buffering

I am in the process of setting up a 55 and a 40 long. I plan on keeping tang's in both tanks. I am going to use pool filter sand in these tanks in lieu of some type of aragonite that I usually use. I have read you can use baking soda to buffer the water. What is the best way to add the baking...

I use the standard homemade buffer recipe of epsom salt, baking soda and sea salt to raise my ph and hardness to acceptable levels for my tangs. We have really soft water ot of the tap. Got some advice that my problem keeping plants alive might be due to the marine salt in the buffer mix. I...