Is it baking soda?

[TheMightyQueenPixie]

i am a plant noob...I have one of those co2 dealies and it works great...Plants look terrific, fish happy as clams...My question though, is I have been buying the 3 pack of "co2 natural plant system" by nutrafin...The activator pack is obviously yeast, but im not sure about the "stablizer" Is it baking soda? These 3 packs are 10 bucks a piece and I'd rather not have to spend that much...Any imput is greatly appreciated.

 

[Leopardess]

I'd stop spending money you don't have to. A simple solution of sugar, water, and yeast accomplishes the same thing Yes, it's baking soda (sodium bicarbonate). It's not really necessary (I've never used it), but:

"Try putting a little baking soda (sodium bicarbonate) into the mix, about
half a level teaspoon. As yeast digests the sugar and releases CO2, it also
makes the sugar solution acid. The baking soda will buffer the solution so
it does'nt become too acid."

http://fins.actwin.com/aquatic-plants/month.9605/msg00283.html

EDIT:

Of course, I also just found:

"The baking soda does nothing - it was believed to counter the low pH in the bottle but it has been found the alcohol kills the yeast long before the pH. Yeast can also survive high extremes in pH (2-8 i think it was). "

and

"Since I started to include baking soda in the mix however, I have noticed that even a very small pinch of soda seems to completely prevent the sort of frothing that inspired my first post on this topic. Too much (by which I mean about a quarter of a teaspoon or so) seems to hold the brew back and it dies off prematurely but a very small pinch doesn't seem to harm the fermentation process and really does appear to prevent frothing, at least in my hands..."

http://www.fnzas.org.nz/fishroom/viewtopic.php?t=3203

 

[TheMightyQueenPixie]

Thanks Leopardess...I thought it was, but you know-better to ask then find out the hardway...

 

[Leopardess]

Absolutely. I found a few more things that I edited into my last post, too.