Randy’s Two Part (The alkalinity) Question?

[mgreefer]

I have a question regarding Recipe #1, Part 2 (the alkalinity), can I store the baking soda after it has been baked in a closed container until it is time to use it, or is this going to defeat the purpose of baking all together since it might absorb back CO2 and H2O from the atmosphere hence it will change back to Sodium Bicarbonate.

Basically I am trying to mix as you go when needed, similar to products from Kent and Seachem.

If it is possible then I guess I have to calculate how many tsps of baking soda to add to fresh RO/DI when needed to boost alkalinity by a specific amount. Unless someone already have a formula that would help that would be great.

 

[Greg Hiller]

If you store baked baking soda (which is now actually sodium carbonate) in a well sealed container, CO2 should not be able to penetrate the container. I would advise against using a ziploc bag, but something like a glass pickle jar would work quite well.

 

[stingythingy45]

Those new plastic coffee containers work great.
I just mix up a gallon at a time and keep it in a gallon water jug.
Why no ziploc bags Greg?

 

[Greg Hiller]

>Why no ziploc bags Greg?<

Too thin, over time CO2 will diffuse in.

 

[mgreefer]

Thanks Greg, so does anyone have a formula for mixing on the fly as you go instead of mixing a whole 1Gallon at a time.

In other words how much would 1 tsp of baking soda raise the dKH (or in meq/L) in a specific volume of tank water.

I know there is the reef chemistry calculator but it calculates the volume of solution to add after it has already been mixed.

 

[frank180reef]

Hi
This may be a dumb question, but Is it ok to add the baking soda directly to the tank?? What are the downsides

 

[stingythingy45]

Thanks Greg, so does anyone have a formula for mixing on the fly as you go instead of mixing a whole 1Gallon at a time.

In other words how much would 1 tsp of baking soda raise the dKH (or in meq/L) in a specific volume of tank water.

I know there is the reef chemistry calculator but it calculates the volume of solution to add after it has already been mixed.

Well....let's see.

It takes 2 1/4 cups to 1 gallon of Ro water to make the alk part.
So 2 1/4 cups = 36 table spoons.
1 gallon of the Alk part with 2 1/4 cups baking soda =5,300 DKH.
So 5,300 (DKH )divide by 36 (tsp)=147.22222 dkh per tsp(in 1 gallon of RO water)
So for a 50 gallon tank(147.2222 divided by 50 gallons),1 table spoon would raise the DKH(2.944444 dkh)
So a tea spoon would be .981 DKH raise in a 50 gallon.

That seems kind of high.

 

[Dave]

Double check my math but I found that baking soda is 4.6 grams/teaspoon.
based on 500 grams BS in Randy's recipe # 1 you need 109 teaspoon/gal BS to make a gallon.
1.17 Oz water require 1 teaspoons of BS. OR for~ 7 Oz water add 6 tsp BS.

 

[mgreefer]

Well this is my math if someone can double check if it is right or makes sense.

According to the recipe every 2 ¼ cups (594g) of baking soda would raise dKH by 5300 when dissolved in 1 gallon of water.

- Since there are 4.6g of baking soda in 1 tsp then there are 129.13 tsps in the recipe (594/4.6=129.13tsps). In other words 129.13 tsps dissolved in 1 gallon would raise dKH by 5300.
- So every tsp would raise dKH by 41.05 in a gallon of water. (5300/129.13=41.05)

Using the above you can calculate how much to add to reach a target level based on the total volume of your tank.

e.g. if you have a 50 gal tank then every tsp would add .81dKH (41.05/51gal=.81dKH)

Assuming the math is right and this makes sense I am not positive that calculating the rise in dKH per tsp/gallon is as simple as above, I think there might be more to it because according to Randy’s article:

“sodium bicarbonate has a molecular weight of 84 g/mole, we need to dissolve 1.86 x 84 = 156 grams/L, or about 594 grams (2 ¼ level measuring cups) of baking soda per gallon.”

Anyone there who can validate?

 

[stingythingy45]

I don't know,maybe we should ask Mr. Whoopee.
Sorry,only the older reefer's will get this one.

 

[mgreefer]

Anyone?

 

[Liam]

this should help

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

 

[mgreefer]

Thanks Liam, as I mentioned in my post above the calculator calculates the portion to add after is has already been mixed (based on 2 ¼ cups/gallon of water).

 

[Liam]

sorry that does'nt help.
I don't quite see what you are trying to accomplish though??
can't you just mix the gallon and then work out how much you need to add in liquid form to make your adjustment on the fly?
or am i missing something?

probably the latter

 

[mgreefer]

Thanks Liam, I guess I am trying to find a quick formula to add on the fly when need to without having to have a pre-mixed solution.

For example, if my calculations above are accurate, then all I need to do to raise Alk by 2.8dKH in 200gal tank, is to mix 13tsps of baked baking soda in 1 gallon of RO/DI water and dose it.

But I guess either way should work.

Thanks.

 

[Liam]

Thanks Liam, I guess I am trying to find a quick formula to add on the fly when need to without having to have a pre-mixed solution.

For example, if my calculations above are accurate, then all I need to do to raise Alk by 2.8dKH in 200gal tank, is to mix 13tsps of baked baking soda in 1 gallon of RO/DI water and dose it.

But I guess either way should work.

Thanks.

your still going to have to add it slowly,a raise of 2.8 dkh is way too much in one go.
Personally i would say never make adjustments/ or swings of over 1 dkh per day in either direction

 

[Greg Hiller]

>This may be a dumb question, but Is it ok to add the baking soda directly to the tank?? What are the downsides<

Just more carbon dioxide will need to come out of the water. If you have a good skimmer it's not a big deal, but your pH might be suppressed a bit until the CO2 equilibrates with the atmosphere.

 

[Liam]

>This may be a dumb question, but Is it ok to add the baking soda directly to the tank?? What are the downsides<

Just more carbon dioxide will need to come out of the water. If you have a good skimmer it's not a big deal, but your pH might be suppressed a bit until the CO2 equilibrates with the atmosphere.

personally i would not want baking powder particulates landing on my corals.