Sodium Hydroxide mixed with soda ash

[GAMGAM]

Hey Randy is it ok to mix in some sodium hydroxide into a weak soda ash alk mix.

I currently dose about 25 grams per 5 gallons as an alk supplement. Do you think it would be appropriate to add a small amount of sodium hydroxide say 5 grams or 10 grams per 5 gallons to my soda ash mix to increase ph.

Is there any type of negative consequence to mixing the two.

I’m seeing about 500 ppm of calcium from kalkwasser and want to limit the calcium rise (I know it’s not too high) but help raise ph.

 

[Gtinnel]

I make a full strength solution of each and then mix those solutions in my dosing container. They do fine together

 

[GAMGAM]

Thanks. Good to know. I figured it would be fine to add them together. What is a “full strength” solution.

 

[Gtinnel]

For my individual solutions I mix 594 grams of baking soda that I bake with a gallon of water. For the lye I mix 283 grams to a gallon of water.
When I fill up my dosing container I mix different ratios of these two solutions to keep my pH where I want it.

When I said full strength I just meant that I mix them up to the strength that Randy recommended and I didn’t dilute either solution.

 

[GAMGAM]

Perfect. That’s really helpful

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

I agree mixing them is fine.