baking soda
 

Does anyone use it for buffering? or should it just be used for a quick increase? Can it be used out of the box, or does it need to be prepared in anyway?
Thanks

I use it. I bought 7 boxes and baked one box for an hour at 250 degreees, mixed them all together, and thats alkalinity buffer. I think Jack at Ocean Aquatics uses it on their tanks also.

baking baking soda
 

Pociliporia
Why do you bake the baking soda? And why only one of the seven boxes and then mix them all together?

Baking soda is sodium bicarbonate and will lower the ph
Washing soda is baking soda that has been baked and is used to raise ph.
The two mixed together makes a good balance.

Thanks pocilipora, thats what I'll do.

I just use straight up baking soda. you just have to add it slowly to not get a ph drop.

Re: baking soda
 

When I use baking soda to raise alk, I add about an equal amount of kalk to the tank at the same time to keep the pH from dropping. If I want to raise pH in my generally low pH 42g and 72g, I add a little more kalk than baking soda.

I monitor pH while adding these substances with a pH probe and monitor so I don't screw things up :eek:

Baking soda is mixed in a glass of tankwater. Kalk is prepped a few days in advance so it has a chance to settle.

Sounds like there are lots of ways to use baking soda.