Calcium hydroxide

bertoni · 03/18/2006, 03:05 PM

Kalk and pickling lime are calcium hydroxide, which is used by some reef-keepers to supplement alkalinity and calcium. It can also be used as a caustic agent to destroy Aiptasia.

Either a paste or a strong solution can be made using RO-DI water. When the calcium hydroxide is mixed into the water, some heat will be released, so be warned! Either preparation then can be injected into or sprayed onto Aiptasia using a syringe.

Note that this solution will destroy any living organism it encounters, and blobs of the solution, if they form and circulate in the tank, can land on your prized coral, anemone, etc. Also, this approach will increase the pH of the tank and add calcium and alkalinity. All of these secondary effects can be dangerous. Start with a small amount of solution, perhaps 1ml syringe, inject only small portions, and watch your tank's water parameters carefully and frequently.

The kalk preparation is also dangerous to you. Be careful with it. Eye contact is the main danger here, but skin contact should be avoided as much as possible.

Quicklime (calcium oxide) can be used in the same manner, but it is much more dangerous. The combination of quicklime and water produces a lot of heat, so be sure to add the quicklime to the water, not the other way around, and be careful about skin and eye contact. Calcium hydroxide is likely the better choice. The tests for this article did not include quicklime.

bertoni · 03/18/2006, 03:18 PM

This thread is part of a series. The base thread is located here.

03/18/2006, 03:05 PM	#1
bertoni RC Mod Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Mountain View, CA, USA Posts: 88,616	Calcium hydroxide Kalk and pickling lime are calcium hydroxide, which is used by some reef-keepers to supplement alkalinity and calcium. It can also be used as a caustic agent to destroy Aiptasia. Either a paste or a strong solution can be made using RO-DI water. When the calcium hydroxide is mixed into the water, some heat will be released, so be warned! Either preparation then can be injected into or sprayed onto Aiptasia using a syringe. Note that this solution will destroy any living organism it encounters, and blobs of the solution, if they form and circulate in the tank, can land on your prized coral, anemone, etc. Also, this approach will increase the pH of the tank and add calcium and alkalinity. All of these secondary effects can be dangerous. Start with a small amount of solution, perhaps 1ml syringe, inject only small portions, and watch your tank's water parameters carefully and frequently. The kalk preparation is also dangerous to you. Be careful with it. Eye contact is the main danger here, but skin contact should be avoided as much as possible. Quicklime (calcium oxide) can be used in the same manner, but it is much more dangerous. The combination of quicklime and water produces a lot of heat, so be sure to add the quicklime to the water, not the other way around, and be careful about skin and eye contact. Calcium hydroxide is likely the better choice. The tests for this article did not include quicklime. __________________ Jonathan Bertoni

03/18/2006, 03:18 PM	#2
bertoni RC Mod Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Mountain View, CA, USA Posts: 88,616	This thread is part of a series. The base thread is located here. __________________ Jonathan Bertoni