i would add calcium cloride and bring things into balance then start up the kalk. i would also check your Mg levels. i think that should do you. on the buffers yup there are a few not only carbonate but bicarbonate, boron and others. here is a link for ya about ph and various alk sups.
Chemistry and the Aquarium
and a little quote from that.
Quote:
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From this data it is clear to see the large increase in pH caused by the addition of hydroxide, and also the significant increase when using carbonate. Bicarbonate, on the other hand, shows the expected slight decrease in pH, but not nearly as much as is found with a strong acid of equal concentration. It is also clear that after sufficient time to equilibrate with atmospheric CO2, these differences disappear, and the pH is the same for all of the 0.5-meq/L alkalinity additions. This is an important result: in seawater in equilibrium with the atmosphere, for a given alkalinity there is a single pH that results, regardless of what was added to get to that alkalinity.
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just FYI here is a link on boron. something i dont think you need to worry about but interesting and just might be something you need to look into, dout it but maybe.
Chemistry and the Aquarium