Clarification For A Virgin DIY 2 Parter!

[Clownfishy]

Never mixed my own 2 part before so before I go off and trash my tank, thought I would double check making up my Alkalinity!!!!

Firstly, do I have the right baking soda? Also, I assume when we talk about a gallon, we mean a US gallon not an imperial gallon? I am going to need to convert this over to metric and make up 2 litres. Some doing the math, I think I need to mix 148.5 grams of sodium carbonates with 1.9 litres of water? Does that sound right? Also, does it matter if I mix 148.5 of sodium carbonates with 2l of water rather that 1.9?

Many thanks

 

[Crabs McJones]

Never mixed my own 2 part before so before I go off and trash my tank, thought I would double check making up my Alkalinity!!!!

Firstly, do I have the right baking soda? Also, I assume when we talk about a gallon, we mean a US gallon not an imperial gallon? I am going to need to convert this over to metric and make up 2 litres. Some doing the math, I think I need to mix 148.5 grams of sodium carbonates with 1.9 litres of water? Does that sound right? Also, does it matter if I mix 148.5 of sodium carbonates with 2l of water rather that 1.9?

Many thanks

The label is a little confusing, because the front says bicarbonate but the back says carbonate. If it is in fact sodium carbonate and not bi carbonate then yes you're good to go. And its 2 1/4 cups per 1 us gallon of water. Not sure what it is imperial. Let's ask the expert on home DIY two part @Randy Holmes-Farley

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

It is likely OK to use, but I am not 100% certain for these reasons...

The listed main ingredient is bicarbonate of soda, which is what you want, but the web site for it gives odd info:

https://groceries.asda.com/product/baking-ingredients/asda-bicarbonate-of-soda/910001417268

specifically, it list calories/energy (should be none), carbohydrate (should be none) and protein (should be none).

 

[Clownfishy]

It is likely OK to use, but I am not 100% certain for these reasons...

The listed main ingredient is bicarbonate of soda, which is what you want, but the web site for it gives odd info:

https://groceries.asda.com/product/baking-ingredients/asda-bicarbonate-of-soda/910001417268

specifically, it list calories/energy (should be none), carbohydrate (should be none) and protein (should be none).

Hmmm, I wont risk it. Do you think this is a safer bet -
https://groceries.asda.com/product/baking-ingredients/dr-oetker-bicarbonate-of-soda/910000854023

 

[Crabs McJones]

Hmmm, I wont risk it. Do you think this is a safer bet -
https://groceries.asda.com/product/baking-ingredients/dr-oetker-bicarbonate-of-soda/910000854023

Do you have access to "arm and hammer baking soda"? If you take 2 1/4 cups of this and bake it in the oven at 300° for an hour it creates soda ash which you can then use for your alk solution.

and make sure its baking SODA not baking POWDER

 

[chipmunkofdoom2]

Why not try searching on Ebay in the UK? Try searching for "pure sodium bicarbonate" or "food grade sodium bicarbonate." Anything that is food grade should be sufficiently pure. As @crabs_mcjones said, Arm and Hammer is a popular brand in the US. If there are any sellers in the UK that have it, this would be a safe bet.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

Hmmm, I wont risk it. Do you think this is a safer bet -
https://groceries.asda.com/product/baking-ingredients/dr-oetker-bicarbonate-of-soda/910000854023

That one seems fine. The other one might be too. I likes the phrase on the other ones description:

"For bakes that rise high."

Maybe that wording sounds normal to you, but it seems hilarious to me. lol

 

[Will Milberger]

Dude, I'm so baked.

 

[Clownfishy]

Dude, I'm so baked.

Maybe their marketing team were smoking a bit too much when they thought up that phrase!!!!