sodium bicarbonate

[lpsjunkie]

I am ordering from bulk reef supply. I know if I use baking soda I am suppose to bake it before use. Question is, do I have to do the same on thing for the stuff from bulk reef supply.

 

[BlazinNano]

No you do not. It will come in a sealed bag andyou just follow the directions to add it to water. Let it sit 24 hours and you are done.

 

[lpsjunkie]

Thank you. Thats kind of what I figured but I was conserned that it might not have directions with it being bulk.

 

[Jon Warner]

If you're purchasing Sodium Bicarbonate, and wish to use a DIY 2-Part formula that requires Sodium Carbonate (Baked Sodium Bicarbonate) then of course you will have to bake it to "turn it into" Sodium Carbonate.

Or as an alternative, you can just purchase Sodium Carbonate in the first place so you don't have to use the oven.

You just need to decide WHICH 2-Part formula you wish to use.

 

[RBursek]

Ditto Jon Warner!

 

[kingfisherfleshy]

If you're purchasing Sodium Bicarbonate, and wish to use a DIY 2-Part formula that requires Sodium Carbonate (Baked Sodium Bicarbonate) then of course you will have to bake it to "turn it into" Sodium Carbonate.

In reading about sodium carbonate it seems like its something completely different. Can you really just "bake" baking soda to make sodium carbonate from bicarbonate? Just doing a little reading and havent read exactly those words anywhere...this website makes it seem like its something completely different.

What is Soda Ash?

 

[Jon Warner]

In reading about sodium carbonate it seems like its something completely different. Can you really just "bake" baking soda to make sodium carbonate from bicarbonate? Just doing a little reading and havent read exactly those words anywhere...this website makes it seem like its something completely different.

What is Soda Ash?

Yes! Baking literally drives off CO2 and water leaving Sodium Carbonate.

In fact, thinking in reverse... here's a method to MAKE Sodium Bicarbonate: Note the CO2 and the H2O are "added" to the Sodium Carbonate...
Na2CO3 + CO2 + H2O → 2 NaHCO3

 

[stedfast82]

go go J.W.

 

[RBursek]

sodium Carbonate from BRS is Soda Ash. When mixing the Alk part of the 2 part solution depending if you are useing the one that uses soda ash or the one that uses baking soda, thier amounts are different per gallon of water that you mix them with.
An Improved Do-it-Yourself Two-Part Calcium and Alkalinity Supplement System by Randy Holmes-Farley - Reefkeeping.com

 

[aquafrags]

with bulk reef supply if you want to lower your PH ???for whatever reason you can use Sodium Bicarbonate

if you want a neutral mixture you mix 1/2 part Soda Ash and 1/2 part sodium Bicarbonate.

If you want a mix that raises PH, straight soda ash

these are the three mixes from BRS

or If you want the good stuff just order from Warner Marine

 

[kingfisherfleshy]

So if I want to buffer my alk, and raise pH is sodium carbonate a safe solution? Or is this going to cause stressful swings in my pH?

 

[RBursek]

I do not know what you mean by "buffer" your Alk, Baking soda will raise the Alk, give a slight initial drop in PH and then raise the PH slightly, Baked Baking soda (soda ash, soda carbomnate) will raise Alk, raise PH. Depends how much you ad, how much you add at one time, less more frequintly will keep things more stable then larger doses less often. You have to figure it out yourself by figuring how much Alk your tank uses a day.

 

[RBursek]

Here is a link to all the articles you could use for your answers, save it for future references. Read them and you may understand it better.
Reef Chemistry Articles - Reef Central Online Community Archives

 

[kingfisherfleshy]

Okay, thanks for the article...I just want to hear about other peoples experiences, and how they deal with these problems.

I know that hypothetically baking the baking soda does whatever...sodium carbonate...and I have done that. Today was my second day dosing as according to BRS's reef calculator...so we will see. I just hope it works.