Baking Soda and PH Question

[32Bit_Fish]

Hi all,

I just want to know whether or not I can use baking soda to keep the PH level in check in a reef tank?

I know most people use Kalkwasser, but baking soda is so much cheaper and easy to acquire.

Thanks

 

[regal]

If you keep your alkalinity in check, your pH should be fine. You can use baking soda but you need to find another way to supplement the calcium. If your pH tends to be low, you need to bake the baking soda which will help bring your pH up. Plain baking soda will lower your pH even more.

 

[jackson6745]

Mrs. Wadges Pickiling lime is cheaper than baking soda and will buffer your calcium and alkalinity. You should be testing for Alk and calcium.

 

[32Bit_Fish]

Mrs. Wadges Pickiling lime is cheaper than baking soda and will buffer your calcium and alkalinity. You should be testing for Alk and calcium.

How do you use that product? Would you just mix the powder with water and pour them in the tank?

 

[regal]

How do you use that product? Would you just mix the powder with water and pour them in the tank?

No. You use it like kalkwasser. It is the same thing but cheaper.

 

[cali_reef]

Pickling Lime is food grade Kalk..

 

[regal]

Link

 

[32Bit_Fish]

Thanks for the link.

I see the pickling lime comes in bottle. Is powder or liquid in the bottle? Would you think I can find it in my local super market?

 

[regal]

Thanks for the link.

I see the pickling lime comes in bottle. Is powder or liquid in the bottle? Would you think I can find it in my local super market?

It is powder. I doubt that you can find it locally. I ordered mine before on the internet. Do a google search for Mrs. Wages pickling lime and you should be able to find it.

 

[chuck]

If you keep your alkalinity in check, your pH should be fine. You can use baking soda but you need to find another way to supplement the calcium. If your pH tends to be low, you need to bake the baking soda which will help bring your pH up. Plain baking soda will lower your pH even more.

Regal, I think baking soda is a Bicarbonate and that will RAISE your PH even without baking it?

 

[regal]

Regal, I think baking soda is a Bicarbonate and that will RAISE your PH even without baking it?

Not true. Baking soda is indeed bicarbonate. But it is a weak base. Without going into too much details, if your pH starts off at let say 8.0, adding plain baking soda will lower your pH. Try it if you don't trust me. If your pH is 7.0 then it will raise it.

 

[chuck]

my bad... I use to use it when raising Discus when the ph got real low <6.4. it raised the ph.. but you explained as to why that happens...
thanks

 

[32Bit_Fish]

It is powder. I doubt that you can find it locally. I ordered mine before on the internet. Do a google search for Mrs. Wages pickling lime and you should be able to find it.

So it should be easy to use with pickling lime powder right? just mix it with water, that's it..

 

[cali_reef]

So it should be easy to use with pickling lime powder right? just mix it with water, that's it..

You should read the linked article before using Kalkwasser. You'll end up with pickled fish and corals if you following the instruction on the Mrs. Wages' jar :lol2:.

 

[WaterPlant]

in general which is easier to dose lime water or 2 part?

 

[regal]

in general which is easier to dose lime water or 2 part?

Well, it is hard to say. How do you replace your evaporated water currently? With lime water, you kill 2 birds with 1 stone. With 2 parts, you have to know how much to add to your tank depends on its need. You dose equal part of each but you still need to replace the evaporated water. The only easy way is to have someone else do it for you.

 

[32Bit_Fish]

I've just done some research and comparing the kalkwasser and Wages Pickling Lime Powder.

In turns out to be that getting kalkwasser is cheaper than Pickling Lime.
The Canning Pantry charges $8.22 for the shipping on a 16 oz Pickling Lime ($3.79 each). It would cost me $12 to get a can of Pickling Lime.

I found 6lbs of Kalkwasser for $25 on ebay.

6 lbs compare to 16 oz...

 

[Chiefmcfuz]

Well then I guess you have you questions answered then

 

[cali_reef]

You can get 40 pounds of lime powder for like $6 from HD in spring, I buy two every year but I would not put that in my tanks.

How do you know the quality of the stuff the guy on ebay is selling? At least with the pickling lime it is food grade. You can save money by ordering a few and sell them to people on this site, this will help share the shipping cost.

I save a lot by buying a 50 pound bag of food grade stuff for $15 from a buddy that works at a Coke bottling plant, they use 1,000's of pounds of this stuff . This same bag has lasted 4 years :lol2: