Trick to dissolving baking soda completely?

[rz1a]

I need to make my own alk with baking soda again soon and was wondering what the trick was to dissolving it? I usually bake it for 1-2 hrs, but everytime i add it to ro/di theres always some clumps left at the bottom

any harm in adding the particles to the tank? or do i just strain it and use the liquid?

[aquasport24]

Vinegar will help it dissolves quicker but will have reduction in PH. You want to use the saturated liquid only.

[aquasport24]

Try to get some Mrs. Wage lime juice from Walt-mart. It's the same thing without all the hard work.

[rz1a]

I thought that was calcium hydroxide? I already have calcium hydroxide (kalkwasser) that I don't use and calcium chloride to elevate calcium, I'm not looking into maintaining ALK and Calcium levels, but raising ALK alone

[aquasport24]

What is your alk. and calcium reading?

[Beverly]

I generally will take a my heater and heat the ro/di water before mixing. When I mixed it cold I got the big clumps left in my jug. I will do it in parts as well. 1/4 at a time to leave room to shake the devil outta it. Works a lot better but never 100% clump free...

[rz1a]

^^ seems like thats the answer. someone on RC just posted the same thing. Alk is reading at 7, but i like to keep it around 9 dkh, calcium is fine, 500

so i heat 1/2 a gallon, and could i pour the amount of baking powder i need for the recipe in and then mix, and then pour the rest of the water?

[Ping]

http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2006-02/rhf/index.php

When preparing baking soda as part of a balanced two part dosing system, pH must be factored. If your pH is high, as it will be if Kalkwasser is being properly dosed, then the baking soda should be baked at 300 degrees for one hour.

Shake the solution before each dosing, don’t worry about a few very small chunks.


Kalkwasser dosing should be the first step in maintaining calcium and alkalinity levels. Maintaining proper magnesium levels should be second, then a balanced two part can be dosed to achieve the desired calcium and alkalinity ratios.

[Ping]

http://home.comcast.net/~jdieck1/chemcalc.html

[rz1a]

If pH is high than you must not bake the baking soda. If you bake the baking soda, it will raise pH. I can't utilize kalkwasser at the moment, but I'd rather just add alkalinity to adjust, much easier. Im familiar on how to do everything, been doing this for a while; ive used kalkwasser on setups before, was just wondering how to go about making the baking soda dissolve, but I see that hot ro/di water is the key when making this

thanks for the advice!

Recipe #1 is for use in reef aquaria whose pH is normal to low. In practice, more reef aquarists end up choosing this recipe than Recipe #2. It will tend to raise pH due to its alkalinity part's elevated pH, as do most of the commercial two-part additives. The increase in pH depends on the aquarium's alkalinity and, of course, on how much is added. Adding on the order of 0.5 meq/L of alkalinity increases the pH by about 0.3 pH units immediately upon its addition (and even higher, locally, before it has a chance to mix throughout the aquarium).

http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2006-02/rhf/index.php

When preparing baking soda as part of a balanced two part dosing system, pH must be factored. If your pH is high, as it will be if Kalkwasser is being properly dosed, then the baking soda should be baked at 300 degrees for one hour.

Shake the solution before each dosing, don’t worry about a few very small chunks.


Kalkwasser dosing should be the first step in maintaining calcium and alkalinity levels. Maintaining proper magnesium levels should be second, then a balanced two part can be dosed to achieve the desired calcium and alkalinity ratios.