Soda ash vs bicarbonate for alk dosing

[mike31154]

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]

Just order it from Eli at caco3reef.com

[mrhasan]

Originally Posted by Seriak

Just order it from Eli at caco3reef.com

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

[asylumdown]

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.

[mrhasan]

Originally Posted by asylumdown

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.

I was never good with chemistry other than mixing unknown stuffs and making tutti frutti

[mrhasan]

Bump for a question:

Alk and Ca are interrelated so I was wondering whether dosing Alk only will cause any sort of prob.....

[eli@fijireefrock.com]

of course dosing only for Alk will cause fluctuation in the rest of the tank's chemistry.
Not so much if you are only bringing the levels of Alk to par then start dosing all chemicals as to a recipe you will stick with and only adjust all levels accordingly to usage.