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View Full Version : cheap alternatives

izzie
02/20/2007, 09:37 PM
Alright im looking for some cheap alternatives to kalk and kent turbo calcium. I found a 50lb bag of calcium hydroxide at a farm supply store. It is cattle food quality. Is this fine for an aquarium. And what should i look for on the bag to see if it is or not pure enough ect. Also i cant find dow flake anywhere in canada. However i did find some calcium chloride driveway melter stuff. Forget the brand. This did however have some NaCl in it as well. What do i look for in an aquarium safe calcium chloride. Thanks.
Izzie
bertoni
02/20/2007, 09:39 PM
You could use a human-food-grade product, like Mrs Wage's pickling lime, as a supplement:

http://www.reefkeeping.com/issues/2005-01/rhf/index.php

Dow Flake or some sort of Prestone snow melter (along with baking soda) also work:

http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2006-02/rhf/index.php
Bryan
02/20/2007, 09:50 PM
Neither is available in Canada. Check out the CanReef Bulletin board. www.canreef.com

Under the forum area there is a vendor called Chemaster or something like that. He sells bulk Calcium Chloride, Magnesium Chloride and Calcium Hydroxide. Price is very reasonable.
izzie
02/20/2007, 11:13 PM
Anyone know if the stuff i was looking at is any good?
Thanks.
Izzie
Randy Holmes-Farley
02/21/2007, 06:40 AM
Does the bag say anything about the grade of calcium hydroxide? Generally, I'd avoid agricultural lime, but one intended as a feed might be OK. Seems like an odd thing to feed cows, however. You sure it is calcium hydroxide and not calcium carbonate?
Bryan
02/21/2007, 09:29 AM
They use calcium hydroxide in the dairy industry to "sterilize" working areas. Apparently it is thrown on the floor etc and the high PH kills bacteria. At least that is what I was told<g>
izzie
02/21/2007, 04:56 PM
Im not sure what it is used for. I just know its white powder calcium hydroxide. They said it was feed grade. And they also have it in a liquid. So im going to go look at the bag. Is there anything i should look for to tell its purity ect. and what purity should it be if it says. Thanks.
Izzie
bertoni
02/21/2007, 05:18 PM
I don't know how you could feed calcium hydroxide to an animal in any quantity. It's very caustic. Hmmm.
Randy Holmes-Farley
02/22/2007, 07:02 AM
Just see what it says about the grade, not a purity spec.. I discuss grades here:


http://www.reefkeeping.com/issues/2005-01/rhf/index.php#3