need help, please!!!

[Maxi]

I decided to do a water change tonight, and good thing I tested the water before adding it in. But the bad thing is that I already took out the old water in the tank, about 15-20%, and the ph in the tank is 8.4, and the ph in the water I'm supposed to add has a PH of about 7.9.
It is the same oceanic salt mix I have been using in this tank since I got it.
I do have PH buffer with me, what do I do?!?!!

[Maxi]

Anyone...????

[poppin_fresh]

Do you have a powerhead in it to mix it? I think some aeration will bring the PH up with out the buffer.

[Maxi]

The water before adding was on mixing for a day.
The water in the tank is also 1.023 SG, and the new water is 1.024, but that shouldn't be that big of a deal, its not that much water I'm changing. But, I don't want to shock anything with the lower PH water...!

[CruzinKim]

With the powerhead mixing the water, I would add the buffer until you reach 8.4 ph or no lower than 8.2. Then just pump it back into your tank. Make sure the salinity and temp is close too.

[Maxi]

Bad news, PH bufferer is only for freshwater tanks.

[poppin_fresh]

I think I remember Oceanic salt being low in PH when I used to use it. You could buffer the water a little and then slowly add it to the tank. It really shouldn't cause too much of a problem.

[Maxi]

Thanks. I experimented with the test tubes- I mixed in both, making it a 10ml solution out of a 5, and the PH mixed into about 8.1 or 8.3, I can't really tell, and this is pretty much what's going to happen in the tank. So its less 7.9 than 8.4, so it should mix up to be 8.2, and be back to normal after more flow from the tank by tomorrow.

Good idea or not?

[poppin_fresh]

Heres a good article about low PH.

http://www.reefkeeping.com/issues/2004-09/rhf/index.php

Randy says acceptable PH is 7.8 - 8.4 so you should be fine. What test kit are you using? Some of the cheaper ones are impossible to get an accurate reading from. In the long run a meter will be less expensive than kits and far more accurate.

[CruzinKim]

Yes, just pump the water in slowly, so the pH doesn't drop too quickly.

[poppin_fresh]

Also, your tank fluctuates PH all day long every day anyway depending on several factors. At night the PH could potentially drop lower than 7.8, but you wouldn't know it unless you tested for it.

[Maxi]

Thank you very much Poppin and Kim..!
I will add it in slowly.
I think my PH rises at night, I have never tested it at 8.4, most I have tested is 8.2
I use an API test kit, yeah I know pretty cheap, but they are pretty accurate in my opinion. Its the only one I've ever used..haha.

[Maxi]

Added it in, all looks great. I'll test ph again in 15 minutes. Thank you!

[Maxi]

Ok after 15 minutes, all the inverts an corals are good, the fish is good, the snails are good, so I think everything is fine.
Thanks again for all of your help..!
I can't test the water today, as I have to get up at 5am...!
Thank you for all the help!