{"product_id":"seachem-arowana-buffer","title":"Seachem Arowana Buffer","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eSoft, acidic water held at 6.5, from either direction.\u003c\/strong\u003e Seachem Arowana Buffer is a dry buffer that moves freshwater pH to 6.5 whether the tank currently sits above or below it, then holds that figure for two to four weeks. It softens the water at the same time by precipitating calcium and magnesium out of solution. The dose is one level teaspoon per 40 L, once or twice a month. Stocked in 250 g, 500 g, 1 kg and 4 kg.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch3\u003eWhat it is actually doing\u003c\/h3\u003e\u003cp\u003eTwo separate jobs, and they are worth pulling apart.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe first is buffering. Most pH products push in one direction and leave you to overshoot. This one has a destination — 6.5 — and works towards it from either side. Once there, the buffer resists the drift that otherwise happens between water changes.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe second is softening. It precipitates calcium and magnesium, which genuinely lowers general hardness (GH, your water's calcium and magnesium load) rather than masking it. For a fish evolved in soft Southeast Asian river water and living in hard Australian tap water, that half matters more.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch3\u003eKey features\u003c\/h3\u003e\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eTargets pH 6.5 specifically\u003c\/strong\u003e — not a vague \"lowers pH\", a stated destination reached from above or below\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eHolds for two to four weeks\u003c\/strong\u003e — Seachem's published duration, which makes this a monthly job rather than a constant one\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eSoftens as well as buffers\u003c\/strong\u003e — precipitates calcium and magnesium, dropping GH instead of hiding it\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eCan be dosed daily in high-alkalinity water\u003c\/strong\u003e — hard tap water fights back, and Seachem's directions allow for that\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eDry powder in four sizes\u003c\/strong\u003e — no shelf-life clock the way a liquid buffer has, up to a 4 kg fishroom pack\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003e1c to 2c per litre treated\u003c\/strong\u003e — the 500 g, 1 kg and 4 kg packs all work out to about 1c per litre; only the 250 g runs to 2c\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\u003eDry freshwater pH buffer and water softener\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003cth\u003eTarget pH\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e6.5\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003cth\u003eApproaches target from\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eAbove or below\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003cth\u003eDuration held\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e2 – 4 weeks\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003cth\u003eEffect on hardness\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eSoftens — precipitates calcium and magnesium\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003cth\u003eStandard dose\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e1 level teaspoon per 40 L, once or twice monthly\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003cth\u003eHigh-alkalinity dose\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eMay be used daily\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003cth\u003eDechlorinates\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eNo — treat replacement water separately\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003cth\u003eWater type\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eFreshwater\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003cth\u003ePack sizes\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e250 g, 500 g, 1 kg, 4 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\u003ctable\u003e\u003ctbody\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003cth\u003eVolume\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003cth\u003eOne dose\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e40 L\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e1 level teaspoon\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e80 L\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e2 level teaspoons\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e200 L\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e5 level teaspoons\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e400 L\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e10 level teaspoons\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003c\/tbody\u003e\u003c\/table\u003e\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eDose once or twice a month, or as often as needed to hold pH at 6.5\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eIn high-alkalinity water it may be used daily until the target is reached\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eIt can go straight into the aquarium at any time, but dissolving it into the replacement water at a water change is the better method\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eTest before dosing rather than counting doses — tap water alkalinity varies enormously across South East Queensland, and it is what decides how hard this has to work\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\u003ch3\u003eHow far a pack goes\u003c\/h3\u003e\u003cp\u003eSeachem's own dosing table pairs the teaspoon measure with a gram weight — 1 level teaspoon is 5 g at the 40 L rate. That lets pack size convert to litres treated, and to a cost per litre.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ctable\u003e\u003ctbody\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003cth\u003eSize\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003cth\u003eTeaspoons per pack\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003cth\u003eWater treated (one dose each)\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003cth\u003eCost per litre\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e250 g\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e50\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e2,000 L\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e2c\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e500 g\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e100\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e4,000 L\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e1c\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e1 kg\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e200\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e8,000 L\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e1c\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e4 kg\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e800\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e32,000 L\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e1c\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003c\/tbody\u003e\u003c\/table\u003e\u003cp\u003eFigures assume one dose per 40 L, dosed once. Because this is a monthly maintenance product rather than a one-off treatment, a tank is dosed many times over the life of a pack — the litres figure above is a single dose's reach, which is what the cost-per-litre comparison is based on.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch3\u003eSuitable for, and not suitable for\u003c\/h3\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eSuitable for:\u003c\/strong\u003e arowana tanks · soft, slightly acidic blackwater setups generally · discus, rams and wild-caught tetras kept low · tanks where hard tap water keeps dragging pH back up after every water change · anyone who wants a target rather than a direction.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eNot suitable for:\u003c\/strong\u003e marine, reef or brackish aquariums · Rift Lake cichlids and other hard alkaline setups, which want the opposite · landing on a pH other than 6.5 — \u003ca href=\"\/products\/seachem-acid-buffer\"\u003eSeachem Acid Buffer\u003c\/a\u003e and \u003ca href=\"\/products\/seachem-alkaline-buffer\"\u003eSeachem Alkaline Buffer\u003c\/a\u003e together can be aimed anywhere from 6.5 to 8.0 · use as a dechlorinator, which it is not · same-day pH correction, which stresses fish more than a stable wrong figure does.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch3\u003eCare and storage\u003c\/h3\u003e\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eKeep the container sealed and dry; caked powder makes teaspoon dosing unreliable\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eDissolve the dose in a jug of tank or replacement water before it goes in\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eBecause it softens by precipitation, expect a haze in very hard water as the calcium and magnesium drop out of solution. It clears\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eWatch KH (carbonate hardness, your tank's pH buffer) as well as pH. A tank with almost no carbonate reserve left moves fast, whichever buffer you use\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\u003ch3\u003eGoes well with\u003c\/h3\u003e\u003cul\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 a buffer sensibly without reading pH and KH first\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003ca href=\"\/products\/seachem-discus-buffer\"\u003eSeachem Discus Buffer\u003c\/a\u003e — the same idea aimed at discus rather than arowana\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003ca href=\"\/products\/seachem-prime\"\u003eSeachem Prime\u003c\/a\u003e — dechlorinate the replacement water, because this buffer does not\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003ca href=\"\/products\/seachem-fresh-trace\"\u003eSeachem Fresh Trace\u003c\/a\u003e — restores trace elements that softening and water changes strip out\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003ca href=\"\/products\/seachem-matrix\"\u003eSeachem Matrix\u003c\/a\u003e — biological media; arowana are large, messy fish and filter capacity is usually the real limit\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 — a dry powder, not a dangerous good. The 4 kg pack travels as heavy freight.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch3\u003eCommon questions\u003c\/h3\u003e\u003ch4\u003eWhat pH does Seachem Arowana Buffer set?\u003c\/h4\u003e\u003cp\u003e6.5. It moves the tank there whether it is currently higher or lower, and holds it for two to four weeks.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch4\u003eHow much do I use?\u003c\/h4\u003e\u003cp\u003eOne level teaspoon for every 40 litres, once or twice a month, or as often as needed to hold 6.5. In high-alkalinity water it may be dosed daily until it gets there.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch4\u003eDoes it soften water as well as change pH?\u003c\/h4\u003e\u003cp\u003eYes. It precipitates calcium and magnesium out of solution, which lowers general hardness rather than simply masking it.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch4\u003eIs it only for arowana?\u003c\/h4\u003e\u003cp\u003eNo. Anything wanting soft water around pH 6.5 suits it — discus, rams, wild-caught tetras and blackwater setups generally. The name reflects the target, not a restriction.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch4\u003eCan I use it in a marine tank?\u003c\/h4\u003e\u003cp\u003eNo. It is a freshwater product, and pH 6.5 is far below where any marine or reef tank should sit.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch4\u003eHow many litres does one pack treat?\u003c\/h4\u003e\u003cp\u003eAt 1 teaspoon (5 g) per 40 L, a 250 g pack is good for 2,000 L per dose, a 500 g pack for 4,000 L, a 1 kg pack for 8,000 L and a 4 kg pack for 32,000 L. Because this is redosed monthly rather than used once, a pack lasts many months on a typical tank — dose by the teaspoon and confirm with a pH test.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Seachem","offers":[{"title":"250 g","offer_id":55244170428707,"sku":null,"price":41.95,"currency_code":"AUD","in_stock":true},{"title":"500 g","offer_id":55244170461475,"sku":null,"price":77.95,"currency_code":"AUD","in_stock":true},{"title":"1 kg","offer_id":55244170494243,"sku":null,"price":139.95,"currency_code":"AUD","in_stock":true},{"title":"4 kg","offer_id":55244170527011,"sku":null,"price":376.95,"currency_code":"AUD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0972\/7236\/5347\/files\/725145-1_1cfa75af-c3f7-4767-9f35-f71173443008.webp?v=1782710701","url":"https:\/\/nicksaquariumoceanariumterrarium.com.au\/products\/seachem-arowana-buffer","provider":"Nicks Aquarium Oceanarium Terrarium","version":"1.0","type":"link"}