Raiseing alk with soda,(bake or not?)

So, i need to raise my alk, which is a constant 7.

I know i can use baking soda to raise it, but over here in england all we have is

1-Baking Powder=wheat flour,raiseing agents,disodium,diphosphate,sodium bicarbonate.

2-Bicarbonate of Soda=Bicarbonate of soda

Which one is it?

Also i have read about baking the powder to release the co2 by doing this it will raise both alk and ph, but by just putting it in could raise alk but lower ph, can anybody be a bit more specific on what i would need to do and how much to add to my 55.

ph morning is 8.00 evening is 8.2.

I am doseing kalk+2 as top up water...

 

I don't recommend you add any sodium bicarbonate (baking soda) until you learn about, and understand, the relationship between pH, calcium, alkalinity, magnesium.
On Randy Holmes-Farley's page of links there is a ton of information that can help you to understand so you don't screw up other parameters.
Personally, I don't add anything if I'm at 7, with a pH of 8.0 to8.2 throughout the day. While the 7 may be at the low end of acceptable, it is fine by me.

Reef Central Online Community Archives - Reef Chemistry Articles

 

Hi, I understand the relationship, i have read various articles on saltwater chemistry, infact i don't stop, but thank you for the link, its now in my favourites.

I feel my alk at 7dkh is low and that by raiseing it to say 9 would benefit my coral's somewhat, but thats just what i want to do, hands on, best way to learn right. Cheers...

 

rayjay thanks so much for the huge read, so much info i never knew but now i will understand it much better, thanks again.....

 

If you dose in the morning when the ph is 8.0 you should use baked baking soda (not baking powder). For your 55gallon tank I assumed that you would actually be more around 40 gallons of total water volume, you should dose 1/2 a teaspoon one morning, then another 1/2 teaspoon the next morning. Then test to see where you are, it's likely that you will have to do it one more day.

Things to keep in mind.

Using baked baking soda is going to raise the ph, so be sure to do it at the tanks lowest daily ph point.

Use RO/DI water to mix the baking soda before you put it in the tank, don't just put the dry soda in the tank.

Raising your alk by 2dkh is probably going to drop your calcium a little (just do a test at the end of the 2nd day and see if you need to add something for calcium) then when you add for calcium, it's going to drop your Dkh a little.

If you don't bake the baking soda first you will need to add a bit more (a round about estimate is 60% more), as when you bake the soda it decreases in volume. Also if you don't bake the soda you should do it when the ph is at the highest for the tank, because it will lower the ph.

 

Thank's think i will skip, all sounds a bit too technical, and my calcium is already low, 390.
Thanks anyway, much appreciated...

 

Yeah never dose with baking powder!! Unless you're making bread, but that's a different story...

 

By baking soda, do you mean bicarbonate of soda?

 

yes, bicarbonate of soda is what we call baking soda here in the states.

 

Sodium bicarbonate.
Its really not hard. just use the calculator here on three reef and it will tell you exactly how much to add to raise your alk.it will also tell you the effect it will have on ph.

3reef.com - Forums for coral reef aquariums, salt water fish, corals, inverts, protein skimmers, aquarium lighting and more - Calculators

in a 55 gal you will need:
it will take 2.6 tbl spoons to raise your alk from 7 to 9
just do it over a 2 day period.

test your alk and cal after and adjust accordingly.