Baking sodium carbonate/ bicarbonate ?

[Yanir34]

Hello , i saw several SPS tanks that running with DIY Alk, Cal and Mag. (with Randy's recepy)

I want to try this DIY method , but don't understand why should I bake sodium carbonate/ bicarbonate?

How much time should I bake it ? at what temperature ?

someone can post link to Randy's DIY recepy?

 

[ReefingDreams]

Hello , i saw several SPS tanks that running with DIY Alk, Cal and Mag. (with Randy's recepy)

I want to try this DIY method , but don't understand why should I bake sodium carbonate/ bicarbonate?

How much time should I bake it ? at what temperature ?

someone can post link to Randy's DIY recepy?

Baking soda (sodium bicarbonate) transforms to sodium carbonate when baked. Sodium carbonate has a higher alk buffering ability.

New DIY Two Part Recipes with Higher pH Boost

Here's a first crack at what may end up being multiple possible recipes for a DIY two part that either has a higher pH or can be made more concentrated than traditional two part recipes. This one has about twice the pH raising effect compared to a carbonate based two part, per unit of...

www.reef2reef.com

 

[ReefingDreams]

See Recipe #1, Part 2: The Alkalinity Part

https://reefkeeping.com/issues/2006-02/rhf/index.php#5

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

The baking of baking soda (sodium bicarbonate) drives off CO2 (and water) and converts it into sodium carbonate. It then has a pH boost when used, which baking soda does not.

Baking sodium carbonate in a kitchen oven will not do anything useful.

I currently recommend about 400 deg F for an hour, since it can take time for a large amount to heat up.

 

[disaster999]

Ive done the same with just putting a bunch of baking soda into a pot and "cooking" it on the stove, stirring occasionally. I think its generally faster and easier and more efficient than baking it in the oven.

I usually gauge the "doneness" by covering up the pot with a lid while cooking the baking soda. If there are no more condensation forming on the lid its pretty much done.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

Ive done the same with just putting a bunch of baking soda into a pot and "cooking" it on the stove, stirring occasionally. I think its generally faster and easier and more efficient than baking it in the oven.

I usually gauge the "doneness" by covering up the pot with a lid while cooking the baking soda. If there are no more condensation forming on the lid its pretty much done.

I don't doubt that can work, but from a safety perspective I don't generally recommend stove top heating of dry chemicals.

 

[Malcontent]

Does sodium carbonate need to be stored in an airtight container after baking?

 

[Borat]

Does sodium carbonate need to be stored in an airtight container after baking?

Yes, it would otherwise re-absorb CO2 and return to sodium bicarbonate form.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

That is a slow process, so one need not be super careful about it.