Baking soda... To Bake, or Not To Bake...

[20 20]

That is the question. Is it necessary to bake 'baking soda' before using it to up alkalinity?

And how much should I use when trying to up alkalinity in a 29 gallon from 120 ppm to 170 ppm? I assume it should be done over days, not just all in one day, also, is that right?

Any help would be greatly appreciated!

[bertoni]

Baking will turn the sodium bicarbonate into sodium carbonate (washing soda). Washing soda will bump the pH up more than plain baking soda. So it depends on whether your tank needs a pH bump or not.

This calculator might be useful:

http://home.comcast.net/~jdieck1/chem_calc3.html

[20 20]

Just what I needed to know, thanks! No bump in PH needed, it's around 8.2/8.4, so I'm ok there. And thanks for the link to the calculator, I had seen that before but forgot to bookmark it. Bookmarked now!!