Yes! Yet another dosing poll. For those using Randy Holmes-Farley recipes ...

[christyf5]

My tank has never run at the appropriate SW pH of 8.3, its always been about 7.8-7.9 or so. When I first started dosing I couldn't believe the magic number had appeared, whee 8.3! However, my tank wasn't more fantastic than it had been previously. Colors were still there although growth did increase. However, not baking the baking soda didn't slow down the growth when the pH dropped to 7.8-7.9.

I didn't really find baking the soda to be a pain in the arse, it was more the precipitate issue and the fact that its so friggin humid here, I swear the stuff sucks up moisture the instant it comes out of the oven. Then again, it was keeping my pH up so it must have been doing its job, sorta kinda.

[kien]

So are people doing a recipe 1b?

1. Bake and mix 594 grams for 1 gallon
1b. Just mix 594 grams for 1 gallon
2. Just mix 297 grams for 1 gallon

[Delphinus]

Oh thanks a lot Kien. Do I go back and add that as option now ??? Start a new poll because now the results are wrong??? AAAAAIIIIEEEEEEEEEE!!!

(Seriously, if anyone's doing "1b" as per Kien's explanation, please just post that that's what you're doing..)

[christyf5]

I have no idea what I do. I think it might be 1b. I don't use the little box and I don't use the big box. I use one of the 8 pack I get from costco

[Tom R]

Originally Posted by christyf5

I have no idea what I do. I think it might be 1b. I don't use the little box and I don't use the big box. I use one of the 8 pack I get from costco

My system is approx 500G.
I mix 3 Costco boxes into 5G of RODI. Each box is 2 cups or 500 ml. I then dose this on my ProfiLux Doser at 48 ml per dose at 20 times a day. The 5G mix will last approx 1 month.

My PH is steady at 8.24

and

My ALK is steady at 8.30 DKH

I sometimes bake the Baking Soda but most of the time I don't. I have not noticed a change in either the PH or the ALK.

When I bake the Baking Soda I take 2 cookie sheets and put 3 boxes or six cup on each sheet. I then bake at 300 degrees for 60 minutes. I then seal it in a plastic bag and store it in a Tupperwear container until needed. I have not had any problems with this and my consistency of both PH and ALK have never been more consistent.

Tom R

[Delphinus]

Thanks Tom. Yeah, I think my issue has been that I only bake enough to make one batch, which used to be good enough for 1 month, but is nowadays is closer to more like a week. Making more than needed and storing the excess makes a lot of sense.

I think my first order of business is switching to larger reservoirs.

[Oscar]

For those that manually dose what do you use? Jug with pump into a measured cup?

[Tom R]

Originally Posted by Delphinus

I think my first order of business is switching to larger reservoirs.

I use those Blue 5G water tanks used for camping availble at Canadian Tire.

I use hard 1/4" tubing from the jugs to the ProfiLux doser and soft 1/4" from the jugs to the sump.

Tom