Soda ash

[cilyjr]

Why am I paying 20 bucks for this when I can apparently bake baking soda for an hour and be done?
Meaning any benefit to buying it over making it? Less impurities? Easier to dissolve? If not I'm gonna start making my own

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

No known benefit, IMO.

 

[cilyjr]

Ok. cooking baking soda it is

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

Sounds good.

Happy Reefing.

 

[SantaMonica]

I don't even bake; just straight baking soda.

 

[Eric83]

Baked baking soda = soda ash = pH raising affect
Straight baking soda = sodium bicarbonate = slight pH lowering affect.

Just depends on what you need in your tank

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

I don't even bake; just straight baking soda.

That's certainly fine, but if you want a pH boost from it, bake it first.