bakingsoda?

schrader mo · 10-27-2001, 03:27 PM

I have heard of people using bakingsoda in there reefs.What is it used for?

**kevinpo** · 10-27-2001, 04:00 PM

It is used as a buffer to raise the PH but it is not recomended except in an emergency situation. There a comercially available products that give the proper dosage and such.

Regards,
Kevin

MarkS · 10-27-2001, 04:17 PM

I would recommend that you NEVER add Baking Soda, even in an emergency.

A couple of people over at Aqualink used baking soda and had their tanks crash. HARD. Grumy Vet could not even keep Xenia alive. In fact, he couldn't keep any inverts alive. After a complete run down of his system and additives, the only thing "odd" was the baking soda. He has since stopped dosing it and his tank is turning around. He also had an unstoppable outbreak of bryopsis. This is also going away.

Don't do it.

Mark

**kevinpo** · 10-27-2001, 05:13 PM

Personaly I would have to agree with Mark I would never use baking soda (sodium bicarbonate) in my reef (shudder the thought) but I have heard in FO tanks as an emergency it has been used successfully.

Kevin

asmith · 10-27-2001, 08:01 PM

Now I know where the idea for that forum came from. There is some hilarious stuff over there. Too bad it came about as a result of a tank crash.

Andrew

Penguin · 10-28-2001, 08:44 AM

Can someone give a reason why baking soda can't be used? It's just sodium bicarbonate. This is what most of the commercial buffers are made from anyway, isn't it? I'd like to hear some more opinions on this. I have used baking soda in my FOWLR and I'm wondering if I should be concerned.

Toadally · 10-28-2001, 11:38 AM

I use it to keep my alkalinity up. I haven't had any problems at all, btw, Eric Borneman suggest using it for this very reason.

Ironreef · 10-28-2001, 12:28 PM

ppl have used baking soda for a long time works good with proper dose. All aquarium buffer = 3 different mixes. baking soda is just one of 3. IME adding anything to fast in an unstable tank may make ppl think thats a wrong when adding item XX or when good thing happen when adding item xx when it really is only snake oil.

Firefish · 10-28-2001, 03:04 PM

Ya, cause buffer and ph solutions cost sooo much

maybe you can save alot of money going to the food mart and getting the salt water from the lobster tank...or better yet, a bottle of calcium pills to dose the tank with....

I would question why anyone would have to dose anything to keep ph and buffer levels in check. Regular water changes should solve that problem. I haven't touched ph or buffer levels for 2 years (using RO water) IMO, if you're dosing on a regular basis to keep these levels in check you got water problems. FWIW

Toadally · 10-28-2001, 08:07 PM

Well it's a known fact that alkalinity as well as calcium are used up on a regular basis. Some tanks use these values quicker than others, and for that reason have to be replenished. Sometimes water changes will not accomplish this goal unless it's a major water change. BTW, I do weekly water changes and still the alkalinity falls if it's not buffered. It all depends on the bio load of the tank.

Ironreef · 10-28-2001, 10:52 PM

Yup depends on what you keep. sps and clams can use alot of calcium. softies may need only w/c. ea is different. I usually buy ready made buffer if I need it. But many ppl have good results with baking soda /pickling lime ect. So ppl like to have nice reefs on a low buget.

cod · 10-28-2001, 11:00 PM

I agree with Ironreef and Toadally. When I need to boost alkalinity I use a concoction of 7:1 bicarbonate:carbonate (baking soda:soda ash)
Carbonate and bicarbonate are two of the main components in the marine water buffer system.I've been doing this for ~6 months with no problem. When I adjust Alk., I stretch it out over a few days, so as not to "shock" the system. I do 10-15% water change every 2 weeks.

reptilicus · 10-29-2001, 07:43 PM

G'day,
recently I have been using a combination of CaCl and CaCO3 to keep up the calcium and alkalinity demands of my system, and everything seems to be going fine (although, interesting that you mention it, I have had a little Bryopsis growth, however thisis totally anecdotal).
I do have to perform water changes to prevent levels of Na and Cl from getting too high. However, at this stage all seems to be going well. I do plan on getting a Ca. reactor, but at this stage have not got it off the ground.
Regards,
Tom

Randy Holmes-Farley · 10-30-2001, 02:58 PM

You use CaCl2 and CaCO3??? Do you mean CaCl2 and Na2CO3 or NaHCO3?

reptilicus · 10-30-2001, 08:39 PM

Yep, sorry, my mistake, CaCl2 and NaHCO3.
Tom

10-27-2001, 03:27 PM	#1
schrader mo Tenant Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: missouri Posts: 56	bakingsoda? I have heard of people using bakingsoda in there reefs.What is it used for?

10-27-2001, 04:00 PM	#2
kevinpo Moderator Join Date: Oct 2001 Location: Spokane Valley WA Posts: 2,452	It is used as a buffer to raise the PH but it is not recomended except in an emergency situation. There a comercially available products that give the proper dosage and such. Regards, Kevin __________________ SPSguy On - On

10-27-2001, 04:17 PM	#3
MarkS Governor Join Date: Jun 2000 Location: San Antonio, Tx Posts: 1,799	I would recommend that you NEVER add Baking Soda, even in an emergency. A couple of people over at Aqualink used baking soda and had their tanks crash. HARD. Grumy Vet could not even keep Xenia alive. In fact, he couldn't keep any inverts alive. After a complete run down of his system and additives, the only thing "odd" was the baking soda. He has since stopped dosing it and his tank is turning around. He also had an unstoppable outbreak of bryopsis. This is also going away. Don't do it. Mark __________________ 2 + 2 != 4 Two is only loosely associated with two by a plus sign and therefore doesn't enter the equation at all since it is only there by mere complicity. We shouldn't count it and leave well enough alone.

10-27-2001, 05:13 PM	#4
kevinpo Moderator Join Date: Oct 2001 Location: Spokane Valley WA Posts: 2,452	Personaly I would have to agree with Mark I would never use baking soda (sodium bicarbonate) in my reef (shudder the thought) but I have heard in FO tanks as an emergency it has been used successfully. Kevin __________________ SPSguy On - On

10-27-2001, 08:01 PM	#5
asmith Mayor Join Date: Aug 2000 Location: Lenexa, KS, USA Posts: 978	Now I know where the idea for that forum came from. There is some hilarious stuff over there. Too bad it came about as a result of a tank crash. Andrew __________________ Never be afraid to try something new. Remember that amateurs built the Ark. Professionals built the Titanic.

10-28-2001, 08:44 AM	#6
Penguin Polymath Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: Cherry Hill, NJ Posts: 526	why not baking soda? Can someone give a reason why baking soda can't be used? It's just sodium bicarbonate. This is what most of the commercial buffers are made from anyway, isn't it? I'd like to hear some more opinions on this. I have used baking soda in my FOWLR and I'm wondering if I should be concerned. __________________ As a nation, you're faced with the choice of taking over the world or offering good eats at reasonable prices.

10-28-2001, 11:38 AM	#7
Toadally Tenant Join Date: Mar 2001 Location: Greensboro, NC Posts: 58	I use it to keep my alkalinity up. I haven't had any problems at all, btw, Eric Borneman suggest using it for this very reason. __________________ http://www.oceanreef.20m.com

10-28-2001, 12:28 PM	#8
Ironreef Governor Join Date: Aug 2000 Location: Pacific WA Posts: 1,220	ppl have used baking soda for a long time works good with proper dose. All aquarium buffer = 3 different mixes. baking soda is just one of 3. IME adding anything to fast in an unstable tank may make ppl think thats a wrong when adding item XX or when good thing happen when adding item xx when it really is only snake oil.

10-28-2001, 03:04 PM	#9
Firefish Mayor Join Date: Oct 2000 Location: Douglas, Ma Posts: 775	Ya, cause buffer and ph solutions cost sooo much maybe you can save alot of money going to the food mart and getting the salt water from the lobster tank...or better yet, a bottle of calcium pills to dose the tank with.... I would question why anyone would have to dose anything to keep ph and buffer levels in check. Regular water changes should solve that problem. I haven't touched ph or buffer levels for 2 years (using RO water) IMO, if you're dosing on a regular basis to keep these levels in check you got water problems. FWIW __________________ In matters of principle, stand like a rock; in matters of taste, swim with the current. -- Thomas Jefferson Last edited by Firefish; 10-28-2001 at 03:11 PM.

10-28-2001, 08:07 PM	#10
Toadally Tenant Join Date: Mar 2001 Location: Greensboro, NC Posts: 58	Well it's a known fact that alkalinity as well as calcium are used up on a regular basis. Some tanks use these values quicker than others, and for that reason have to be replenished. Sometimes water changes will not accomplish this goal unless it's a major water change. BTW, I do weekly water changes and still the alkalinity falls if it's not buffered. It all depends on the bio load of the tank. __________________ http://www.oceanreef.20m.com

10-28-2001, 10:52 PM	#11
Ironreef Governor Join Date: Aug 2000 Location: Pacific WA Posts: 1,220	Yup depends on what you keep. sps and clams can use alot of calcium. softies may need only w/c. ea is different. I usually buy ready made buffer if I need it. But many ppl have good results with baking soda /pickling lime ect. So ppl like to have nice reefs on a low buget.

10-28-2001, 11:00 PM	#12
cod Tenant Join Date: May 2001 Location: china grove,n.c. usa Posts: 75	I agree with Ironreef and Toadally. When I need to boost alkalinity I use a concoction of 7:1 bicarbonate:carbonate (baking soda:soda ash) Carbonate and bicarbonate are two of the main components in the marine water buffer system.I've been doing this for ~6 months with no problem. When I adjust Alk., I stretch it out over a few days, so as not to "shock" the system. I do 10-15% water change every 2 weeks. __________________ It's more a science project than a fish tank

10-29-2001, 07:43 PM	#13
reptilicus Tenant Join Date: Aug 2000 Location: Sydney, NSW, Australia Posts: 72	G'day, recently I have been using a combination of CaCl and CaCO3 to keep up the calcium and alkalinity demands of my system, and everything seems to be going fine (although, interesting that you mention it, I have had a little Bryopsis growth, however thisis totally anecdotal). I do have to perform water changes to prevent levels of Na and Cl from getting too high. However, at this stage all seems to be going well. I do plan on getting a Ca. reactor, but at this stage have not got it off the ground. Regards, Tom

10-30-2001, 02:58 PM	#14
Randy Holmes-Farley Tenant Join Date: Nov 2000 Location: Arlington, MA, USA Posts: 65	You use CaCl2 and CaCO3??? Do you mean CaCl2 and Na2CO3 or NaHCO3? __________________ Randy Holmes-Farley

10-30-2001, 08:39 PM	#15
reptilicus Tenant Join Date: Aug 2000 Location: Sydney, NSW, Australia Posts: 72	Yep, sorry, my mistake, CaCl2 and NaHCO3. Tom

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