Calcium source for fert

[daveedka]

just add some crushed coral to a filter!!!!! It will give you calcium, some traces and some carbonates all which can be used by plants!!!

Ph is easy to control in Co2 injected tanks so that isn't to me a large issue. However, the rate of calcium addition derived from CaCo3 is minimal really, and therefore if you have a significant calcium defeciency additional dosing is needed. MY tanks run crushed coral in the filter and change water, to maintain Kh at 4-6 depending on the tank, the tap water is kh 2-3 the amount of calcium added to the water from my crushed coral and dolemite could be called trivial at best. I still have to dose heavy calcium to compensate for the complete lack of it in our city water. Eveidantly from what I am seeing and learning. many cities are removeing calcium from the water purposefully.
If you want to raise Kh, crushed coral is a very good way to do so, if you need to raise calcium, it is all but inadequate, and has the side effect of raising KH as well. So in the case of calcium needs, It is much easier, and more effective to go with a calcium source that contains no carbonate.
Dave

 

[beviking]

Driveway heat is a very common ice melter for sidewalks. It is also something you probably will never see in Savannah georgia, since I'm guessing iced sidewalks aren't highly common in your area. I buy mine at Home depot, lowes, wal-mart etc....
dave

:laugh: Thanks Dave...kinda overlooked that one...

 

[Bmeasure]

Ph is easy to control in Co2 injected tanks so that isn't to me a large issue. However, the rate of calcium addition derived from CaCo3 is minimal really, and therefore if you have a significant calcium defeciency additional dosing is needed. MY tanks run crushed coral in the filter and change water, to maintain Kh at 4-6 depending on the tank, the tap water is kh 2-3 the amount of calcium added to the water from my crushed coral and dolemite could be called trivial at best. I still have to dose heavy calcium to compensate for the complete lack of it in our city water. Eveidantly from what I am seeing and learning. many cities are removeing calcium from the water purposefully.
If you want to raise Kh, crushed coral is a very good way to do so, if you need to raise calcium, it is all but inadequate, and has the side effect of raising KH as well. So in the case of calcium needs, It is much easier, and more effective to go with a calcium source that contains no carbonate.
Dave

Very interesting opinion! I appreciate an opinion like this that shows the possibility of "common dosing" failures. To be honest I'm not sure that I have a calcium deficiency, but I am dosing to check the results with current growth. I have seen some change in the last few weeks in swordplant growth and wanted to check it against "the normal adjustment to fully submerged growth". I will find out shortly if this is a problem for me or not. In either case I still want to be aware of the needs of my plants and the dosing of my tank that would aliviate my problems. This will all be adjusted according to my personal needs. Thanks for all the insight!

Be aware that I just added about 30 Ludwigia stems to my display tank (which has growth now over all but about 10% of the substrate) and will see how this helps me out in my algae battle! The only way (I could add more plants would be to add floaters, which won't work in my setup. I have a DIY rock wall overflow which would constantly be clogging from "plantlets" if I did floaters! Once these new plants grow in (Ludwigia Repens) I will have a "fully planted tank, by anyones definition! I just don't know how long my Blackbelt Cichlid will allow this much coverage. I guess we will find out!

 

[daveedka]

I only have a couple of types of swords (micro sword, and red melon sword), but can honestly say the swords were the one type of plant that didn't seem to care about calcium all that much. They grew fairly well for me before the addition of calcium, and nothing has visibly changed since the addition of calcium dosing. Most of my other plants have reacted very positively to the increase in calcium.
dave

 

[lousybreed]

this thread is good stuff. so what have we decided, is CaCl the way to go or some coral reef calcium additive?? Or are they the same thing!!!

 

[reiverix]

I'm not sure of the price or ingredients of the coral reef calcium but you will probably be cheaper getting CaCl (or CaCl2) from either a pool supply shop, Driveway Heet, or just ordering from gregwatson.com.

 

[ergo sum]

Kent Turbo Calcium is calcium chloride (anhydros) which I presume means it aint wet. I paid 12.99 plus tax for 7 oz 200g of it the other day. Mostly because Home Depot and Walmart had no Driveway heet and I don't have the slightest Idea where a pool supply house is. It is very expensive but so is gas and time.
You are right I think.