Calcium source for fert

Bmeasure

Bmeasure

Humble disciple of Jesus Christ
Aug 6, 2004
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Savannah, GA.
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I'm not interested in using Calcium Nitrate or Calcium Phosphate. What are other options for fertilizers. If you mention the chemical.....like say Calcium Chloride, please tell me what I would buy this as. On Litemanu, they only have the sources listed above. What local options do I have.

I have thought about using crushed coral, but won't this mess with my ability to dose CO2 affectively. I can't imagine that a small (1 tsp) would be enough to provide all the calcium I would need, and to go with more would make my KH, GH and pH start rising. This would make judging my CO2 dosing a bit difficult. Any input?
 
Ahhh...gott look in the saltwater isles! :look: Good thinking! And if you (anybody) uses CaCl, then how much would you dose in a 125 gallon (actual volume)? Thanks.
 
I've only recently started using Prestone Driveway Heat (or Heet? The ice melter) which is CaCl. A couple tsp (I eyeball it) raises the Ca 40-60ppm in my 90gal. You might want to be a little more exact in measuring.
 
You can use pickling lime, aka calcium hydroxide powder, aka "kalkwassar". You can pay $20 for "kalkwassar" at the pet shop or $2 for "pickling lime" at the grocery store (and I know they'll have it in Savannah, go to Piggly Wiggly).

Just note that pickling lime will raise your pH drastically, I'd mix it into vinegar (5 mL vinegar mixed with 1 tsp kalk will give you close enough to neutral for safety). The vinegar is harmless once mixed with the kalk, and the vin/kalk mix at the above amount won't effect your pH if dosed carefully (ie, one drop per gallon).
 
Mako said:
You can use pickling lime, aka calcium hydroxide powder, aka "kalkwassar". You can pay $20 for "kalkwassar" at the pet shop or $2 for "pickling lime" at the grocery store (and I know they'll have it in Savannah, go to Piggly Wiggly).

Just note that pickling lime will raise your pH drastically, I'd mix it into vinegar (5 mL vinegar mixed with 1 tsp kalk will give you close enough to neutral for safety). The vinegar is harmless once mixed with the kalk, and the vin/kalk mix at the above amount won't effect your pH if dosed carefully (ie, one drop per gallon).
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Good idea.....I'm also positive we'll have it.......Crazy Southerners! I love being a redneck! :thm:
 
beviking said:
I've only recently started using Prestone Driveway Heat (or Heet? The ice melter) which is CaCl. A couple tsp (I eyeball it) raises the Ca 40-60ppm in my 90gal. You might want to be a little more exact in measuring.
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First question is where do you buy this stuff? Secondly, Isn't your dosing a bit (quite a bit) high? I have no idea what target levels are supposed to be like, but that's higher than any ppm of ferts we dose.
 
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.

CaCl is also used to weight tractor tires. Farmers mix it with water and fill their tires because the high caCl content serves as anti-freeze. Any decent size farm supply will have it in a powdered form ready to mix with water.

Also CaCl is available at most pool supply shops dirt cheap.
dave
 
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