Bicarbonate Recipe by Weight

[timqmana]

When making Alkalinity using Randy's Recipe 2, can I just weight 297g of baking soda and weigh 3785ml of RODI to get the same result? The "in enough water to make 1 gallon total" is throwing me off.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

When making Alkalinity using Randy's Recipe 2, can I just weight 297g of baking soda and weigh 3785ml of RODI to get the same result? The "in enough water to make 1 gallon total" is throwing me off.

Yes, you can do that. It will be a small amount different in potency, but not a lot. :)

 

[Miami Reef]

The "in enough water to make 1 gallon total" is throwing me off.

Why is it throwing you off?

Take a gallon container (old gallon vinegar bottle)

Add the solids to the empty container. Fill the rest to the top with water.

Am I missing something?

 

[DiscoStuart]

Why is it throwing you off?

Take a gallon container (old gallon vinegar bottle)

Add the solids to the empty container. Fill the rest to the top with water.

Am I missing something?

I don’t have a gallon container that I could trust (in the UK, if that’s the reason). Weight would be easier for sure.

 

[Clownfishy]

Also, we UK guys need to consider "US" gallon when you guys talk about gallons! Your gallon is different to our gallon or should it be phrased our gallon is not a US gallon!

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

I don’t have a gallon container that I could trust (in the UK, if that’s the reason). Weight would be easier for sure.

the exact water volume is not that critical, but one us gallon of water weighs 3785 grams.

 

[Miami Reef]

I don’t have a gallon container that I could trust (in the UK, if that’s the reason). Weight would be easier for sure.

We can also use liters if you’d like.

 

[DiscoStuart]

We can also use liters if you’d like.

Yeah, I think the concern was trustworthy large volume containers with a litre measurement. But I guess I can use a measuring cup to get one litre, fill up a container with 3 litres, put a line there, take some water out, add the baking soda and then top up back to the line.

 

[rishma]

Yeah, I think the concern was trustworthy large volume containers with a litre measurement. But I guess I can use a measuring cup to get one litre, fill up a container with 3 litres, put a line there, take some water out, add the baking soda and then top up back to the line.

I have the same instincts to want to measure things precisely, but it really really really doesn’t matter in this case. I finally convinced myself of this.

When you start dosing to offset your measured consumption, you are estimating system water volume. This is probably a WAY bigger source of error than the potential error from your addition of water to make the bicarbonate mix. Then you add in the error from your test accuracy and variation in daily consumption and all together, your mix is plenty accurate. In the end you will get close with your estimated dose, then bump your dose up or down to fine tune it.

Hope that helps.

 

[DiscoStuart]

Good points. Mixed it up yesterday and dosing results are in line with expectations and a margin of error. As you say, it’s probably my estimated net tank volume that’s the much bigger problem!

 

[Miami Reef]

Suppose your alk recipe requires 200 grams of solids.

You can mix it with as much water as you prefer. Ensure that the calcium and magnesium parts are fully added before switching to a new batch. This will work perfectly as long as you keep your recipe somewhat consistent.

The size of the tank is not crucial; consumption determines the dose.