soda wash and baking soda

[Nemo]

I think those are the two ingredients to make a buffer? Ive heard that it is advisable to dose the tank once a week with this buffer. Can you use kent marine super buffer to the same degree ? Should you worry about this if you are changing water weekly ?

[SIReefer]

Found this on som site, might help you :)

Buffers

It is highly likely that you will need to add some buffering compounds from time to time. Indeed organic acids, decay, metabolism and catabolism will all lead to a gradual depletion of the buffer. Some of the compounds in the tank may help buffer the system (especially if you run live sand Jaubert Type tanks), but this may not be sufficient.

Check your dKH from time to time and if the level goes below 7 dKH buffer your system with a complete buffer that contains: carbonates, borates and bicarbonates. Only a complete buffer containing all these elements will do the trick for you. Using lesser quality products will not. Adding baking soda alone (sodium bicarbonate) will certainly not do it. Do not even attempt to use baking soda just by itself. The pH of your tank will only go down.

Complete buffers are available commercially from several excellent companies. Just make sure that they are complete.

[Johnny]

I thing you are thinking of soda ash. That is what you use to raise the PH in a swimming pool.

[viking]

Johnny,
No mate not soda ash. (yes it is used in swimming pools) Baking soda NaHCO3 is used by many people to buffer the tank, but as SIReefer said it can cause some balance problems and is difficult to get right. Its better IMO to use a complete buffer which might also contain magnesium to help keep a better balance between Alk and calcium. I do use baking soda from time to time. Mostly if i have done a water change (not often i might add) as i use NSW and prefer to keep a higher alk level than NSW. As the NSW is already high in carbonates and magnesium a little baking soda does the job for me without pushing carbonates too high causing the calcium to drop.
Cheers,
Viking.

[Johnny]

I was referring to the subject of this thread being soda wash and baking soda. I have had a large number of people come into my store ( all around pool and spa ) and ask for soda wash to raise the PH in there pools.

[viking]

Johnny,
Wasing soda (sodium carbonate). Is also used to buffer a marine tank, but some wasing sodas contain surfactants and perfume. So best to make sure of the contents of the soda first. If not you could just end up with a bubble bath :lol:
Cheers,
Viking.
BTW could use you at the moment to fix my swimming pool filter :lol: