baking soda, to bake or not to bake?

[thang45]

I have done a lot of reading on this forum and I still don't understand the baking soda part. I'm hoping someone can clarify this for me.
I have been using 2 part from Randy for about 3 months. The first batch I baked the baking soda for 1 hour, and use it for 2 months and my pH is always at 8.3.
The second batch I was lazy and did not bake the baking soda. After using it for a few weeks, my pH is at 8.0. I thought using the baking soda without baking it would raise the pH, but why in this case my pH dropped?
Does this has to do with adding 6 small fishes?

 

[reefkprz]

always bake the baking soda before dosing with it.
prior to baking it, the sodium bicarbonate has a PH of 8. thats why your PH has declined to 8, you increase the buffering capacity when you bake it. sodium bicarbonate is amphoteric, reacting with acids and bases, the unbaked sodium bicarbonate actually reacts with the more alkaline water reducing the alkalinity to stabiluize at a PH of about 8.

 

[thang45]

Originally Posted by reefkprZ
http:///forum/post/3160125
always bake the baking soda before dosing with it.
prior to baking it, the sodium bicarbonate has a PH of 8. thats why your PH has declined to 8, you increase the buffering capacity when you bake it. sodium bicarbonate is amphoteric, reacting with acids and bases, the unbaked sodium bicarbonate actually reacts with the more alkaline water reducing the alkalinity to stabiluize at a PH of about 8.
I thought it was weird that the new batch did not create the cloudy reaction when I pour it into the tank.
Thank you for clearing that up. I will throw away the old stuff.
Being lazy does not pay off in this hobby.