Baking Soda Buffer

[reefer74]

I am going to make some of this buffer, and experiment with it...the only problem is that I do not know where to get the second of the two baking sodas...i think it's the super wash part. I just bought a huge box of the baking soda, but now I'm looking for the second. Just a cheap alternative to the expensive buffers...at least until I get my calcium reactor. Here's a link to the mix if anyone else wants to try it as well. http://www.hawkfish.org/infoctr/homebuffer.htm

Johnny G.

[matt]

The washing soda is a little tough to find; I never did find it, but I'd like to know where it is if you find it. Washing soda is sodium carbonate; baking soda is sodium bicarbonate. Since all this dissolves to carbonate ions in the tank, you can use straight, plain baking soda as a buffer, provided you are not trying to raise your ph. The reason people add washing soda is because it will quickly raise your ph; I'm not sure why exactly, I suppose it has to do with the reactions that occur as the stuff is dissolving.

[GaryP]

A buffer is a mixture of two species that keeps the pH in a narrow range. All bufferes are made up of at least two components. Baking Soda will actually lower your pH some. Bicarbonate is the more acidic of the two components, carbonate is the basic component. The pH of a bicarbonate solution is about 7. You may not notice a big change in the pH by adding baking soda but you will have depleted your buffering capacity somewhat. You want the carbonate ion in there to neutralize the CO2 (carbonic acid) being produced by your critters, especially at night. A buffer is established by creating an equilibrium between the two buffering species. In our case there is actually 3 species because of the constant production of C02 by both plants and animals.

Reefer, I make my own buffer. Try Wal-mart or HEB. Look for Arm & Hammer washing soda on the laundry aisle. I keep meaning to right up the procedure and recipe I use for making buffer to post here. If you find some let me know. I was just given some by a MAAST member and made up a 3 kg. batch. Just remember to break up the chunks so that you are able to evenly mix the two components. A cake mixer on slow speed and a large mixing bowl works good for mixing.

Drop me a note if I can be of furhter assistance.

Gary

[GaryP]

Johnny,

I got my carbonate from JimD. I think he said he got it at an HEB in Austin. You might want to check with him if you can't find it.

Gary

[reefer74]

Ya I think I'll check at some of the other heb's and walmart's...the one by my house is fairly small as compared to others. I speak of the one on Slaughter, and manchaca. If they did carry it then they were totally out. I will keep a look out for it and advise if I do find it.

[JimD]

I honestly cant remember where I got it , for some reason Im thinking City Market on the southwest corner of S. First and Ben White.

[reefer74]

That sounds like a good place to check out...I almost forgot about that place.

Johnny G.

[OldSalty]

:shock: Well imagine that, The wife sent me to HEB last week for some laundry soap. I brought home the Arm&Hammer super washing soda thinking it was laundry soap. She took one look at it and said, :evil: WHAT THE *^%&# is this. I had to go back again. But now that Iv'e got some I'm gona try this buffer :-D Thanks for the post on this.

[reefer74]

hey no prob there old salty....just trying to find a way to save a buck or two. Some things you really should not try and skimp on, but I think this is one of those that should not be too much of a problem. Good luck with your mix, and I hope to find some tomorrow.


Johnny G.

[GaryP]

Just mix it at a 6:1 ratio. That's 857 gm. of baking soda to 143 gm. of washing soda to make a 1 kg. batch. I've tested it against the Kent super buffer stuff and noticed no difference at all except that my wallet is a lot heavier afterwards. I think the commercial stuff has a pich of borate in it. I suppose you could get some boric acid and mix it in with a little extra washing soda to neutralize it but I have never bothered with it. My corals never noticed the difference. Boric acid is pretty easy to find. I use it to make a DIY ant bait.

Gary