Confused on dosing Baking soda

[snulma1]

So I was reading and found that a way to increase my alk is to dose Baking soda. I also read that you should bake it for 1 hr prior to use.

So I took one box (approx 2.5 cups) spread it on tinfoil and baked for 1 hr @ 300 degrees. Took it out and now its all in a ziploc bag, cuz im unsure of the dose.

I used one of the calculators, but it was telling me to only use 2.2 tsp, which seems kinda low to me.

Here are my stats:

20 H tank with a 20L sump...Approx 35 gallons of water
Calcium is at 420ppm
Alk is 2.5 mEq/L

I'd like to get the alk to around 4 and not play havok on my pH. Thanks for the help.

[Icefire]

baked baking soda will get your ph higher.
Straight baking soda is ph 8.0

2.2tsp sound right, monitor ph spike.

[bertoni]

If you don't want to change the pH, just use unbaked baking soda. It won't affect the pH considerably. Just dissolve in RO-DI water and dose.

[snulma1]

I thought it was the other way around, I thought unbaked would affect the pH, and baked wouldn't?

[bertoni]

Baking the baking soda converts it to sodium carbonate, which will combine with CO2 when added to the tank, thus increasing the pH.

From this article:

http://www.advancedaquarist.com/issues/april2004/chem.htm

Recipe #1 is for use in aquaria where the pH is normal to low. It will have a pH raising effect due to the elevated pH of the alkalinity part, as do most of the commercial two-part additives. The rise that you get will depend on the alkalinity in your aquarium, and, of course, on how much you add. If you add on the order of 0.5 meq/l of alkalinity then the pH will rise about 0.15 to 0.35 pH units immediately upon addition (and higher locally before it has a chance to mix into the whole aquarium).

[snulma1]

So since my pH is around 8.2 it would be better to use the unbaked baking soda....correct?

[kevin2000]

There is nothing wrong with an alk level of 2.5 meg/l .. but if you want to raise it baking soda will work fine.

[Aquarist007]

pH is great at 8.2-----don't dose--unless a last resort.

[Icefire]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10081992#post10081992 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by capn_hylinur
pH is great at 8.2-----don't dose--unless a last resort.

Alk as nothing to do with is ph reading.

Dose slowly, if it get 8.5, let it fall before dosing again.

[New Reefer]

Simple solution - MIX the baked and unbaked baking soda in a ratio of approximately 1:2, and it will have a much smaller influence on the pH. It's still a very good idea to monitor the pH during & after dosing, and to only add small increments into a high flow area, just to make sure...

Hennie

[bertoni]

I'd just dose the unbaked baking soda. Mixing the baked and unbaked versions will work, but the unbaked is going to affect pH so little and so temporarily, I don't think it's worth the effort, personally. I think 1/2 sodium carbonate is a little high, if you do want to mix them.

[Icefire]

He already baked a whole box so..

[Aquarist007]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10082225#post10082225 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Icefire
Alk as nothing to do with is ph reading.

Dose slowly, if it get 8.5, let it fall before dosing again.

sorry I understand that --just got a little confused with baked and unbaked soda----I guess I am half-baked-LOL

[Billybeau1]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10083802#post10083802 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Icefire
He already baked a whole box so..

So, use it for baking and get a new box. :D

[snulma1]

I have 2 boxes, since I read somewhere that you should do it with 2.5 cups of it. So I made one box, and left the other alone.

I know my alk at 2.5 is just at the minimal level, which is why I'd like to increase it. Since im using Oceanic salt and my calcium is normal to high, I figure if I can get my alk up, it should help once I start adding my SPS.....right?

I think I'm gonna go with the unbaked for now.

[bertoni]

That sounds like a fine plan. Good luck!

[Icefire]

Use 6:1 Unbaked/Baked. It has a 8.2Ph

[snulma1]

ok, thanks icefire,

So if I throw 6 tbsp of unbaked with 1 tbsp baked and mix it well then use that to dose the tank, you think that will prevent a pH spike?

[Billybeau1]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10091055#post10091055 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by snulma1
I have 2 boxes, since I read somewhere that you should do it with 2.5 cups of it. So I made one box, and left the other alone.

I know my alk at 2.5 is just at the minimal level, which is why I'd like to increase it. Since im using Oceanic salt and my calcium is normal to high, I figure if I can get my alk up, it should help once I start adding my SPS.....right?

I think I'm gonna go with the unbaked for now.

You can save yourself a lot of headaches by switching salts. Oceanic is extremely high in calcium and lower in alkalinity than most salts. It is also extremely high in magnesium which may or may not be a problem.

[Icefire]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10093108#post10093108 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by snulma1
ok, thanks icefire,

So if I throw 6 tbsp of unbaked with 1 tbsp baked and mix it well then use that to dose the tank, you think that will prevent a pH spike?

yep!

[snulma1]

Great Thanks Icefire!

Billy, I used to use RC salt on my 55g but when I moved the place close to me only sells Oceanic, and any other place I go to, can't come close to matching the price for salt. So I can deal with high calcium and low alk if all it means is dosing some baking soda once in a while. Its cheaper then dosing Calcium

[Billybeau1]

:thumbsup: