I've been to 4 supermarkets today, still no luck. Need to raise ALK in a tank tonight. Please help...
So baking soda will raise ALK as well?
Using baking soda will temporarily push the pH of the tank to around 8.0.chemically washing soda is just baked baking soda.
Unbaked baking soda will have a tendancy to lower ph if used in good amounts.
Baking the baking soda drives off the CO2 which is responsible for the lowering of your ph.
400 degrees for about an hour should do it.
Are you looking in the detergent aisle?I've been to 4 supermarkets today, still no luck. Need to raise ALK in a tank tonight. Please help...
Using baking soda will temporarily push the pH of the tank to around 8.0.
Given that we're increasing alkalinity by using the baking soda, in the long run it'll help raise the pH of the tank.
You're right, it's not ideal.yes it may recover but why drive it down in the first place for the sake of baking the baking soda.
Its hard enough to maintain high ph and stability is paramount in a successful reef.
JMHO
Agreed.You're right, it's not ideal.
But then if I add washing soda (or baked baking soda) I'd get temporary dramatic increase in pH. That's not ideal either.
Using baking soda will temporarily push the pH of the tank to around 8.0.
Given that we're increasing alkalinity by using the baking soda, in the long run it'll help raise the pH of the tank.
If I recall correctly, baking soda (sodium bicarbonate) supplements carbonate, which we measure as alkalinity. So yeah, it will raise your alkalinity, and should buffer the pH long term (until the added carbonate is used by the inhabitants)....I haven't worried about this stuff in a while, but I was always under the understanding that the baking soda would increase the pH. However it does not provide buffering capacity to maintain the pH. The alkalinity is a measure of the buffering capacity. It's alright if your trying to raise your pH in a pinch, but it could still drop precipitously afterwards. So you've got to keep an eye on it. Increase your alk and fix the root cause...am I correct on this?