Baking Soda Formula Needed

d2mini · Oct 23, 2015

I need to temporarily dose by hand using a baking soda mix to raise my alk.
My little 10g nano is losing about 1.8 dkh per day.
What ratio of baking soda to water would make a good mix, and how much of that would I need to use?

Randy Holmes-Farley · Oct 23, 2015

You can use this calculator to determine how much solid is needed:

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

In terms of dissolution, you can dissolve about 1 teaspoon (~5 grams) in about 60 mL of water, but any amount of frtesh water above that is also OK.

d2mini · Oct 23, 2015

Ok yeah I've used the calculator to determine how to raise alk X amount in the past. But if I mix up that solution in a large amount, how do I know how much to add on a daily basis?

Thanks!

d2mini · Oct 23, 2015

Also, is it odd that my little 10g Fusion with a few little sps frags, acans, and zoas is using this much alk? The tank is around a year old. Mag is at 1250. And I have Kalk in the ato.

Randy Holmes-Farley · Oct 24, 2015

Use the calculator to determine how much is needed to boost the 1.5 dKH. Then dissolve that in an appropriate amount of fresh water, using the ratio I gave that indicates how much can dissolve (5 grams can dissolve in 60 mL = 1 gram per 12 mL)).

So if it takes 0.5 grams per day, you would dissolve that in at least 6 mL of water.

d2mini · Oct 24, 2015

Randy, what I'm looking to do is mix up a whole batch, like a cheap two-part solution. So i don't have to mix it up on a daily basis.
And then be able to just add X ml of that solution every day.
I guess I can just do what you said above and then multiply that by how ever many days I want to mix up in advance?

Aquaph8 · Oct 24, 2015

just do 2 1/4 cups of baking soda per gallon

Randy Holmes-Farley · Oct 24, 2015

THe dissolution ratio I gave is suitable at any scale, but here's an exact larger scale from my DIY two part recipe:

Dissolve 297 grams of baking soda (about 1 1/8 cups) in enough water to make 1 gallon total. This dissolution may require a fair amount of mixing. Warming it speeds dissolution. This solution will contain about 950 meq/L of alkalinity (2660 dKH). As mentioned earlier, Arm & Hammer is a fine brand of baking soda to use in these recipes. Be sure to NOT use baking powder. Baking powder is a different material that often has phosphate as a main ingredient.

Then use the same calculator and use the entry for Randy's Recipe #2 (be sure it is #2 and not #1)

arman · Oct 24, 2015

Add each cup and test your alkanity.
After about a weak you will know that how much your aquarium use and you can add it to the tank.(Using doser is recommended)

d2mini · Oct 24, 2015

Randy Holmes-Farley said:
THe dissolution ratio I gave is suitable at any scale, but here's an exact larger scale from my DIY two part recipe:

Dissolve 297 grams of baking soda (about 1 1/8 cups) in enough water to make 1 gallon total. This dissolution may require a fair amount of mixing. Warming it speeds dissolution. This solution will contain about 950 meq/L of alkalinity (2660 dKH). As mentioned earlier, Arm & Hammer is a fine brand of baking soda to use in these recipes. Be sure to NOT use baking powder. Baking powder is a different material that often has phosphate as a main ingredient.

Then use the same calculator and use the entry for Randy's Recipe #2 (be sure it is #2 and not #1)

Terrific. Thanks!