wasp Posted June 12, 2006 Report Share Posted June 12, 2006 So what's the dip in PH going to be?Whatever you do, don't ask Layton!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chimera Posted June 12, 2006 Report Share Posted June 12, 2006 why bake it? 3 reasons - raises its pH, raises alkalinity and makes it more soluble Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cracker Posted June 12, 2006 Report Share Posted June 12, 2006 ok. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cracker Posted June 12, 2006 Report Share Posted June 12, 2006 Im with Layton on this one. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lduncan Posted June 12, 2006 Report Share Posted June 12, 2006 There is no change in alkalinity it provides when you bake it. And although it makes it more soluble, it appears to make it harder to dissolve. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chimera Posted June 12, 2006 Report Share Posted June 12, 2006 ok layton, just going by what i'm reading on rhf's 2 part write up http://www.reefkeeping.com/issues/2006-02/rhf/index.php it does state that most people suffer from a lower pH so baking it helps increase pH as well as alkalinity in one go. every 0.5meq/L increase also raises pH by around 0.3. it also specifically states that if you are not having pH issues (or if pH is currently 8.4 or higher) then using baking soda in its raw form is the recommended method. so its not just down to "its easier to dissolve" - there are reasons behind the 2 methods being based on the current state of your tank. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lduncan Posted June 12, 2006 Report Share Posted June 12, 2006 On a gram for gram basis it provides more alkalinity. But 1 gram of plain baking soda provides the same alkalinity as the resulting baked baking soda from that same 1 gram of baking soda. For example if you bake 100 grams of baking soda, it provides the same alkalinity as the 100 grams would if it was unbaked. The baking process reduces the weight by up to 40% (as H20 and CO2 evapourate). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lduncan Posted June 12, 2006 Report Share Posted June 12, 2006 it does state that most people suffer from a lower pH so baking it helps increase pH as well as alkalinity in one go. every 0.5meq/L increase also raises pH by around 0.3. it also specifically states that if you are not having pH issues (or if pH is currently 8.4 or higher) then using baking soda in its raw form is the recommended method. so its not just down to "its easier to dissolve" - there are reasons behind the 2 methods being based on the current state of your tank. Yip I realise the reasons behind the two options. But for me, it's not worth the effort to bake and try and dissolve. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JoeBlog Posted June 12, 2006 Report Share Posted June 12, 2006 I wish I had known that I didn’t need to bake the BS ages ago. :oops: The PITA of drying it out in the oven and then getting the damn stuff to dissolve (which more me was a nightmare) is the reason that I bought my CA in the first place (after spending all that money on the dosing system)! :evil: Oh well, I’m just glad my CA is finally tuned and all is stable (at least until I have to change the CO2 bottle again). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cracker Posted June 12, 2006 Report Share Posted June 12, 2006 If you have lots of bubbles in your skimmer and lots of surface water movement, (either by falling, or churning), and the correct KH, the PH levels will always generally be stable at around 8.2. I never check my PH as I dont need to. If my KH is up, I know its all good. Just keep the skimmers bubbling. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JDM Posted June 14, 2006 Author Report Share Posted June 14, 2006 did a water change tonight, just for fun i decided to test the nsw i was putting in, dKH=6 ca=300 i am amazed! i let everything settle in my tank after the water change, then tested dKH, still at 8 :evil: im having trouble bringing my dKH above 8 anyway, what is the max rise that is safe in one go? ie: how much of a rise in dKH (at one time) before things start to go bad? i use reef builder (seachem) and it says not to exceed 1meq/L per day, what is this in dKH? im putting in 3-4 teaspoons per day now and that seems to be just keeping up with my consumption rate. :-? am i better to follow the trend of baking soda? how much baking soda per 100 litres to rase 1dKH? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lduncan Posted June 14, 2006 Report Share Posted June 14, 2006 1 meq is around 3.5 dKH. I've added over 4 dKH at once on several occasions, with not problems. YMMV. 2 grams of baking soda (1/2 teaspoon) will raise the alkalinity of 100 litres of water by 1 dKH Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
suphew Posted June 14, 2006 Report Share Posted June 14, 2006 Theres an thing on reef central about Ca Kh Ph etc, I'm about half way through, it seems to be a good simplified explaination http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2006-06/rhf/index.php Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cracker Posted June 14, 2006 Report Share Posted June 14, 2006 I raise my KH by 5 every week in one hit and have no issues. I wouldnt go any higher than this though. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wasp Posted June 14, 2006 Report Share Posted June 14, 2006 1 meq is around 3.5 dKH. Are you sure about that? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lduncan Posted June 14, 2006 Report Share Posted June 14, 2006 My mistake, 2.8dKH. Thanks wasp. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wasp Posted June 14, 2006 Report Share Posted June 14, 2006 No worries. Always happy to help Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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