Baking Soda

[eddie]

I have been adding baking soday, 1 teaspoon per 50 gallons for the past week or so. It goes up initially but by the next day it continues to drop back down. Calcium and PH are fine and I am doing weekly water changes 10-15%. My KH starts off at 8 then goes up to 11 hours after dosing then back to 8 the next evening. Any thoughts? I have no fish and few mushrooms with a DSB and LR.

[Reef69]

why dont you just add B-Ionic instead of ...baking soda?.. :blink

[Richard]

It would be better to use a buffer that has carbonates and bicarbonates rather than just baking soda. What is your calcium level at? If your Ca is too high you could be precipitating out some of your carbonates.

[GaryP]

I forget the procedure, but you can bake your baking soda in the oven to turn it into washing soda. Then I think you mix 1 part WS in with 6 parts BS for a nice balanced mixture. I may be off on the ratio...

You can buy Sodium carbonate at HEB. Its Arm & Hammer Super Washing Soda and can be found on the same aisle with the clothes washing soap.

Whatever you use, it needs to be pre-diluted before adding it and added slowly or it will just precipitate out calcium as Richard said. We're going to do a workshop on DIY chemicals in one of the meetings coming up.

[eddie]

My calcium was 450 about 2 weeks ago and is now 400. I could use a buffer but I was trying to use baking soda.