WMAS Discussion Forum : Alkalinity, pH, and Soda http://www.utahreefs.com/forum/ Copyright (c) 2006-2013 Web Wiz Forums - All Rights Reserved. Fri, 03 Jul 2026 20:58:30 +0000 Wed, 22 Sep 2010 12:49:23 +0000 http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/tech/rss Web Wiz Forums 12.03 360 www.utahreefs.com/forum/RSS_post_feed.asp?TID=43528 <![CDATA[WMAS Discussion Forum]]> http://www.utahreefs.com/forum/1by1.gif http://www.utahreefs.com/forum/ <![CDATA[Alkalinity, pH, and Soda : It probably costs 2 to run an...]]> http://www.utahreefs.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=43528&PID=376912&title=alkalinity-ph-and-soda#376912 Author: sanddune600
Subject: 43528
Posted: September 22 2010 at 12:49pm

It probably costs 2 to run an oven at 400 for an hour]]> Wed, 22 Sep 2010 12:49:23 +0000 http://www.utahreefs.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=43528&PID=376912&title=alkalinity-ph-and-soda#376912 <![CDATA[Alkalinity, pH, and Soda : jcom wrote: BobC63 wrote:Where...]]> http://www.utahreefs.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=43528&PID=376837&title=alkalinity-ph-and-soda#376837 Author: BobC63
Subject: 43528
Posted: September 21 2010 at 7:37pm

Originally posted by jcom jcom wrote:

Originally posted by BobC63 BobC63 wrote:

Where can you buy the soda ash?
 
I know you can bake your own, but I'd also like to be able to just go to the store and pick some up.
  
  
Ace Hardware has Arm & Hammer Washing Soda for $3.79, but Wal Mart has the same sized box of Arm & Hammer Baking Soda for $1.00 
 
So, if you have cookie sheets and an oven, you can get almost 4 for the price of 1 by going the Wal-Mart route. 
 
 
Like I have time to bake crap - I can barely get the time to keep the glass clean lately Embarrassed LOL
 
I 'prefer' to think of it this way... I think the boxes you are talking about are like the 3 lb size boxes... I'd buy 1 of the Washing Soda and 3 of the Baking Soda and mix them together... that nets me 12 lbs of Alk dosing powder for a cost of around, 7 bucks...?
 
$7 for 12 lbs (or $0.59 / lb) vs. $14 for 1 kg - a little over 2 lbs - (or $6.35 / lb) of  the Superbuffer dkH I currently use.
 
That's about a 93% cost savings, lb per lb...
 
Works for me. And no baking, either Wink
 
 
]]> Tue, 21 Sep 2010 19:37:36 +0000 http://www.utahreefs.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=43528&PID=376837&title=alkalinity-ph-and-soda#376837 <![CDATA[Alkalinity, pH, and Soda : BobC63 wrote:Where can you...]]> http://www.utahreefs.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=43528&PID=376828&title=alkalinity-ph-and-soda#376828 Author: jcom
Subject: 43528
Posted: September 21 2010 at 7:15pm

Originally posted by BobC63 BobC63 wrote:

Where can you buy the soda ash?
 
I know you can bake your own, but I'd also like to be able to just go to the store and pick some up.
 
 
 
Ace Hardware has Arm & Hammer Washing Soda for $3.79, but Wal Mart has the same sized box of Arm & Hammer Baking Soda for $1.00 
 
So, if you have cookie sheets and an oven, you can get almost 4 for the price of 1 by going the Wal-Mart route.
 
 


Edited by jcom - September 21 2010 at 7:16pm]]> Tue, 21 Sep 2010 19:15:26 +0000 http://www.utahreefs.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=43528&PID=376828&title=alkalinity-ph-and-soda#376828 <![CDATA[Alkalinity, pH, and Soda : In the grocery stores it&#039;s...]]> http://www.utahreefs.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=43528&PID=376583&title=alkalinity-ph-and-soda#376583 Author: Mark Peterson
Subject: 43528
Posted: September 20 2010 at 9:16am

In the grocery stores it's called Washing Soda, but the packages I've seen are so large that, especially when it's only 1 part washing soda to 4 parts baking soda, I choose to bake a single package of baking soda.]]> Mon, 20 Sep 2010 09:16:44 +0000 http://www.utahreefs.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=43528&PID=376583&title=alkalinity-ph-and-soda#376583 <![CDATA[Alkalinity, pH, and Soda : Soda ash is used in dying fabrics....]]> http://www.utahreefs.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=43528&PID=376580&title=alkalinity-ph-and-soda#376580 Author: smacky
Subject: 43528
Posted: September 20 2010 at 8:22am

Soda ash is used in dying fabrics. I got mine online a few years ago for some tie dying projects, but you might get lucky at a fabric or craft store.

If you don't have any luck at a local brick and mortar, here's where I got mine. http://www.dharmatrading.com/html/eng/1683-AA.shtml?lnav=techniques_tiedye.html
It's pretty inexpensive, and one order could get you enough for years of dosing even your huge tank.
]]> Mon, 20 Sep 2010 08:22:53 +0000 http://www.utahreefs.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=43528&PID=376580&title=alkalinity-ph-and-soda#376580 <![CDATA[Alkalinity, pH, and Soda : Where can you buy the soda ash? I...]]> http://www.utahreefs.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=43528&PID=376578&title=alkalinity-ph-and-soda#376578 Author: BobC63
Subject: 43528
Posted: September 20 2010 at 8:04am

Where can you buy the soda ash?
 
I know you can bake your own, but I'd also like to be able to just go to the store and pick some up.
 
 
]]> Mon, 20 Sep 2010 08:04:00 +0000 http://www.utahreefs.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=43528&PID=376578&title=alkalinity-ph-and-soda#376578 <![CDATA[Alkalinity, pH, and Soda : baking soda has minimal affects...]]> http://www.utahreefs.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=43528&PID=376565&title=alkalinity-ph-and-soda#376565 Author: sanddune600
Subject: 43528
Posted: September 19 2010 at 11:19pm

baking soda has minimal affects of lowering ph soda ash will raise ph according to Randy Homes you should use baking soda if your ph is 8.4 or higher and soda ash if your ph is 8.4 or lower

http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2006-02/rhf/index.php]]> Sun, 19 Sep 2010 23:19:33 +0000 http://www.utahreefs.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=43528&PID=376565&title=alkalinity-ph-and-soda#376565 <![CDATA[Alkalinity, pH, and Soda : Because of the chemistry of...]]> http://www.utahreefs.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=43528&PID=376564&title=alkalinity-ph-and-soda#376564 Author: Mark Peterson
Subject: 43528
Posted: September 19 2010 at 11:18pm

Because of the chemistry of it doing it's job in the salt water, Baking Soda solution will temporarily decrease pH by a point or two for an hour or two. It's not a problem though. (Good pH is very dependent on having good Alkalinity, water flow and gas exchange at the water surface. In a reef aquarium, a chemical additive should never be used to adjust pH.)

Soda Ash solution will temporarily increase pH by a couple points for an hour or two.

Combining the two in a 4:1 ratio balances the effect of each to eliminate the temporary pH effect.

One thing I like about using Soda Ash in the solution is a quick clouding effect that dissipates in a few seconds. That's a reaction with Mg in the water that quickly dissolves back into solution. This is not to be confused with the "snowing effect" which can be an indication of too high Alk/Ca levels in the tank. This snowing effect can also occur if the Alk is added too fast or if the Alk and Ca solutions are added too close together.

I hope this wasn't too much information.


Edited by Mark Peterson - September 19 2010 at 11:29pm]]> Sun, 19 Sep 2010 23:18:35 +0000 http://www.utahreefs.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=43528&PID=376564&title=alkalinity-ph-and-soda#376564 <![CDATA[Alkalinity, pH, and Soda : I&#039;ve used a bit of Mark&#039;s...]]> http://www.utahreefs.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=43528&PID=376552&title=alkalinity-ph-and-soda#376552 Author: smacky
Subject: 43528
Posted: September 19 2010 at 9:40pm

I've used a bit of Mark's 4 to 1 baking soda/soda ash recipe to maintain my alkalinity, but I was wondering what each of them do on their own. Does one or the other affect pH or anything else more than the other?]]> Sun, 19 Sep 2010 21:40:28 +0000 http://www.utahreefs.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=43528&PID=376552&title=alkalinity-ph-and-soda#376552