Baking soda = bad?

[Aquattro]

I've used it often out of the box, no issues.

[Wayne]

Reactor is most likely to blame. How much quantity did you put into it. I used half the recommended dosage in my reactor and I nearly had a tank crash....

[asylumdown]

you mean the biopellet reactor or the carbon reactor?

I put in the lowest recommended dosage for the biopellets, but I filled the carbon reactor to the top. Funny thing, my algae problems got worse...

[ottoman]

May be do some research on biopellet. Some said too much carbon with high alk will cause burn tips. Some said when using biopellet, keep the alk at 7-8. Happy research and keep reading.

[Bloodasp]

Carbon reactors as far as I know should not be filled to the top, otherwise it will just cake up and practically restrict water from going through it.

[chris88]

There is no way the baking soda had anything to do with it. 1000's of People have been using it for years with no negative effect. Carbon dosing can make coral rtn or stn and is likely the culprit.

[fishytime]

I had always used A&H baking soda as well.....told lots of peeps to do so, also......I just recently(like 5 days ago) heard that A&H contains aluminum......so I wont be using it again...

[randallino]

Originally Posted by fishytime

I had always used A&H baking soda as well.....told lots of peeps to do so, also......I just recently(like 5 days ago) heard that A&H contains aluminum......so I wont be using it again...

That's true unless you buy the "organic" type with no aluminium.

[es355lucille]

I agree it may contain some metals......who is to say that any other sodium bicarbonate will be totally clean.....you won't unless they are providing a metals analysis with the product. I would check the source of the aluminum scare.....let me know where you read this Doug. Thanks Brad

Below is a material data sheet based on the Arm & Hammer product. They may not have to show any metals here though.

http://www.earthclinic.com/Remedies/....html#ALUMINUM

http://www.hescoinc.com/msds/armandhammer.html

Originally Posted by fishytime

I had always used A&H baking soda as well.....told lots of peeps to do so, also......I just recently(like 5 days ago) heard that A&H contains aluminum......so I wont be using it again...