Agricultural grade lime

[zachtos]

Any real valid reasons why we can't use 'agricultural' grade hydrated lime?

I have a friend whom has been using this in addition to 2part additive DIY for years w/ success on his SPS tank, but am hesitant still.

The price is right, $8.95/50 lbs.

I can not get any of the 'missippii' lime vendors to sell their food grade product to a 'residental user' due to liabilities. Mrs. Wages/Balls is too costly for a bulk user as myself.

[bertoni]

This issue comes up from time to time. Food-grade lime likely is safer, but the agricultural grade might work. The question comes down to soluble contaminants, but there aren't enough data to know what might be in those products, and the contents might vary, too. Food-grade is kept to fairly strict standards.

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

I agree that it may be OK, but it is lower grade than food grade,a and since food grade is cheap, I see no reason to not use it. There may be no general rules at all about agricultural grades. Often they are actually tan to brown. :(

There are actually many grades of lime, which I discuss here:

What Your Grandmother Never Told You About Lime
http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2005-01/rhf/index.htm