Soda ash vs bicarbonate for alk dosing

[Seriak]

Just order it from Eli at caco3reef.com

[mrhasan]

Originally Posted by Seriak

Just order it from Eli at caco3reef.com

Thanks for the info. Didn't know he carried it.

[asylumdown]

I used to bake baking soda, but it was such a PITA to dissolve after wards. I considered trying to blend it back in to a powder to get it to dissolve better, but I was afraid of damaging the blender. I've been using straight baking soda since this tank was set up and it's gone swimmingly so far. I've never really tested pH though. Dissolves better if you add it to the hottest water you possibly can - hot water for baking soda (which is quickly cools), and icy cold water for calcium chloride, or it starts to boil. Chemistry is cool.

[mrhasan]

Originally Posted by asylumdown

I used to bake baking soda, but it was such a PITA to dissolve after wards. I considered trying to blend it back in to a powder to get it to dissolve better, but I was afraid of damaging the blender. I've been using straight baking soda since this tank was set up and it's gone swimmingly so far. I've never really tested pH though. Dissolves better if you add it to the hottest water you possibly can - hot water for baking soda (which is quickly cools), and icy cold water for calcium chloride, or it starts to boil. Chemistry is cool.

I was never good with chemistry other than mixing unknown stuffs and making tutti frutti

[mrhasan]

Bump for a question:

Alk and Ca are interrelated so I was wondering whether dosing Alk only will cause any sort of prob.....

[eli@fijireefrock.com]

of course dosing only for Alk will cause fluctuation in the rest of the tank's chemistry.
Not so much if you are only bringing the levels of Alk to par then start dosing all chemicals as to a recipe you will stick with and only adjust all levels accordingly to usage.

[mrhasan]

Originally Posted by Elias@caco3reef.com

of course dosing only for Alk will cause fluctuation in the rest of the tank's chemistry.
Not so much if you are only bringing the levels of Alk to par then start dosing all chemicals as to a recipe you will stick with and only adjust all levels accordingly to usage.

Since my mag (1380) and ca (440) remains within the desired value in between water changes, I was thinking of not touching them. Or should both Ca and Alk be dosed at the same time?