Dosing Baking Soda

[Kakabub]

I've been dosing Baking soda for the last 6 days, approximately 2 tsp every 2 days trying to raise my Alk. It was 6 when i started and is still 6 after 3 doses of 2tsp. my tank is 125g, I've been mixing 2 tsp in tank water and then putting into my sump. Any idea why my Alk isn't rising? Am I putting it in the wrong place? Should I be putting it directly in my DT? My PH hasn't changed either... Still 8.2 throughout.

[bertoni]

I suspect you just need to add more. This calculator should help:

http://home.comcast.net/~jdieck1/chem_calc3.html

I get 3 tsp of baked baking soda to raise the dKH from 6 to 9, assuming 70g of actual water in the system. It's quite possible that the tank will consume that much alkalinity in a day. I'm not sure I'd add 3 tsp in one dose. I'd either switch to baking soda, and add more, or break down the dose, and check the pH carefully after each addition.

[edandsandy]

What is the difference between baking soda and "baked" baking soda?

[HighlandReefer]

The main reason why hobbyists use baked baking soda instead of regular baking soda, is that the baked baking soda will help to increase the pH of your tank, whereas regular baking soda will not have much effect on the pH. You will need to be more careful when adding baked baking soda to your system for that reason. You do not want to increase your pH by more than 0.2 per dose.

[sedor]

Your alk is not rising because your tank is using up the Calcium Bicarbonate each day. Have you tried testing before and after adding the liquid? An easier way to do this might be to find a recipe online and mix 1 gallon at a time. Its fairly cheap to order an entire dosing starter kit from bulkreefsupply.com and it will come with premeasured ingredients + jugs and measuring cups.

[Billybeau1]

It doesn't get any easier than dosing baking soda dissolved in fresh water. Like Bertoni said, you just need to dose more. :)

[edandsandy]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15746776#post15746776 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by HighlandReefer
The main reason why hobbyists use baked baking soda instead of regular baking soda, is that the baked baking soda will help to increase the pH of your tank, whereas regular baking soda will not have much effect on the pH. You will need to be more careful when adding baked baking soda to your system for that reason. You do not want to increase your pH by more than 0.2 per dose.

Thank you Cliff :)
How long are you supposed to bake it?

[Paulca916]

1 hour at 350 degrees or longer you cant over bake it

[VacavilleFC3S]

1tsp baking soda in 200ml of water raises my alk .7 dkh in about 100gallons of water.

[law086]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15747862#post15747862 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Billybeau1
It doesn't get any easier than dosing baking soda dissolved in fresh water. Like Bertoni said, you just need to dose more. :)

Just curious - is there any reason to not mix baking soda in tank water? When I buffer, I'll typically fill a contain with tank water, mix in the baking soda and pour the water back into the sump. Is that bad?

[HighlandReefer]

As long as it all dissolves and not particles fall onto coral your ok. I have added baking soda directly to my sump. ;)

[law086]

OK, that's what I figured, thanks!

[Kakabub]

Thanks for the replies, do you think 2 tsp per day in approximately 100g is too much too fast? Another thing I was thinking was to mix it in my ATO at a more diluted level instead of actually using a dosing setup. Will it remain dissolved in fresh topoff water or will it just precipitate back out if it sits for too long?

[tmz]

Adding it to a small amount of tank water may cause iprecipitation. It will mix better in some Ro/di wter.

[Paulca916]

I just got done mixxing some with my RO/DI top off water.
I've been doing it this way for about two months now.
You have to play around with how much to use.
In my case if I put 1.4 oz. in 5 gallons it makes the DKH 12 in the top off water thus keeps my tank at 9 DKH.
I still check the Alk every 3 days to make sure its staying where I want it.

[Billybeau1]

I just like the safer method. Since you have to add top off anyways, you might as well add some alkalinity at the same time.

But I, like Cliff, have added it directly to my sump on occasion with no noticeable problems. :)

[acrylic_300]

I think keeping Alk stable is one of the most difficult things about the hobby.

Just when I think I have it figured out a growth spurt or lack of growth messes me up.

[bertoni]

2 tsp at a time should be fine, assuming the pH remains in the safe range. Dripping it will work well, too, and might help a bit by keeping the parameters a bit more stable.

[Paulca916]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15752613#post15752613 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by acrylic_300
I think keeping Alk stable is one of the most difficult things about the hobby.

Just when I think I have it figured out a growth spurt or lack of growth messes me up.

I feel you on that..I use to not check but once a week when doing a water change it has dropped as my as 3 DKH in a week befor
This is why now I try to check my alkalinty every day or so and my PH every 3 days.
I have had to adjust amount put into top off water

[ethank77]

I found that by mixing a gal at a time and using a doer pump and a timer I dose 10ml at a time 6 times a day it stabilized my alk

[Kakabub]

I think I'm going to try the 5 gallon ATO method first, it sounds a bit lower maintenance as I'm away from the tank sometimes for a couple of days.