Kent Buffer Part B - Page 2

Tau2301 · #11 04-30-2003, 04:15 AM

Ya thats the stuff alright. I mixed it used it twice and then use the rest of it in the laundry. Did not like the smell at all.

I had bought some Ph Raiser (swimming pool stuff) from CND Tire. Suppose to be Sodium Carbonate - I think. I mix that together with Baking Soda (Sodium bi-carbonate?) in a 12 to 1 ratio. Calgary water has a pH that swing from 7.2 up to 8.4 depending on the time of year. So I do not need to raise the pH so much as add some carbonate to the mix.

Also use SC Reef Builder and Marine Buffer at different times in an effort to keep things in balance.

Jack · #12 04-30-2003, 09:21 PM

Thanks for your help guys. My alk is droping

Jon, how much baking soda? How do you add it ect? I'm pushing at least 150 gallons total system.

Brad's building my reactor as I write this (or at least he should be

) so soon enough I won't have to deal with this!

Jack · #13 05-02-2003, 01:53 AM

Update,

Well, after talking with Jon he reccomend I use about 4 level teaspoons of baking soda to raise my alkalinity about 0.5 meq/l. And it did just that! Now, the "2 minute pH drop" didn't exactly happen... well it did, it just didn't come back up. 8.33 - 8.26 (I waited 10 minutes)

Is there a reason why they say to add the washing soda? What does that part of it do?

Canadian Man · #14 05-02-2003, 03:41 AM

The wasing soda part is the other balacing act in the formula so your ph dosent drop. the expensive stuff you were purchasing was basically baking soda and washing soda mixed at the correct ratios.

EmilyB · #15 05-02-2003, 04:05 AM

Aquattro · #16 05-02-2003, 04:19 AM

Jack, I'd like to go back to the top and mention that if you're using saturated kalk, you should NOT need to supplement alkalinity alone. What is your Ca and alk levels for, say, the last three tests?

BTW, that washing soda has a surfactant added, as per communications with the manufacturer.

Washing soda can be made by heating baking soda in the oven at 400F for an hour or so.
Randy has tons of info on this stuff....

Canadian Man · #17 05-02-2003, 05:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by reef_raf

Washing soda can be made by heating baking soda in the oven at 400F for an hour or so.
Randy has tons of info on this stuff....

That works but I found after the baking soda is baked

it dosent dissolve in water very well. Almost not at all.

Aquattro · #18 05-02-2003, 06:40 AM

Jonathan, that's strange. I haven't tried it, but I can't see why it would not dissolve. Maybe we should run that by Randy....

Canadian Man · #19 05-02-2003, 04:28 PM

Running it by Randy is a good idea!