Author Topic: Any one dose Baking soda? (Read 2662 times)

Boonjob · « **on:** November 11, 2011, 15:29:37 »

I have a tank that is running consistantly around 8.5-8.7 PH (just has a Bubble magus skimmer on it, and open top sump and DT)

And the Alk is considerably low... running at about 5.5dkh(96ppm CaCO3)

The Calc bounces back and forth from 350-400...

I plan to put a kalc reactor on this tank as part of the ATO, however I am wondering if the baking soda would prove to be a viable option till I can complete the build on the kalk reactor.

The coraline growth was amazing, but has dropped off/receeded substantially(mostly due to neglect) I have yet to test mag, but I would assume it is low given the calc number.

*no this is not my tank, lol , I am just getting it back on track*

micki · « **Reply #1 on:** November 11, 2011, 15:31:06 »

I have the opposite problem. Low PH high Alk!

Boonjob · « **Reply #2 on:** November 11, 2011, 15:34:06 »

Micki dont you run a carbon calcium reactor?

micki · « **Reply #3 on:** November 11, 2011, 15:36:06 »

Yep, I run carbon and calcium. I've determined my well water is high alk. I'm not sure what to do about it...

Boonjob · « **Reply #4 on:** November 11, 2011, 15:38:11 »

Have your tried turning down the carbon(co2) on your calcium reacor to see if your ph comes up...?

What is your well water at?

micki · « **Reply #5 on:** November 11, 2011, 15:39:54 »

No, I've never tried turning down the Co2. I'll pass that on to Randy, he's in charge of that department! I don't do Co2!

micki · « **Reply #6 on:** November 11, 2011, 15:45:20 »

Cody here was the last alk test I did. It was on my make up water last week.

Make Up Water:
Ca 490
Alk 11.5

Boonjob · « **Reply #7 on:** November 11, 2011, 15:46:37 »

Was this before the salt mix?, I assume after with the Calc level that high?

micki · « **Reply #8 on:** November 11, 2011, 15:47:45 »

Yes, this was after I mixed RC

Boonjob · « **Reply #9 on:** November 11, 2011, 15:56:12 »

Run a test of normal tap(well) water, what do you get?

How old is your salt?
what SG are you mixing it too?
and how are you measuring the SG?
Was your salt stirred/mixed recently?

RC doesn't list it's alk levels, but personal experience and most people would agree that the alk in RC is a little high from the get go... 11dkh seems about normal for freshly mixed RC.

Wall_Tank · « **Reply #10 on:** November 11, 2011, 16:00:13 »

Baking Soda is used as the Alkalinity component for Randy's 2 Part recipe.

Baked Baking soda is even more potent.

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

micki · « **Reply #11 on:** November 11, 2011, 16:00:54 »

Quote from: Boonjob on November 11, 2011, 15:56:12

Run a test of normal tap(well) water, what do you get?

How old is your salt?
what SG are you mixing it too?
and how are you measuring the SG?
Was your salt stirred/mixed recently?

RC doesn't list it's alk levels, but personal experience and most people would agree that the alk in RC is a little high from the get go... 11dkh seems about normal for freshly mixed RC.

The salt was recently purchased.
1.25
Refractometer
Yes the salt had recently been mixed.

When you say well water do you mean RO/DI or strait from the well? will a salifert test be accurate if it's freshwater?

Boonjob · « **Reply #12 on:** November 11, 2011, 16:05:04 »

Yes a salifert ka test will work for freshwater.

micki · « **Reply #13 on:** November 11, 2011, 16:39:42 »

When you say well water do you mean RO/DI or strait from the well?

Boonjob · « **Reply #14 on:** November 11, 2011, 16:47:33 »

ro/di would be fine, whatevr you mix your salt with... i would assume it is close to normal as your salt mix reading wasn't far from expected.

Reefinmike · « **Reply #15 on:** November 13, 2011, 22:49:10 »

i throw a few pinches of baking soda in every once in a while, along with a little CaCl and some mag flake. I dont keep track of parameters, just throw a little in when things are seeming low. I have been recklessly dosing my tank with no problems in 4+ years

cyberwollf · « **Reply #16 on:** November 14, 2011, 00:28:05 »

I used baked baking soda from Randy's recipe for years. Bake and unbaked both add alk. But when baked it drives off co2 so it raises pH but unbaked baking soda lowers pH. If im remembering correctly.

Steve · « **Reply #17 on:** November 14, 2011, 14:02:32 »

2 Teaspoons everynight before I go to bed.

mccorry · « **Reply #18 on:** January 02, 2012, 19:22:24 »

I actually dose with a Baking Soda and Washing Soda mixture.
1/2 tsp pre-dissolved in saltwater moves my 55 gal about 1 dKh.

kattz · « **Reply #19 on:** January 02, 2012, 19:47:04 »

According to Dr. Randy Holmes-Farley, washing soda not a good idea due to unknown purity levels of the material : http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2006-02/rhf/index.php

I put a Ca reactor on my 90g and my calcium and magnesium are above 500 and 15oo respectively. Alk is not consistent, so I added a kalkwasser reactor. Everything appears to be OK... for now. However, I used the baked baking soda recipe from tank startup 18 months ago until now without issue. Hard to dissolve, tho.

Kev

Ashlar · « **Reply #20 on:** January 02, 2012, 20:37:38 »

Quote from: kattz on January 02, 2012, 19:47:04

According to Dr. Randy Holmes-Farley, washing soda not a good idea due to unknown purity levels of the material : http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2006-02/rhf/index.php

I put a Ca reactor on my 90g and my calcium and magnesium are above 500 and 15oo respectively. Alk is not consistent, so I added a kalkwasser reactor. Everything appears to be OK... for now. However, I used the baked baking soda recipe from tank startup 18 months ago until now without issue. Hard to dissolve, tho.

Kev

*nod* make your own 'washing soda' (baked baking soda). Much better purity.

2024 Ohio Reef Frag Swap

Author Topic: Any one dose Baking soda? (Read 2662 times)