbody\u003e\u003c\/table\u003e\u003cp\u003eDose once a day, not all at once. A tank sitting at 2 dKH that needs 6 dKH gets there over roughly two days, and the fish never feel the swing. Test before each dose rather than counting doses.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch3\u003eHow far a pack goes\u003c\/h3\u003e\u003cp\u003eWorked from Seachem's own 6 g per 80 L dose. One full dose lifts alkalinity 2.8 dKH, so a tank needing three doses to reach target uses three times the volume shown.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ctable\u003e\u003ctbody\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003cth\u003ePack size\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003cth\u003eFull doses\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003cth\u003eWater treated at one full dose\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e70 g\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eabout 11\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eabout 930 L\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e300 g\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e50\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e4,000 L\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e600 g\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e100\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e8,000 L\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e1.2 kg\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e200\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e16,000 L\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003c\/tbody\u003e\u003c\/table\u003e\u003ch3\u003eTargeting a specific pH with Acid Buffer\u003c\/h3\u003e\u003cp\u003eAlkaline Buffer on its own pushes a tank above pH 7.6. To land on a number below that, Seachem publishes ratios to run it against \u003ca href=\"\/products\/seachem-acid-buffer\"\u003eSeachem Acid Buffer\u003c\/a\u003e. Work out the Alkaline Buffer quantity you need for your target KH first, then divide it by the middle column to get the Acid Buffer quantity.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ctable\u003e\u003ctbody\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003cth\u003eTarget pH\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003cth\u003eAcid Buffer\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003cth\u003eAlkaline Buffer\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e6.5\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e1\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e1.3\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e7.0\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e1\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e2.0\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e7.5\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e1\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e2.5\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e8.0\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e1\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e4.0\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003c\/tbody\u003e\u003c\/table\u003e\u003cp\u003eSeachem notes these ratios are set for RO and RO\/DI water, which carries no buffering of its own. Tap water already holds some alkalinity, so expect to adjust the ratio to suit yours.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch3\u003eSuitable for, and not suitable for\u003c\/h3\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eSuitable for:\u003c\/strong\u003e freshwater community and planted tanks · African cichlid and other hard-water setups · remineralising RO or rainwater · tanks whose pH keeps sliding down between water changes · anyone who wants firm pH without dosing phosphate.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eNot suitable for:\u003c\/strong\u003e marine and reef tanks — \u003ca href=\"\/products\/seachem-marine-buffer\"\u003eSeachem Marine Buffer\u003c\/a\u003e is the saltwater equivalent · raising GH, which this does not touch · soft-water species such as many wild-caught tetras, discus and Apistogramma, where high KH is the wrong target · emergency same-day pH correction, which stresses fish more than a low pH does.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch3\u003eCare and storage\u003c\/h3\u003e\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eKeep the container closed and dry — the powder cakes if it draws moisture, which makes teaspoon dosing inaccurate\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eDissolve the dose in a cup of tank water before adding it, rather than tipping powder onto substrate or plants\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eTest KH and pH before each dose. Counting doses instead of testing is how tanks overshoot\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eWeigh rather than spoon on small tanks; a heaped teaspoon can be half again a level one\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\u003ch3\u003eGoes well with\u003c\/h3\u003e\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003ca href=\"\/products\/seachem-acid-buffer\"\u003eSeachem Acid Buffer\u003c\/a\u003e — the other half of the pair, and the only way to target a pH below 7.6\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003ca href=\"\/products\/seachem-ph-alkalinity-kit-75-tests\"\u003eSeachem pH \u0026amp; Alkalinity Kit\u003c\/a\u003e — you cannot dose this product properly without reading KH\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003ca href=\"\/products\/seachem-alkaline-regulator\"\u003eSeachem Alkaline Regulator\u003c\/a\u003e — the phosphate-buffered alternative, which locks pH harder at 7.1 to 7.6\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003ca href=\"\/products\/seachem-marine-buffer\"\u003eSeachem Marine Buffer\u003c\/a\u003e — the marine tank equivalent\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003ca href=\"\/collections\/seachem\"\u003eThe full Seachem range\u003c\/a\u003e — water care, media and test kits\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\u003ch3\u003eWarranty and delivery\u003c\/h3\u003e\u003cp\u003eSold with the manufacturer's shelf life; no separate warranty term is published for a dry buffer. Your rights under the Australian Consumer Law apply regardless and cannot be excluded. A safety data sheet is published by Seachem at sds.seachem.com. Ships as a standard parcel — it is a dry powder, not a dangerous good.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch3\u003eCommon questions\u003c\/h3\u003e\u003ch4\u003eHow much does Seachem Alkaline Buffer raise KH?\u003c\/h4\u003e\u003cp\u003eOne level teaspoon (6 g) per 80 litres raises alkalinity by about 1 meq\/L, which is 2.8 dKH. The change is the same at any volume as long as the dose is scaled to it.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch4\u003eDoes Alkaline Buffer raise GH as well as KH?\u003c\/h4\u003e\u003cp\u003eNo. It contains no calcium or magnesium, so it has no effect on general hardness. If your tank needs GH raised as well, that is a separate product.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch4\u003eCan I use Alkaline Buffer in a saltwater tank?\u003c\/h4\u003e\u003cp\u003eNo. It is formulated for freshwater. Marine Buffer is the product Seachem makes for saltwater aquariums.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch4\u003eWhy choose a non-phosphate buffer?\u003c\/h4\u003e\u003cp\u003ePhosphate-based buffers hold pH more rigidly, but they add phosphate to the water, and phosphate feeds algae. In a planted or display tank a non-phosphate buffer avoids trading a pH problem for an algae problem.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch4\u003eHow do I hit a specific pH like 7.0?\u003c\/h4\u003e\u003cp\u003eUse Alkaline Buffer with Acid Buffer at the published ratio — 1 part Acid Buffer to 2 parts Alkaline Buffer for pH 7.0. Those ratios assume RO water, so adjust for the alkalinity your tap water already carries.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch4\u003eHow fast should I raise pH?\u003c\/h4\u003e\u003cp\u003eDose once daily and let the tank climb over several days. Fish handle a stable low pH far better than a fast correction, so slow is the safe way to arrive.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Seachem","offers":[{"title":"70 g","offer_id":55244169511203,"sku":null,"price":13.95,"currency_code":"AUD","in_stock":true},{"title":"300 g","offer_id":55244169543971,"sku":null,"price":29.95,"currency_code":"AUD","in_stock":true},{"title":"600 g","offer_id":55244169576739,"sku":null,"price":49.95,"currency_code":"AUD","in_stock":true},{"title":"1.2 kg","offer_id":55244169609507,"sku":null,"price":91.95,"currency_code":"AUD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0972\/7236\/5347\/files\/0239-alkaline_buffer-4_kg-scaled.png?v=1782710661","url":"https:\/\/nicksaquariumoceanariumterrarium.com.au\/products\/seachem-alkaline-buffer","provider":"Nicks Aquarium Oceanarium Terrarium","version":"1.0","type":"link"}