Will an aluminum anode deteriorate faster than a aluminum/zinc anode? I recently replaced the anode in my 14 year old water heater. We are on a well with a green sand filtration and a water softener. After changing the anode we have developed a slight odor in the hot water but of most concern is when I flushed the tank two weeks ago there was a lot of pieces of white chalky debris that came out. I flushed the tank again last Friday and again a lot of debris. I did not have this problem prior so I am suspecting that it is related to the anode. It could be that the original anode was aluminum/zinc. I am sure the replacement anode is aluminum. The amount of debris in the tank has me worried about the quality/safety of the water from the water heater.