baking soda

[martym]

Does anyone use it for buffering? or should it just be used for a quick increase? Can it be used out of the box, or does it need to be prepared in anyway?
Thanks

[pocilipora]

I use it. I bought 7 boxes and baked one box for an hour at 250 degreees, mixed them all together, and thats alkalinity buffer. I think Jack at Ocean Aquatics uses it on their tanks also.

[Chin_Lee]

Pociliporia
Why do you bake the baking soda? And why only one of the seven boxes and then mix them all together?

[pocilipora]

Baking soda is sodium bicarbonate and will lower the ph
Washing soda is baking soda that has been baked and is used to raise ph.
The two mixed together makes a good balance.

[martym]

Thanks pocilipora, thats what I'll do.

[Canadian Man]

I just use straight up baking soda. you just have to add it slowly to not get a ph drop.

[Beverly]

When I use baking soda to raise alk, I add about an equal amount of kalk to the tank at the same time to keep the pH from dropping. If I want to raise pH in my generally low pH 42g and 72g, I add a little more kalk than baking soda.

I monitor pH while adding these substances with a pH probe and monitor so I don't screw things up :eek:

Baking soda is mixed in a glass of tankwater. Kalk is prepped a few days in advance so it has a chance to settle.

Sounds like there are lots of ways to use baking soda.