Soda ash crystaling while mixing with rodi water?

[tjs1200]

As the title says my BRS soda ash is crystaling while mixing with rodi water, not all of it, there are several hard crystals that form during the mixing. I mix it slow and stir as i am adding the soda ash, I have my own RODI unit and recently change the filters. I use an Immersion Blender to break up the crystals, I don't remember this happening before could it be that the water is cold?

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

Cold is the likely issue. You can warm it or dilute it more.

 

[tjs1200]

Thank you for the quick reply!

 

[DeeBee]

I have been using BRS Soda Ash for many years, and what I have received lately is a completely different consistency and is not mixing well regardless of the water temp.

I opened a bag I received in December and it was very fluffy and clumpy, very much like sodium bicarbonate. When I attempted to mix it (slowly like always) it formed large chunks of crystals in the botttom and would not fully dissolve no matter how long I mixed and let it sit.

I called BRS and had a replacement bag sent that I attempted to mix today. It was far less "fluffy" but still not as dry looking as what I am used to. It also formed chunks of crystals (far less than last time) but this time eventually did dissolve with vigilante mixing.

Something is drastically different. Unfortunately I don't see lot numbers on their bags to see if it was a certain batch that has issues or if they changed their formulation. Any opinions on this @Bulk Reef Supply ?

 

[tjs1200]

I have been using BRS Soda Ash for many years, and what I have received lately is a completely different consistency and is not mixing well regardless of the water temp.

I opened a bag I received in December and it was very fluffy and clumpy, very much like sodium bicarbonate. When I attempted to mix it (slowly like always) it formed large chunks of crystals in the botttom and would not fully dissolve no matter how long I mixed and let it sit.

I called BRS and had a replacement bag sent that I attempted to mix today. It was far less "fluffy" but still not as dry looking as what I am used to. It also formed chunks of crystals (far less than last time) but this time eventually did dissolve with vigilante mixing.

Something is drastically different. Unfortunately I don't see lot numbers on their bags to see if it was a certain batch that has issues or if they changed their formulation. Any opinions on this @Bulk Reef Supply ?

Thank you it's good to know I'm not the only one with this issue I'm going give them a call tomorrow.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

Heat it up a lot to dissolve it. Assuming the container can take the heat, you can put the container in a tub of boiling water.

 

[R33f_Hacker]

Heat it up a lot to dissolve it. Assuming the container can take the heat, you can put the container in a tub of boiling water.

I am having same issue all of a sudden. After it crystallized and ruined my tubing, I remove the glass container and put it in hot water then let it cool down. Next day it is crystalized again. Maybe I am using the wrong ratio. Would you happen to know the amount of brs pharma soda ash required for 1L
Thank you.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

I am having same issue all of a sudden. After it crystallized and ruined my tubing, I remove the glass container and put it in hot water then let it cool down. Next day it is crystalized again. Maybe I am using the wrong ratio. Would you happen to know the amount of brs pharma soda ash required for 1L
Thank you.

My recipe (that BRS uses) involves 375 grams of sodium carbonate in 1 gallon of fresh water. You can dilute it more if you want.

How does crystallization ruin the tubing?

 

[DeeBee]

My recipe (that BRS uses) involves 375 grams of sodium carbonate in 1 gallon of fresh water. You can dilute it more if you want.

How does crystallization ruin the tubing?

BRS actually changed their instructions to 356 grams per gallon.

“Fill a 1-gallon container 4/5 full of RO/DI or distilled water and then add 1 1/2 cups (356 g) of BRS Pharma Soda Ash into the container.”

Another clue that something changed?

I decided to try Reef Endurance Soda Ash. It mixes very quickly with zero clumping/crystallizing. Very minimal effort to get a clear mixture.

I know you say it is temperature dependent but that’s simply not true. I used BRS for many years in all seasons and all temps without issue. None-the-less, my frustration plus the price increases have led me to another option.

 

[R33f_Hacker]

My recipe (that BRS uses) involves 375 grams of sodium carbonate in 1 gallon of fresh water. You can dilute it more if you want.

How does crystallization ruin the tubing?

Yea I totally mixed way to much by mistake looking at wrong mixing notes. did 400g to 1L .. yikes.. it got very hard like ice at the bottom of container and in the tubing. Thanks for the response!

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

I know you say it is temperature dependent but that’s simply not true. I used BRS for many years in all seasons and all temps without issue. None-the-less, my frustration plus the price increases have led me to another option.

Not sure what you are claiming exactly. What is not temperature dependent? It is certainly true that the solubility of sodium carbonate is temperature dependent. It’s trivial to look it up. It is considerably more at 95 deg F than it is at 70 deg F, and dissolution happens faster at higher temps as well.

As the the recipe directions, the current brs numbers in grams are a mistake. Probably just a typo, but might have been a math mistake.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

Yea I totally mixed way to much by mistake looking at wrong mixing notes. did 400g to 1L .. yikes.. it got very hard like ice at the bottom of container and in the tubing. Thanks for the response!

lol. Yes, that’s pretty concentrated.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

Here’s a solubility graph vs temp;

https://www.researchgate.net/figure/Solubility-curve-of-sodium-carbonate_fig3_362386462