sodium bi-carbonate

[Allmost]

Hello,
how many grams of sodium bicarbonate can I mix in 2.5 G of RO/DI water ?

how about calcium chloride ?


I want to mix my balling solutions much denser to dose less of it and make it last longer before refills.

currently do 1kg of each in 2.5 Gallons of Ro/DI, calcium chloride mixes well. but sodium bicarbonate I have to steer and heat a lot, does this mean Im at saturation levels ?

thanks

 

[HighlandReefer]

If you want to condense the volume you dose, you would want to use sodium carbonate (baked baking soda) which is twice as potent as using sodium bicarbonate (regular baking soda).

Randy discusses the difference and tells you how much to add in this article:

An Improved Do-it-Yourself Two-Part
Calcium and Alkalinity Supplement System
http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2006-02/rhf/index.php

 

[bertoni]

Stirring and heating the sodium bicarbonate solution converts it to a sodium carbonate solution, more or less. The article give the approximate saturation limit for the two chemicals in water.

 

[Allmost]

thanks guys.

so how would one be able to calculate the maximum grams of sodium bi carbonate that can be mixed in say 1 Gallon on Ro/DI water ?

thanks

 

[TampaSnooker]

I actually have trouble keeping all the material in solution with the strength mentioned in the article. I wonder if I'm not cooking the baking soda long enough to drive off CO2. I typically use a 4# box of Arm and Hammer to make 3 gal.

 

[bertoni]

The DIY 2-part is about as strong as can be made. That's around 2 1/2 cups per gallon. You can dissolve more if you use the high-pH baked baking soda approach. Equivalently, if you heat and stir sodium bicarbonate, it'll effectively be converted to a sodium carbonate solution.

If you're willing to spring for more professional mixing equipment, a stronger solution is possible.

 

[TampaSnooker]

You mean like the guy using the drill and paint stirrer?

 

[bertoni]

That might help.