Sodium Hydroxide Source

Reefen · 02/04/2006, 09:05 AM

I am looking to buy some sodium hydroxide, does anyone know where I can order it.

Thanks

rayjay · 02/04/2006, 09:36 AM

Look up in the yellow pages for "chemicals" and call your local companies.
Many won't sell to individuals because of the nature of that chemical, but I had two local companies that would sell to me when I used to recharge my resins.
You have to buy a large bag usually, about 20 kilo, but it's not expensive.
Definitely a chemical that needs proper handling and to be kept away from kids, animals, and anyone else that doesn't know the properties and hazards of sodium hydroxide.

Randy Holmes-Farley · 02/04/2006, 11:54 AM

What do you want to use it for?

Red Devil Lye at a grocery store is sodium hydroxide.

Reefen · 02/04/2006, 06:37 PM

Randy, I use it to raise PH and Alk.

Randy Holmes-Farley · 02/05/2006, 07:58 AM

That's a pretty drastic tool, but it will work that way. Same as limewater, without the calcium.

baruchbl · 02/05/2006, 09:33 AM

I dont understant. Do Sodium Hydroxide is the same as Calcium Hydroxide without calcium?
Is it easy to dissolve or it is like Calcium Hydroxide?

Randy Holmes-Farley · 02/05/2006, 09:42 AM

Sodium hydroxide is NaOH, calcium hydroxide is Ca(OH)2. Both add hydroxide.

Sodium hydroxide is completely soluble in almost any amount of fresh water. So you can easily make a solution that is 50% by weight.

The concerns are that it is very easy to drive the pH too high, and it does not add any calcium the way limewater does.

baruchbl · 02/05/2006, 01:09 PM

If i have enough calcium i can use Sodium Hydroxide to keep
the PH high and to preciptate phosphat?
Do the Soudium Hydroxide have all of the advantages that in Calcium Hydroxide have except the calcium?
Do i can put Sodium Hydroxide into Kalkreactor?

Randy Holmes-Farley · 02/05/2006, 01:11 PM

I do not know if it will have similar phosphate precipitating effects as limewater, but it might.
No, you cannot put it into limewater as you will prevent the calcium hydroxide from dissolving.

Reefen · 02/05/2006, 01:17 PM

I use lime water most of the time. I test my tank every week and usually have to bump up the calcium with calcium hydroxide, then have to bump up PH and Alk with sodium hydroxide. Most of the top if is lime water though.

rayjay · 02/05/2006, 01:41 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Reefen
I use lime water most of the time. I test my tank every week and usually have to bump up the calcium with calcium hydroxide, then have to bump up PH and Alk with sodium hydroxide. Most of the top if is lime water though.

What is the advantage of using sodium hydroxide in place of using something else, like the baking soda or baked baking soda in Randy's home made formula?

Randy Holmes-Farley · 02/05/2006, 01:47 PM

The advantages are a larger pH raising effect, and a higher concentration is possible in the stock solution.

The disadvantage is it may be harder to get good quality sodium hydroxide (food grade, FCC, or USP/BP grades), the pH raising effect may be so high that it needs to be added slowly like limewater, and it may push pH too high even if dosed slowly.

Reefen · 02/05/2006, 01:48 PM

we will have to see what Randy's answer to that is. This is just what I started doing back a few years ago to avoid using buffer . I will have to check Randy's home made formula

02/04/2006, 09:05 AM	#1
Reefen Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Northern Virginia Posts: 204	Sodium Hydroxide Source I am looking to buy some sodium hydroxide, does anyone know where I can order it. Thanks

02/04/2006, 09:36 AM	#2
rayjay Registered Member Join Date: Oct 1999 Location: London, Ontario, Canada Posts: 3,969	Look up in the yellow pages for "chemicals" and call your local companies. Many won't sell to individuals because of the nature of that chemical, but I had two local companies that would sell to me when I used to recharge my resins. You have to buy a large bag usually, about 20 kilo, but it's not expensive. Definitely a chemical that needs proper handling and to be kept away from kids, animals, and anyone else that doesn't know the properties and hazards of sodium hydroxide. __________________ Seahorses. Culture nanno, rotifers and brine shrimp. Current Tank Info: Seahorses

02/04/2006, 11:54 AM	#3
Randy Holmes-Farley Reef Chemist Join Date: Apr 2001 Location: Arlington, Massachusetts Posts: 86,233	What do you want to use it for? Red Devil Lye at a grocery store is sodium hydroxide. __________________ Randy Holmes-Farley Current Tank Info: 120 mixed reef

02/05/2006, 07:58 AM	#5
Randy Holmes-Farley Reef Chemist Join Date: Apr 2001 Location: Arlington, Massachusetts Posts: 86,233	That's a pretty drastic tool, but it will work that way. Same as limewater, without the calcium. __________________ Randy Holmes-Farley Current Tank Info: 120 mixed reef

02/05/2006, 09:42 AM	#7
Randy Holmes-Farley Reef Chemist Join Date: Apr 2001 Location: Arlington, Massachusetts Posts: 86,233	Sodium hydroxide is NaOH, calcium hydroxide is Ca(OH)2. Both add hydroxide. Sodium hydroxide is completely soluble in almost any amount of fresh water. So you can easily make a solution that is 50% by weight. The concerns are that it is very easy to drive the pH too high, and it does not add any calcium the way limewater does. __________________ Randy Holmes-Farley Current Tank Info: 120 mixed reef

02/04/2006, 06:37 PM	#4
Reefen Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Northern Virginia Posts: 204	Randy, I use it to raise PH and Alk.

02/05/2006, 09:33 AM	#6
baruchbl Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2003 Posts: 533	I dont understant. Do Sodium Hydroxide is the same as Calcium Hydroxide without calcium? Is it easy to dissolve or it is like Calcium Hydroxide?

02/05/2006, 01:09 PM	#8
baruchbl Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2003 Posts: 533	If i have enough calcium i can use Sodium Hydroxide to keep the PH high and to preciptate phosphat? Do the Soudium Hydroxide have all of the advantages that in Calcium Hydroxide have except the calcium? Do i can put Sodium Hydroxide into Kalkreactor?

02/05/2006, 01:11 PM	#9
Randy Holmes-Farley Reef Chemist Join Date: Apr 2001 Location: Arlington, Massachusetts Posts: 86,233	I do not know if it will have similar phosphate precipitating effects as limewater, but it might. No, you cannot put it into limewater as you will prevent the calcium hydroxide from dissolving. __________________ Randy Holmes-Farley Current Tank Info: 120 mixed reef

02/05/2006, 01:17 PM	#10
Reefen Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Northern Virginia Posts: 204	I use lime water most of the time. I test my tank every week and usually have to bump up the calcium with calcium hydroxide, then have to bump up PH and Alk with sodium hydroxide. Most of the top if is lime water though.

02/05/2006, 01:47 PM	#12
Randy Holmes-Farley Reef Chemist Join Date: Apr 2001 Location: Arlington, Massachusetts Posts: 86,233	The advantages are a larger pH raising effect, and a higher concentration is possible in the stock solution. The disadvantage is it may be harder to get good quality sodium hydroxide (food grade, FCC, or USP/BP grades), the pH raising effect may be so high that it needs to be added slowly like limewater, and it may push pH too high even if dosed slowly. __________________ Randy Holmes-Farley Current Tank Info: 120 mixed reef

02/05/2006, 01:48 PM	#13
Reefen Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Northern Virginia Posts: 204	we will have to see what Randy's answer to that is. This is just what I started doing back a few years ago to avoid using buffer . I will have to check Randy's home made formula