| Author |
 Topic Search  Topic Options
|
jfinch 
Guest
Joined: March 06 2003
Location: Pleasant Grove
Status: Offline
Points: 7067
|
 Post Options
 Thanks(0)
 Quote  Reply
 Posted: October 14 2004 at 9:27am |
Kevin's got it.
It doesn't really matter if sodium bicarb or sodium carbonate is used for alkalinity additives. They both will equalibriate with atmospheric CO2 within hrs/days once added to your tank. I use sodium carbonate because the intial mixture has a high pH and my tank suffers a bit from chronic low pH. Many people actually mix the two together to get a mix that mixes up with RO water to pH of about 8.2.
|
|
|
 |
KeoDog
Guest
Joined: September 18 2002
Location: United States
Status: Offline
Points: 884
|
Post Options
Thanks(0)
Quote Reply
Posted: October 14 2004 at 9:31am |
|
By the way you can buy sodium carbonate in the form of Arm & Hammer washing soda instead of baking it.
|
|
Kevin Kunz (Sandy, UT)
300g reef
"A trade by which one gains and the other loses is a fraud." Ayn Rand
|
|
jfinch
Guest
Joined: March 06 2003
Location: Pleasant Grove
Status: Offline
Points: 7067
|
Post Options
Thanks(0)
Quote Reply
Posted: October 14 2004 at 9:41am |
Kevin's right again. I've used A&H Washing Soda too.
|
|
|
|
Jared
Guest
Joined: November 25 2002
Location: United States
Status: Offline
Points: 692
|
Post Options
Thanks(0)
Quote Reply
Posted: October 14 2004 at 11:01am |
|
So have you figured out the proportoin of icemelt to washing soda to keep everything ballanced or do you just test alot?
|
|
Jared Neilsen
Lehi, Utah
|
|
KeoDog
Guest
Joined: September 18 2002
Location: United States
Status: Offline
Points: 884
|
Post Options
Thanks(0)
Quote Reply
Posted: October 14 2004 at 12:31pm |
|
Here is what I do. I use a mixture of 4 parts baking soda to 1 part washing soda. On day 1, I add one full medicine cup (the kind like comes on nyquil , I think it is 30ml) On day 2, I add the same amount Kents turbo calcium (will start using the ice melt instead) I skip day 3 and start over on day 4. This is for my 300g. On my 72g, I only use about a fourth of the same cup and dose the same days. I test about every 2 months and usually only have to make very slight adjustments if any at all. I also use epson salts for magnesium when testing show I need it. This process keeps my alk at 12dkh, calcium at 440 and magnesium at 1300.
Edited by KeoDog
|
|
Kevin Kunz (Sandy, UT)
300g reef
"A trade by which one gains and the other loses is a fraud." Ayn Rand
|
|
jfinch
Guest
Joined: March 06 2003
Location: Pleasant Grove
Status: Offline
Points: 7067
|
Post Options
Thanks(0)
Quote Reply
Posted: October 14 2004 at 12:33pm |
If you're using Peladow and washing soda it is 1.05 grams of Peladow for each gram of washing soda... 1 to 1 is close enough for me. 
I'm still using kalkwasser. I just use the peladow and washing soda (baking soda) to nudge everything back up 'cause the kalk isn't keeping up.
|
|
|
|
Mark Peterson
Paid Member
Joined: June 19 2002
Location: Murray
Status: Offline
Points: 21436
|
Post Options
Thanks(0)
Quote Reply
Posted: October 15 2004 at 1:30pm |
|
Jon is probably right on the verge of building and using a Calcium Reactor. Am I right?
|
Reefkeeping Tips, & quick, easy setup tricks:www.utahreefs.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=9244 Pay it forward - become a paid WMAS member 
|
|
jfinch
Guest
Joined: March 06 2003
Location: Pleasant Grove
Status: Offline
Points: 7067
|
Post Options
Thanks(0)
Quote Reply
Posted: October 15 2004 at 1:34pm |
Yes a reactor is being drawn up in my head as I type, but...
I just made up some DIY B-ionic that I'm trying out. I'll post about it after I've used it for a few weeks 
|
|
|
|
jglover
Guest
Joined: February 10 2004
Location: United States
Status: Offline
Points: 576
|
Post Options
Thanks(0)
Quote Reply
Posted: October 15 2004 at 1:57pm |
Very informative post  .
|
|
Crazy Tarzan
Guest
Joined: September 12 2003
Location: Riverton, WY
Status: Offline
Points: 1681
|
Post Options
Thanks(0)
Quote Reply
Posted: October 15 2004 at 2:03pm |
|
Hey jon--can you use soda ash for pools? We use it to keep the ph
in the pool up where I work, and I noticed that it was just sodium
carbonate, rather than sodium bicarbonate. Also, how long do you
need to bake baking soda to make it into washing soda?
|
|
Was that in there yesterday? Casper--WY windier than ?
Down to a 20, soon to double or nothing
|
|
jfinch
Guest
Joined: March 06 2003
Location: Pleasant Grove
Status: Offline
Points: 7067
|
Post Options
Thanks(0)
Quote Reply
Posted: October 15 2004 at 2:43pm |
Theres no way to know what the impurities are in a bulk industrial soda ash product. But you can be fairly sure that a food grade product is not going to have many toxins (i.e. if it's good enough for my belly, it's good enough for my corals). So I use baking soda. I spread it out on a cookie sheet and bake at 300F for about an hr.
Oh ya... I've also used Arm and Hammer Washing Soda without problems too. It's not a food grade product, but in my experience it's ok. But it's not as easy to find as baking soda.
Edited by jfinch
|
|
|
|
jglover
Guest
Joined: February 10 2004
Location: United States
Status: Offline
Points: 576
|
Post Options
Thanks(0)
Quote Reply
Posted: February 15 2006 at 10:51am |
|
Gotta love old posts.
anyone know where to get some Dow Peladow brand ice melt now.
J
|
|
fj40fax
Guest
Joined: November 04 2004
Location: United States
Status: Offline
Points: 1261
|
Post Options
Thanks(0)
Quote Reply
Posted: February 15 2006 at 11:43am |
|
I just got 10 lbs of "Driveway Heat" at Home Depot $5.90. It should last my 20g for a loooong time.
Fax
|
|
Fax 318-3632
90g 2x250W 14kK MH
Sump, Fuge, G3, UV, O3, ACIII
Pleasant Grove, UT Across State Street from the Purple Turtle
Adjustments and Massages for Frags!
|
|
Shane H
Presidency
Joined: March 09 2003
Location: Brigham City
Status: Offline
Points: 7921
|
Post Options
Thanks(0)
Quote Reply
Posted: February 15 2006 at 1:19pm |
|
AutoZone also carries the Prestone Driveway Heat. Saw it on Saturday.
|
|
Crazy Tarzan
Guest
Joined: September 12 2003
Location: Riverton, WY
Status: Offline
Points: 1681
|
Post Options
Thanks(0)
Quote Reply
Posted: February 15 2006 at 8:47pm |
|
autozone sells it for $7, but will be sending it back as soon and it looks like no more snow...
|
|
Was that in there yesterday? Casper--WY windier than ?
Down to a 20, soon to double or nothing
|
|
Gahlenfr
Guest
Joined: December 01 2005
Location: United States
Status: Offline
Points: 1061
|
Post Options
Thanks(0)
Quote Reply
Posted: February 15 2006 at 9:36pm |
|
fj40x how much do you use on your 20g?
|
|
Bob Kripfgans
Guest
Joined: November 13 2004
Location: Tooele, Ut.
Status: Offline
Points: 1084
|
Post Options
Thanks(0)
Quote Reply
Posted: February 15 2006 at 9:56pm |
|
Walmart has it in the Auto section.
|
|
WMAS is da place!
Save the Banggai's!
Tooele,Ut.
|
|
fj40fax
Guest
Joined: November 04 2004
Location: United States
Status: Offline
Points: 1261
|
Post Options
Thanks(0)
Quote Reply
Posted: February 15 2006 at 10:31pm |
I test my calcium and then use the reef calculator to see how much to add. the hard part was determining exactly how much water was in my tank. I am still in the process of testing to see how much I use every day. Every tank will use different amounts depending on what's in the tank, and how much Ca is used.
Fax
|
|
Fax 318-3632
90g 2x250W 14kK MH
Sump, Fuge, G3, UV, O3, ACIII
Pleasant Grove, UT Across State Street from the Purple Turtle
Adjustments and Massages for Frags!
|
|
Mark Peterson
Paid Member
Joined: June 19 2002
Location: Murray
Status: Offline
Points: 21436
|
Post Options
Thanks(0)
Quote Reply
Posted: February 15 2006 at 10:46pm |
Gosh, I just pour it in like crazy.
|
Reefkeeping Tips, & quick, easy setup tricks:www.utahreefs.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=9244 Pay it forward - become a paid WMAS member
|
|
fj40fax
Guest
Joined: November 04 2004
Location: United States
Status: Offline
Points: 1261
|
Post Options
Thanks(0)
Quote Reply
Posted: February 20 2006 at 12:57pm |
Test results are in. I use about 10 ppm Ca and about 1dKH/day. I also added an enteral feeding bag to slowly drip the baking soda in the tank. It ands up being about a teaspoon or less so I just dissolve the baking soda in a cup or so of water and pour it into the bag. It has a drip adjuster that is set at about 2 drops/sec. It probably takes an hour or so to drip 8-10 oz of the mixture, no pH swings. I am probably going to place and order from the supply house soon so if anyone wants one I will create another thread.
Fax
|
|
Fax 318-3632
90g 2x250W 14kK MH
Sump, Fuge, G3, UV, O3, ACIII
Pleasant Grove, UT Across State Street from the Purple Turtle
Adjustments and Massages for Frags!
|
|
