Calcium Carbonate

[IceH2O]

I was accidentally sent CaCO3 I won't use it in dosing my plants because I have CaCl2.

I know this seems like its going to be a plant question but follow me.

I have a tank in which I'm raising snails for feeders. My KH and GH are on the low side. Will adding CaCO3 add to the waters hardness?

I need to up the calcium for the snails shells, will this work?

Also what other parameters might change?

I'll need to add it to my 55 gallon also because we have brigs going in there when the ich episode is over.

What levels should I be at for the snails?

 

[IceH2O]

Maybe I should have put it in the plant section afterall, even though its more of a snail question. Maybe we need an invert section?

 

[daveedka]

I've found that My snails do not thrive below 80 ppm calcium, and do not survive well below 70 ppm or so. I keep the snail and shrimp tanks in the 80-100 ppm range. This also seems to be the threshhold for my plants, but My numbers seem to be well above the norm on Ca and Mg so I'm still investigating.

Caco3 will add to Gh and Kh, In my experience it seems to do more for the Kh than the GH (technically the calcium level) I add both CaCO3 and CaCl to all of my planted tanks with snails and shrimp. The CaCO3 will raise Kh to a point but unless you drive pH back down with co2 It will quit dissolving. The amount needed to raise my KH seemed to have a limited effect on actual calcium increase.

I will say also that My snail production is extremely high as is my shrimp production. I may requre slightly higher levels than the average hobbyist just trying to keep a few specimens of each (I don't know how much difference the high number make).
My snails never died off at lower levels, but none reached full size either. My shrimp simply would not molt or even survive at lower calcium levels.

All of that being said, I would not hesitate to use it in a snail tank. IMO it will not hurt them and stands to help them at least a little bit. My experience also shows that snail shells etch out much faster at lower pH levels. This makes perfect sense to me in the respect that calcium carbonate dissolves faster in lower pH levels and snail shells are for the larger part made of calcium Carbonate.
Dave

 

[IceH2O]

Thanks..

So 80 is what I should shoot for, or atleast won't hurt. Since its a 20 gallon tank according to the caculator I could add 13 tsps and get 82.5 ppm, maybe I'll do 15 and that will give me 95 ppm, would just be easier to measure.

I understand CaCo3 is slow to dissolve. Should I put it in a mesh bag and add it to the filter? How much do you think it will raise my PH and KH/GH? They are 6.8/3 as of this moment. While on the subject should I add CaCO3 to the ferts I mixed in to my planted tank( 75 gallon)? It has MTS in it, any shrimp are feeders though some seemed to escape being eaten.

I do have an African Leaf Fish in the 20 gallon tank,trying to grow him out, will the higher readings bother him or should I keep it lower for the fish?

Any questions about tank and inhabitants can be seen in my custom member page.