Septic tank additives, what brands are good?

Seeing the post about septic tanks made me think to ask about some good additives to help make them work better

I live in a rural area and everyone I’ve ever talked to doesn’t believe in them. We do all minimize food waste and most importantly grease.

RIDX

the house I lived in SO CA had a septic system that consisted of a cement septic tank and cess pool with no leach lines, this system has a steel septic tank and two leach lines, no cess pool
The steel tank needs replacing do to age and seeing some small holes in the top in it last week when I had it pump to make sure it wouldn't fail this winter.
I'm going to see about having the old tank replaced now but my thinking about additives is to help the system break down all the solids we pump into it from the house, toilet paper and other solids

been using it for years with no issues.

Couple cubes of yeast every 2 to 3 months to inhibit bacteria growth.
.Helps break down the solids

That to. Isn’t Ridx basically yeast?

My house was built in 1974 and when I bought it in1985 the tank had never been emptied. Today it still has never been emptied. I don’t own a garbage disposal, use clothing detergent with phosphates, as close to zero grease as possible, and zero septic tank additives. I poop and the bugs eat.

It may as well be, I do not know.
But yeast is cheaper than Ridx

Ridx SDS, no it's not basically yeast, not even close.

http://www.rbnainfo.com/MSDS/US/RID-X-Septic-System-Treatment-Liquid-US-English-2.pdf

Someone using yeast to "inhibit bacteria growth" has no idea how a septic system works.

Beat me to it!

Before city sewer was available we had a septic system for at least twenty years.

I would use Ridx in it occasionally over the years and never had a problem.

We have a garbage deposal and never did anything different than we would on a sewer system.

We used bleach and any soaps we pleased.

I've seen the magic additives make a huge mess in septic pipes and systems. One place where they switched to enzyme treatment over having tanks sucked out with a vac truck ended up with systems full of a cheese like solid masses that plugged everything off. They ended up bringing in vac trucks with a pressure truck to try and clean it all out, it took days.
You're best to just to spend your money on regular cleanings and stick with one vac truck company that records the amount sucked out. I've had two houses with septic systems, the first house the previous owner was having the tank cleaned out every year by a different contractor every time. I used the same company every year to keep the same frequency as the previous owner, on the third year, the company told me they weren't getting enough out of the tank to really justify cleaning it every year, and that the tank was grossly oversized for the house and usage, and suggested that I only have it cleaned every 3 years. Kudos to them for being honest and saving me the 300.00 charge every year. They said the tank would function better on a bacterial level having some accumulation in it to keep the temperature up in it.
On my second house with a tank, the tank hadn't been cleaned in 10 years by the paperwork we were given with the house, I had it sucked out and the solids were just about over the wall in the tank. That's how septic fields get plugged, this one is still gravity draining and doesn't look like it needs a pump added yet, so I dodged a bullet there.

I have had a septic system since 1994. At the time, the research I read by gov. agency's recommended pumping the tanks every 3 years or so depending on usage. IE: large family maybe every 1-2 years. Smaller family maybe every 5 or so years. I've also hear of using a long stick / handle to measure the amount of solids in the tank although I've never done that.
I've also read that pumping to frequently can be as bad as not pumping at all.
The articles all said that additives were basically "snake oil"
We limit the disposal usage and NO GREASE EVER

From the Farmers Almanac

https://www.farmersalmanac.com/maintain-your-septic-system-naturally-20795#:

Septic System Care and Maintenance Tips:
A family of 4 living in a home with a 1,000 gallon tank should have their septic system cleaned every 4 years. Ask your local septic cleaning company how often you should give them a call.
Do not use products containing bleach to clean your toilets, as it destroys the bacteria needed to break down waste solids in your septic system. Try this natural toilet cleaner.
Yeast helps actively breaks down waste solids when added to your septic system. Flush ½ cup of dry baking yeast down the toilet, the first time. Add ¼ cup of instant yeast every 4 months, after the initial addition.
If you’re installing a new septic system or need to have yours pumped, it’s a good idea to know exactly where it’s located in your yard to avoid excessive digging up of your lawn during future pumping. Measure the exact distance of the septic tank lid from the house with a tape measure and take a picture with your cell phone, showing the exact measurement. Keep the photograph in a home maintenance file on your computer for future reference.

farmer's almanac must not want the little ones in the household to learn cool neat bad words like i did growing up from my grandpa, old man, and uncles, when they had to dig up the back 40 to find the septic tank.............

dry yeast packets every couple weeks or so- more or less depending on water use ( # of people)

My uncle owns a septic company installs and maintains them. He says rid x is a junk don't use it. No bleach,grease etc. Biggest problem he finds is people using anti bacterial soap. If you are going to add anything add yeast. Don't be cheap and get them sucked out.

when I had my tanl cleaned out, they told me to use RidX monthly, and stay away from using Charman, it's the hardest tissue to break down.

I had to have new tail lines installed a few years ago, and I asked the guy who did it if I should use Rid-X. He said the only thing Rid-X helps is the company who sells its pocketbook! He said to avoid bleach as much as possible, and to pour old milk down the drain to add a little bacteria.

I've been on a septic system for years. I use whatever chemicals and soaps I feel will do the job I need to do. Some grease from cooking goes down the drain but if it's a large amount I try to pour it into a bottle instead. I've never bought any snake oil for my tank. Had it pumped last year after 5 years of not doing it and everything came out nice and clean.

I'm going to start using yeast in the new tank that I'm going to have installed soon.
I did buy some additive from a local building supply lumber store, it has 4 packages and says to use them 4 months apart, I used one and will use yeast in the new tank from now on.
I'll see what the old tank contents look like when the septic company pumps the old tank out to remove and replace it later this summer, I'll try to remember to post what I find then along with the name of that additive.
Thanks to all of you for the help
Cab

So contrary to some comments in this thread, I guess some of us do know how a septic system works and how to maintain them

Ed

Previous owner never emptied or treated the septic. I had it checked and had it cleaned out when we bought the house. It wasn`t pretty. My county now requires a pump out every 5 years. I actually do mine every about every three years to keep the drain field is good shape. Never had any issues. Honestly I don`t worry about adding any treatment since we pump it so often. I think extra pumpings are cheaper than having to get the drain field redone.