BRS sodium bicarbonate mixing instructions help???

[LuckySingh]

i ordered cal alk and mag in bulk from brs since the demand in my reef i going up.....i am confused in mixing the alk powder as the intrsuctions r bit tricky....its says mix 1level dry cup with 4 tsp of soda ash.....?? totaly confused here all i hve is sodium bicarbonate and no soda ask....
also what is dry cup....if sodium bicarbonate will do the job on its own with soda ash than how to mix the sodium baicarbonate and prepare 1 gln alk solution?????

[Bill S]

Soda ash = sodium carbonate. Also called "washing soda". It is NOT sodium BIcarbonate. However, you can turn sodium bicarbonate into sodium carbonate. Just bake it in a glass dish for 1 hour at 350 degrees. This drives off CO2.

[zerreissen]

Which Alk did you buy? A dry cup is just that, a cup, however, when they say dry, they mean use a cup you'd normally use for dry ingredients (as opposed to, say, a Pyrex measuring cup). I just mixed mine today with the following instructions:

Alkalinity



*Note* Mixing the alkalinity portion directly in the jug is more difficult to dissolve and may result in clumps forming at the bottom. If clumps occur warm the jug in a sink of hot water and shake vigorously.

Fill one of the gallon jugs about 4/5th with RO/DI or filtered water and pour into the empty bucket or bowl
Measure out two level cups of Soda Ash.
While stirring the water slowly pour the Soda Ash into the bucket or bowl.
When dissolved use the funnel to pour the solution into one of the empty gallon jugs
Fill the remainder of the jug with water, cap and label "Alkalinity." Let the solution sit for several hours before use