BRS Soda Ash mix ratio

[Garrett Keller]

Hello reefers,

I'm mixing a gallon of BRS Soda Ash. The bag the Soda Ash came in says to mix 2.5 cups of Soda Ash to 1 gallon of water. Thats what I did and then went to the BRS website to use the dosing calculator. The calculator for Soda Ash says to mix 1.5 cups of Soda Ash to 1 gallon of water. Can someone give me some clarity here?

 

[Kingsley_Reef]

Hello reefers,

I'm mixing a gallon of BRS Soda Ash. The bag the Soda Ash came in says to mix 2.5 cups of Soda Ash to 1 gallon of water. Thats what I did and then went to the BRS website to use the dosing calculator. The calculator for Soda Ash says to mix 1.5 cups of Soda Ash to 1 gallon of water. Can someone give me some clarity here?

Correct me if I’m wrong I’m confused and wana make sure doesn’t brs sell bags of sodium bicarbonate 7lbs

And soda ash (sodium carbonate) come in plastic jugs

 

[Garrett Keller]

I have the 7lb. Bag of Soda Ash. I've had it for a few years in storage.

 

[JTP424]

Could they have changed their recipe since you bought it?

 

[rtparty]

I have the 7lb. Bag of Soda Ash. I've had it for a few years in storage.

Follow the bag

I believe BRS changed suppliers and have new instructions for their new soda ash

 

[Kingsley_Reef]

I have the 7lb. Bag of Soda Ash. I've had it for a few years in storage.

I don’t think they sell that like this anymore

But regardless follow the instructions on the bag 2 1/3 cup makes exactly one gallon

 

[gbroadbridge]

I have the 7lb. Bag of Soda Ash. I've had it for a few years in storage.

Follow the instructions on the bag.

 

[Garrett Keller]

I guess I'll have to make my own determination on what to dose. If they did change the recipe on thier Soda Ash thier calculator could cause me some problems.

 

[Kingsley_Reef]

Start slow dose less then the calculator recommends and test take your results and adjust accordingly to reach your goal

Or buy a 10$ container of the new stuff lol

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

I guess I'll have to make my own determination on what to dose. If they did change the recipe on thier Soda Ash thier calculator could cause me some problems.

Not true. The solid volume recipe changed, the mass recipe did not. It’s the fluffiness of the solid that changed. It is still my diy recipe #1.

 

[DivingTheWorld]

Not true. The solid volume recipe changed, the mass recipe did not. It’s the fluffiness of the solid that changed. It is still my diy recipe #1.

I started using the new “less fluffy” BRS Soda Ash and I’m following the new 1 1/2 cup/gallon vs the old 2 1/4 cup. It is NOT mixing to the same Alk level as the previous “fluffy” version. I dose 1:1 with BRS Calcium and after a week of dosing, my Calcium goes up by ~25ppm. I’ve been using it for a couple months now and it’s consistently mixing at a lower value than the previous fluffier version.

@Randy Holmes-Farley do you know the correct mixing amount/gallon BRS Soda Ash to dose 1:1 with BRS Calcium? 1 1/2 cups is not it.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

I started using the new “less fluffy” BRS Soda Ash and I’m following the new 1 1/2 cup/gallon vs the old 2 1/4 cup. It is NOT mixing to the same Alk level as the previous “fluffy” version. I dose 1:1 with BRS Calcium and after a week of dosing, my Calcium goes up by ~25ppm. I’ve been using it for a couple months now and it’s consistently mixing at a lower value than the previous fluffier version.

@Randy Holmes-Farley do you know the correct mixing amount/gallon BRS Soda Ash to dose 1:1 with BRS Calcium? 1 1/2 cups is not it.

No, I do not keep track of the fluffiness. One can do it by mass if you have a scale.

 

[DivingTheWorld]

No, I do not keep track of the fluffiness. One can do it by mass if you have a scale.

Do you know the weight required of BRS Calcium & BRS Soda Ash per gallon RODI? I don't mind weighing them instead of using measuring cups. Also, would the required weight be the same between the old BRS Soda Ash and the new "less fluffy" BRS Soda Ash? I still have some of the old stuff and would rather not throw it away. TIA

 

[gbroadbridge]

Why not weigh one cup of the old Soda Ash, and then use the same weight of the new Soda Ash to make your solution.

Soda Ash is Soda Ash regardless of fluffiness.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

Do you know the weight required of BRS Calcium & BRS Soda Ash per gallon RODI? I don't mind weighing them instead of using measuring cups. Also, would the required weight be the same between the old BRS Soda Ash and the new "less fluffy" BRS Soda Ash? I still have some of the old stuff and would rather not throw it away. TIA

Yes. BRS uses my recipe. Weight doesn’t change since it is a weight recipe. Fluffiness (called the bulk density) changes how much volume gives a fixed mass.

The original recipe is

500 grams calcium chloride dihydrate
And
594 grams of baking soda, which is then baked to give 375 grams of sodium carbonate. If you start with sodium carbonate, use 375 g.


An Improved Do-it-Yourself Two-Part Calcium and Alkalinity Supplement System by Randy Holmes-Farley - Reefkeeping.com

 

[DivingTheWorld]

Awesome, thank you!

 

[DivingTheWorld]

Yes. BRS uses my recipe. Weight doesn’t change since it is a weight recipe. Fluffiness (called the bulk density) changes how much volume gives a fixed mass.

The original recipe is

500 grams calcium chloride dihydrate
And
594 grams of baking soda, which is then baked to give 375 grams of sodium carbonate. If you start with sodium carbonate, use 375 g.


An Improved Do-it-Yourself Two-Part Calcium and Alkalinity Supplement System by Randy Holmes-Farley - Reefkeeping.com

Thanks again for your weights. It came time for me to refill my reservoir so I tested how much BRS Soda Ash it takes for 375g and it's around 2 1/5 cups of the new less fluffy. So far different than the recommended 1.5 cups from @Bulk Reef Supply ! That explains my imbalance.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

Thanks again for your weights. It came time for me to refill my reservoir so I tested how much BRS Soda Ash it takes for 375g and it's around 2 1/5 cups of the new less fluffy. So far different than the recommended 1.5 cups from @Bulk Reef Supply ! That explains my imbalance.

Thanks for the update. :)