Alk Dosing _Combined Recipe?
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Category: Specialized Discussion
Forum Name: Reef Chemistry
Forum Description: A place to discuss reef chemistry.
URL: http://www.utahreefs.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=46248
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Topic: Alk Dosing _Combined Recipe?
Posted By: vadryn
Subject: Alk Dosing _Combined Recipe?
Date Posted: January 23 2011 at 11:21am
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I have been looking for a recipe that gives the proper amounts of bakind soda and washing soda (soda ash) for 1 gallon. I have found the standard recipes that show mixing solutions independently, or even the 1:5 ratio of soda ash to baking soda.
Does anyone know how much of each to add to 1 gallon of water to make the combined recipe?
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Replies:
Posted By: badfinger
Date Posted: January 23 2011 at 1:56pm
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I know its not what your asking... but I use kalkwasser and it adds both my calcium and alk, at the levels coral will intake them. Once I started using this it made my life easier and my coral grow. I just add it with all my top off water (I do have a ato and so I never really have to dose) but I do add aquavitro 8.4 and calcium chlroide once a week... cause kalk only maintains cal/alk levels, its not supposed to raise it.
The trick with kalkwasser is just figuring out how much your tank uses |
Posted By: smacky
Date Posted: January 23 2011 at 2:23pm
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I haven't used it yet, but I found this... http://reef.diesyst.com/flashcalc/flashcalc.html - http://reef.diesyst.com/flashcalc/flashcalc.html |
Posted By: Mark Peterson
Date Posted: January 23 2011 at 3:37pm
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There is no need to worry about it. Yes, 1 part washing soda(baked baking soda) to 4 or 5 parts baking soda is the ratio and about 1/2 cup of it will dissolve in a gallon of RO water, but please let me help you be sensible about this. The truth is, Baking Soda by itself is just fine. The only reason some people use a mixture of the two is because of the tiny temporary drop in pH that occurs with baking soda alone. But honestly, the temporary drop is nothing to be concerned about. We are always stressing here on the MB that when there is good flow and gas exchange at the water surface the pH is fine and does not even need to be checked. We also talk about pH being better when Alk is good. So even when using baking soda alone, that is still the case. The tank won't even notice. The slight drop in pH only lasts for an hour and ends up being improved anyway because Alkalinity is being increased. Please don't worry about the amount of baking soda to dissolve in RO water. Just add 1/4 cup and then a little more until you see that it's saturated and some undissolved Baking soda is on the bottom. Whatever is left will dissolve later when some of the solution is poured into the tank and the container is refilled with RO water. No harm, nothing to worry about. I hope this makes sense and puts you more at ease.  ------------- Reefkeeping Tips, & quick, easy setup tricks: www.utahreefs.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=9244 Pay it forward - become a paid WMAS member 
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Posted By: vadryn
Date Posted: January 23 2011 at 4:05pm
Thanks - I wasn't stressed.  I may as well use washing soda too as I have it on hand. (wife uses it to make laundry detergent) I'll throw in a couple Tbs with the Baking Soda and call it good.
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Posted By: Mark Peterson
Date Posted: January 23 2011 at 4:16pm
 ------------- Reefkeeping Tips, & quick, easy setup tricks: www.utahreefs.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=9244 Pay it forward - become a paid WMAS member
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