Soda ash vs bicarbonate for alk dosing

kien · #1 02-23-2013, 06:08 AM

for the first couple of years that I was dosing I just baked baking soda in the oven. Cheap and easy. I baked like 3 large boxes worth and stored the result in zip loc bags. I tried soda ash recently and it was nice because it mixed a lot easier than baking soda. However, I ran out of it and kinda find it a pain to have to order more form BRS. Instead I just went to Superstore and bought more baking soda and baked it again. Anyway, I am using recipe #1 because my pH tends to be lower (7.9-8). If your pH tends to be higher you can use recipe #2 which doesn't involve baking.

mrhasan · #2 02-23-2013, 06:09 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kien

for the first couple of years that I was dosing I just baked baking soda in the oven. Cheap and easy. I baked like 3 large boxes worth and stored the result in zip loc bags. I tried soda ash recently and it was nice because it mixed a lot easier than baking soda. However, I ran out of it and kinda find it a pain to have to order more form BRS. Instead I just went to Superstore and bought more baking soda and baked it again. Anyway, I am using recipe #1 because my pH tends to be lower (7.9-8). If your pH tends to be higher you can use recipe #2 which doesn't involve baking.

Yah looks like most of the people use BRS stuff but I saw that RA is also selling the same stuff at a very reasonable price. Tempted by that.

kien · #3 02-23-2013, 06:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mrhasan

Yah looks like most of the people use BRS stuff but I saw that RA is also selling the same stuff at a very reasonable price. Tempted by that.

Ya, it's good stuff. I just find it very pricy to keep ordering it and alk is a major consumable that adds up fast. It has been much more economical to just run to the supermarket to grab more alk :-) And I'm actually kinda used to mixing it now as I use a hand blender to mix the bicarbonate/baking soda.

mike31154 · #4 02-23-2013, 01:49 PM

I bake up baking soda for alk as well. Different view of what a hassle is I guress, waiting for something to come in the mail as opposed to spending an hour of so of my time baking. As far as pH, I don't recall the last time I even checked that paramater (edit: I checked a month or so ago when I was about to add two cleaner shrimp). Whenever I check alk, it seems to be chronically low, so I'll mix some baked baking soda into my water top off. The lps & few sps I have still seem to be able to get what they need to grow. I look at the tank every day & if there's a problem with paramaters, my critters will usually clue me in with odd behaviour. My BTAs are a very good indicator that something is amiss. Thankfully, there hasn't been any odd behaviour in a very long time.

Seriak · #5 02-23-2013, 01:57 PM

Just order it from Eli at caco3reef.com

mrhasan · #6 02-23-2013, 08:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Seriak

Just order it from Eli at caco3reef.com

Thanks for the info. Didn't know he carried it.

asylumdown · #7 02-23-2013, 08:59 PM

I used to bake baking soda, but it was such a PITA to dissolve after wards. I considered trying to blend it back in to a powder to get it to dissolve better, but I was afraid of damaging the blender. I've been using straight baking soda since this tank was set up and it's gone swimmingly so far. I've never really tested pH though. Dissolves better if you add it to the hottest water you possibly can - hot water for baking soda (which is quickly cools), and icy cold water for calcium chloride, or it starts to boil. Chemistry is cool.