BRS Sodium Bicarb - No Cloudy "Poof" When Adding?

[dangles]

I've used BRS's sodium bicarb for general alkalinity adjustments for the last 2 years or so (I dose kalk from a stirrer for my daily maintenance dose). In the past I've gotten a cloudy "poof" when adding the sodium bicarb. However I just mixed a new batch, and no more cloudy "poof." It's too simple to mix for me to have made a mistake mixing, and it was definitely sodium bicarb. Why no cloud all of a sudden? I can't think of any reason it would be different. What am I overlooking?

*edit for clarity*

I'm using the dry mix, mixed with 1 gallon RODI. There is no cloud when I add the mixture to the tank

 

[Pod_01]

Lost here, are you adding powder to the tank or mixing a dosing solution.

If mixing a dosing solution try hot water and you definitely will get some sizzle…
Cold water not so much…

But I may be not understanding your “poof”…

 

[bobnicaragua]

Yeah, double check you didn’t mix up calcium. It should make the little cloud.

 

[dangles]

Yeah, double check you didn’t mix up calcium. It should make the little cloud.

I'm 95% certain it was the sodium bicarb mix. I mixed it a few weeks ago and no longer have the packaging but I had ordered that specifically because I ran out. I guess I could test the solution with a calcium test kit? Or I wonder what the pH would be if it actually IS sodium bicarb? Google says 8ish-9ish. Calcium should be lower. Maybe that's what I'll do...

 

[dangles]

Lost here, are you adding powder to the tank or mixing a dosing solution.

If mixing a dosing solution try hot water and you definitely will get some sizzle…
Cold water not so much…

But I may be not understanding your “poof”…

I made the solution. There is no "cloud" when I add the mixture to the tank.

 

[Justdrew]

Sodium Carbonate should "poof" Bicarbonate not so much

 

[dangles]

Sodium Carbonate should "poof" Bicarbonate not so much

It has for me for the last (almost) 2 years

 

[rtparty]

I can’t recall ever having bicarbonate create a precipitation type cloud or poof. Soda ash? Absolutely.

One of the key benefits of bicarbonate is it can be dosed quicker and even all at once since it doesn’t precipitate

 

[dangles]

Now I'm really confused. I swear I've gotten a cloud every time I added it. I used soda ash early on for 2-part, but since I switched to kalk about 18 months ago I haven't used soda ash at all. If/when I need to make an adjustment, I've used sodium bicarb (solution). I never recall it NOT creating a cloud, which is why I thought it was weird when this latest batch did NOT create a cloud.

I guess I need to test my alk again in a couple of days and see if the adjustment I made works. That should give me the answer.

 

[Pod_01]

It has for me for the last (almost) 2 years

How did you make your solution?

If you used hot water to mix your baking soda you end up with soda ash and can have the “poof” effect.

If you mix in cold water, you have bicarbonate and I have not seen much “poof” using it in a tank.

 

[dangles]

How did you make your solution?

If you used hot water to mix your baking soda you end up with soda ash and can have the “poof” effect.

If you mix in cold water, you have bicarbonate and I have not seen much “poof” using it in a tank.

Cold water + BRS sodium bicarb powder

I'm questioning everything I've seen and done the last year+ lol

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

It has for me for the last (almost) 2 years

Generally, sodium bicarbonate will not have nearly as much and maybe not any local precipitation of magnesium hydroxide, depending on the dilution and amount dosed. Sodium carbonate will have a fair amount and sodium hydroxide will have even more. Those solids are not a concern and will redissolve as they are mixed in.

 

[MnFish1]

I'm 95% certain it was the sodium bicarb mix. I mixed it a few weeks ago and no longer have the packaging but I had ordered that specifically because I ran out. I guess I could test the solution with a calcium test kit? Or I wonder what the pH would be if it actually IS sodium bicarb? Google says 8ish-9ish. Calcium should be lower. Maybe that's what I'll do...

It may depend on the level of Ca/Mg in your tank. I didn't always see the brief precipitation - especially if you're dosing in a high flow area. However - if you have a doubt, why not just make up another batch?

 

[dangles]

It may depend on the level of Ca/Mg in your tank. I didn't always see the brief precipitation - especially if you're dosing in a high flow area. However - if you have a doubt, why not just make up another batch?

That’s probably what I’ll end up doing. I’ll need to order a new bag.