I find it amazing that "someone" can claim to make a phone call to a major manufacturer or supplier of chemicals and somehow get through to ... "someone". Then post their "findings" on the internet. What could the alleged caller say to get such attention?
I.e.. Hello, this is xxxx from the internet. -- Lemmie talk with your chemist. Tell em' to get out of that meeting. Have em' leave their research station. Tell em' to put that cup of coffee down. Get en' off the pot. I want to talk to em' now!
Usually when someone calls a chemical company they get someone in sales. Traditionally sales agents are not familiar with the total chemistry and/or manufacturing procedure of what they sell. They read from a specification sheet. E.g. If a salt was 99.9% pure, amounts of Ni, Ag, Cd, Cs, Pb, etc. would not be on the spec. sheet. However they are present.
It would be beneficial for the education of individuals expressing interest in this topic if that "someone" would post on this RAG™ thread vs. on another board. This would eliminate continuing confusion and misinformation regarding the use of baking soda as a buffer and pH adjuster (the topic of this thread).
E.g. Someone says they made a telephone call. Are we to believe what transpired during an alleged phone call via a post on the internet?. If such a call was made, did the caller provided his "online credentials"? If so, how fast was the caller brushed off? Unless of course, the callers brother in-law was the chemist.
It would be better if there were no "someone's". A real name, perhaps a face, at least some indication of the "someone's" aquarium keeping skills, prior to posting on the internet. Not an unidentified, untraceable, someone that posts something, who may not have an aquarium.
If in a court of law, a witness indicated they read on the internet, that someone called a chemical company, and that someone posted what they were told ... or posted what they were able to comprehend ... or posted what they wanted to hear ... or simply posted with a hidden agenda or to maintain their non aquarist keeping, online aqua guru™ status, ... That testimony would be considered less than hear say. This is a monumental problem on the internet.
I consider what was posted on another board and read by many (regarding this RAG™ thread) to be completely unreliable.
In post #1, section #1 of this thread I posted:
"The anti caking or free flowing agent of choice is usually aluminum silicate. Al Si, ..... "
The key word... "usually".
Other types of anti caking or free flowing agents can be used with salts. To my knowledge few if any of these anti caking or free flowing agents are listed as ingredients in the majority of salts. -- Only when specific requirements for end use is determined and order size is guaranteed, then being in direct communication with a qualified on staff chemist, are these additives disclosed.
"Na HCO3 is produced by more than one manufacturer in more than one grade."
I did not indicate Arm & Hammer® brand. Since "someone" allegedly called Arm & Hammer®, that individual jumped to a conclusion by not reading or understanding post #1 in this thread. Or has limited knowledge of various manufacturers and/or suppliers of certain chemicals.
Chuck, I kudize you on doing some testing for Si in A&H. I am not understanding how 2 small scoops from an Elos test kit measured as .30 ml?
I.e. was the ratio of baking soda comparable to the amount required to raise alkalinity from KH 6.0-7.0 to KH 11 in sea water at SG 1.025-1.026?
I am somewhat perplexed by posts made on another board regarding a thread that was started on ReefAquariumGuide®. I offered a goodly amount of information regarding baking soda, its pH properties, its proposed role in marine aquarium keeping, calcium hydroxide, borate, etc. Thus far the only bone that was picked was from "someone" ostensibly calling a baking soda company. Was there a problem for this "someone" calling their brother in-law chemist at the 20 Mule Team® company?
At this juncture, I see two options. Option #1 will take a few weeks and quite possibly result in unforeseen, undesirable and challenging problems to rectify. Option #2 is simple.
1) Those interested in this topic can use Arm & Hammer® baking soda in their marine aquariums. After some additions, advise if unwanted algae is observed.
2) Read post #5 in this thread.
In the words of Chairman Mao: It's always darkest before it is black.
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