Baking Soda Effects

2Shi · 01-28-2013, 11:03 PM

I added baking soda to increase my KH. Will my KH stay the same until my next water change? Or will it slowly go down? If it slowly goes down, how fast does that happen? Will I have to add baking soda every day?

Note: pH is under control. That's not my concern.

Stinkypinky12 · 01-28-2013, 11:12 PM

wish i knew more about this. Where did you hear about this technique? I would like to know more about it.

GeToChKn · 01-28-2013, 11:19 PM

Do you have active substrate?

pastert33 · 01-28-2013, 11:21 PM

This is only the 2nd time I've heard about this. My father in law told me about this, only to decrease ammonia. He had been keeping fish for over 30 years but passed away last year. I miss him and his "old techniques".

GeToChKn · 01-28-2013, 11:25 PM

Never heard of it to decrease ammonia. It's to increase the carbonate amount in the water, to increase kH, which helps with more stable pH and some critters need a higher kH. Can't see any chemical way it would reduce ammonia. If anything, it would increase the toxicity of ammonia as the kH will increase, probably increase the pH along the way, therefore making ammonia more toxic in higher pH.

OP, why are you messing with it in the first place? Most critters will do fine in a wide variety of water and stability is the key over messing with things.

2Shi · 01-28-2013, 11:36 PM

My tap water is extremely soft (1 dKH). I am increasing the hardness so that I can properly maintain co2 levels of about 15mg/L. more info on the technique here. http://aquaticconcepts.thekrib.com/Co2/co2_faq.htm#T00

GeToChKn · 01-28-2013, 11:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 2Shi

My tap water is extremely soft (1 dKH). I am increasing the hardness so that I can properly maintain co2 levels of about 15mg/L. more info on the technique here. http://aquaticconcepts.thekrib.com/Co2/co2_faq.htm#T00

Ok, no buffering soil like aquasoil or anything? It should stay fairly steady then and make sure to dose the amount into your water change jugs or whatever to to keep the dH at the level you want it set at.

2Shi · 01-29-2013, 12:18 AM

I'm sorry, I ignored your question for some reason. Brain fart I guess lol. I do not have active substrate.

GeToChKn · 01-29-2013, 01:35 AM

It should stay, and if you top off, only top off with RO, or in your case, your tap water should be enough. lol. Then when you water change, make your 5 gal jug or whatever you use to the same kH as the tank and you should be good. It gets disolved in the water and doesn't really come out.

If you don't change or top off water for a while, then adjust your kH water accordingly.

Say you don't do much to your tanks for 2 weeks and in 2 weeks, 10% of your water has evaporated. Then your water will be 10% roughly higher in kH, that's why top off's are important, usually with RO if possible. It keeps all the minerals in the water the same.

Wolf19 · 01-29-2013, 02:06 AM

Once you include it in the system it should maintain the kH that you desire - BUT I would watch your pH. Baking soda is sodium bicarbonate NaHCO3. The OH- in this will naturally increase your pH.

What is your current pH?

2Shi · 01-29-2013, 02:28 AM

I fill my tank directly from the tap. I don't fill buckets. Is there any way I can handle the KH when filling directly to the tank?

My pH is 7.0. I raise co2 levels to lower the pH.

01-28-2013, 11:03 PM	#1
2Shi Algae Grower (View User Tanks) PTrader: (0/0%) Join Date: Jan 2013 Location: USA Posts: 83	Baking Soda Effects I added baking soda to increase my KH. Will my KH stay the same until my next water change? Or will it slowly go down? If it slowly goes down, how fast does that happen? Will I have to add baking soda every day? Note: pH is under control. That's not my concern.

01-28-2013, 11:19 PM	#3
GeToChKn Planted Tank Guru (View User Tanks) PTrader: (1/100%) Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: Hamilton, Ontario, Canada Posts: 5,112	Do you have active substrate? __________________ 20g platy, , 2 x 10g shrimp, 3 x 20g shrimp, 7.5g shrimp and 1 great dane/mastiff puppy. Sump Pimp #2 My Tanks and my shrimps

01-28-2013, 11:25 PM	#5
GeToChKn Planted Tank Guru (View User Tanks) PTrader: (1/100%) Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: Hamilton, Ontario, Canada Posts: 5,112	Never heard of it to decrease ammonia. It's to increase the carbonate amount in the water, to increase kH, which helps with more stable pH and some critters need a higher kH. Can't see any chemical way it would reduce ammonia. If anything, it would increase the toxicity of ammonia as the kH will increase, probably increase the pH along the way, therefore making ammonia more toxic in higher pH. OP, why are you messing with it in the first place? Most critters will do fine in a wide variety of water and stability is the key over messing with things. __________________ 20g platy, , 2 x 10g shrimp, 3 x 20g shrimp, 7.5g shrimp and 1 great dane/mastiff puppy. Sump Pimp #2 My Tanks and my shrimps

01-29-2013, 01:35 AM	#9
GeToChKn Planted Tank Guru (View User Tanks) PTrader: (1/100%) Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: Hamilton, Ontario, Canada Posts: 5,112	It should stay, and if you top off, only top off with RO, or in your case, your tap water should be enough. lol. Then when you water change, make your 5 gal jug or whatever you use to the same kH as the tank and you should be good. It gets disolved in the water and doesn't really come out. If you don't change or top off water for a while, then adjust your kH water accordingly. Say you don't do much to your tanks for 2 weeks and in 2 weeks, 10% of your water has evaporated. Then your water will be 10% roughly higher in kH, that's why top off's are important, usually with RO if possible. It keeps all the minerals in the water the same. __________________ 20g platy, , 2 x 10g shrimp, 3 x 20g shrimp, 7.5g shrimp and 1 great dane/mastiff puppy. Sump Pimp #2 My Tanks and my shrimps

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01-28-2013, 11:12 PM	#2
Stinkypinky12 Algae Grower (View User Tanks) PTrader: (0/0%) Join Date: Jan 2013 Location: Ontario Posts: 13	wish i knew more about this. Where did you hear about this technique? I would like to know more about it.

01-28-2013, 11:21 PM	#4
pastert33 Algae Grower (View User Tanks) PTrader: (5/100%) Join Date: Jan 2013 Location: Georgia Posts: 117	This is only the 2nd time I've heard about this. My father in law told me about this, only to decrease ammonia. He had been keeping fish for over 30 years but passed away last year. I miss him and his "old techniques".

01-28-2013, 11:36 PM	#6
2Shi Algae Grower (View User Tanks) PTrader: (0/0%) Join Date: Jan 2013 Location: USA Posts: 83	My tap water is extremely soft (1 dKH). I am increasing the hardness so that I can properly maintain co2 levels of about 15mg/L. more info on the technique here. http://aquaticconcepts.thekrib.com/Co2/co2_faq.htm#T00

01-29-2013, 12:18 AM	#8
2Shi Algae Grower (View User Tanks) PTrader: (0/0%) Join Date: Jan 2013 Location: USA Posts: 83	I'm sorry, I ignored your question for some reason. Brain fart I guess lol. I do not have active substrate.

01-29-2013, 02:06 AM	#10
Wolf19 Algae Grower (View User Tanks) PTrader: (0/0%) Join Date: Jan 2013 Location: Edmonton Posts: 88	Once you include it in the system it should maintain the kH that you desire - BUT I would watch your pH. Baking soda is sodium bicarbonate NaHCO3. The OH- in this will naturally increase your pH. What is your current pH?

01-29-2013, 02:28 AM	#11
2Shi Algae Grower (View User Tanks) PTrader: (0/0%) Join Date: Jan 2013 Location: USA Posts: 83	I fill my tank directly from the tap. I don't fill buckets. Is there any way I can handle the KH when filling directly to the tank? My pH is 7.0. I raise co2 levels to lower the pH.