Baking soda dosing

[CherryBlossom]

Anyone ever done this? Thoughts?

 

[tyler1503]

I've never personally done it, but there's plenty of good threads here on R2R about it.
Apparently baking soda will raise alk, and cooked baking soda (baking soda ash) will raise alk and pH.
I assume it's pretty similar to dosing regular alk buffer, but I really can't say for sure.

 

[reeffirstaid]

Baking soda dosing, and adding alk buffer are two (2) different things. Use alk buffer, leave the baking soda in the kitchen, or the fridge.

 

[Reefing Madness]

I still dose Baking Soda for ALK in my tank.

 

[cdness]

Baking soda dosing, and adding alk buffer are two (2) different things. Use alk buffer, leave the baking soda in the kitchen, or the fridge.

I would have to disagree with this statement. I have been using soda ash for about 6 years to dose ALK to my tank. I have recently began using a DIY soda ash from baked baking soda. It works very well to replenish alkalinity...

 

[Reefing Madness]

I would have to disagree with this statement. I have been using soda ash for about 6 years to dose ALK to my tank. I have recently began using a DIY soda ash from baked baking soda. It works very well to replenish alkalinity...

BAKING SODA & THE REEF AQUARIUM - REEFEDITION

 

[specialk]

I still dose Baking Soda for ALK in my tank.

+1 I actually just posted a question about this before I did so. I used Randys #2 homemade recipe -- which is just RO water and 1 1/8 baking soda. Works like a champ and is great. My ph is on the "higher" side at 8.3, so that is why I went with #2 recipe. Works amazing and ph slightly slightly dropped (baiscally no affect or harm whatsoever) ... cost me about .80 cents too.

 

[CherryBlossom]

I just baked up a cup worth @350 degrees for an hour, now I have to figure out how much to use for my 55 gallon tank..

Friends have been telling me to do this in my tank since my PH is low and my ALK is as well.

I'll check that link that was posted

 

[redfishbluefish]

HERE is the original Dr. Randy Holmes Farley article on using DIY Alk and Calc. Simply put, for the alk part (recipe 1), 2 1/4 cups of baking soda baked at 300 degrees F for an hour makes soda ash (about two cups). Mix this up to one gallon with RO/DI water.

 

[Tom reefman202]

I still dose Baking Soda for ALK in my tank.

Do you dose it manually? What do you use for calcium?

 

[Flippers4pups]

Old thread, I dose baking soda in solution when needed. I make a gallon of it at a time and keep it in a old vinegar jug with it's top.

http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2006-02/rhf/index.php

I use this calculator for dosing:

http://reef.diesyst.com/chemcalc/chemcalc.html

Raising no more than 1dkh a day is ideal.

I personally don't have a issue with calcium and rarely dose it. I use calcium hydroxide (kalkwasser) in my ATO Reservoir.

 

[CindyKz]

http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2006-02/rhf/index.php

I use this calculator for dosing:

http://reef.diesyst.com/chemcalc/chemcalc.html

Raising no more than 1dkh a day is ideal.

I baked some and store it in a tupperware. When I need it I use this calculator, add to a little RODI water and mix into the return section.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

Do you dose it manually? What do you use for calcium?

It can be dosed manually or with a doser.

It is actually well suited for manual dosing since it doesn't appreciably impact pH (just a tiny drop), but you still want to avoid big alkalinity jumps if you are dosing a lot.

 

[PacoPetty]

Y’all are amazing! Just another reason why I love this site!

 

[Rmckoy]

I’m going to look into making soda ash ....

 

[Greg P]

I’m going to look into making soda ash ....

It's super easy as per Randy's recipe.
As most do, I use Arm and Hammer baking soda.
I use 2 baking sheets each lined with tinfoil. Pre-heat the oven to 300F.
Spread 594grams or 2.25cups on each sheet and bake for 1 hour.
I then let it cool for a few minutes. I batch goes into a sealed ziploc, rolled tight to minimise air in the bag.
The other goes into warm pot of RO, just barely boiling and I slowly stir in the whole works in about 1000mls. I find the warm water helps vastly to dissolve it all.
Then I add it to a jug with some more RO to make a total of 3785mls.

I find it best to use a scale as using a measuring cup can be inaccurate and will throw off the dosing calculator.

 

[Rmckoy]

It's super easy as per Randy's recipe.
As most do, I use Arm and Hammer baking soda.
I use 2 baking sheets each lined with tinfoil. Pre-heat the oven to 300F.
Spread 594grams or 2.25cups on each sheet and bake for 1 hour.
I then let it cool for a few minutes. I batch goes into a sealed ziploc, rolled tight to minimise air in the bag.
The other goes into warm pot of RO, just barely boiling and I slowly stir in the whole works in about 1000mls. I find the warm water helps vastly to dissolve it all.
Then I add it to a jug with some more RO to make a total of 3785mls.

I find it best to use a scale as using a measuring cup can be inaccurate and will throw off the dosing calculator.

Where is there a dosing calculator for soda ash ?

 

[Gordonm]

I would have to disagree with this statement. I have been using soda ash for about 6 years to dose ALK to my tank. I have recently began using a DIY soda ash from baked baking soda. It works very well to replenish alkalinity...

Yeah me too!

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

Where is there a dosing calculator for soda ash ?

Sodium carbonate entry:

Reef Chemistry Calculator