How to add CALCUIM to freshwater planted tank

[dafferspup]

I need to add some calcium to my tank for my Nerites and MTS. Snail jello just isn't cutting it for all of them. Is there a way I can do this? If so, how do I?

 

[Slappy*McFish]

Calcium carbonate

 

[Lupin]

What are your pH, KH and GH? You have two groups of snails that demand plenty of calcium. If you are dosing CO2, their shells are bound to erode over time. With snails, you need to make sure your pH is no less than 7.4 as acidic water erodes their shells rather quickly.

 

[MTiffany]

Add (boiled) clam shells to your tank -- plenty of CaCO3. Or your LFS will have liquid calcium -- but I think that's meant for use in reef tanks...

 

[Arakkis]

umm some fine grain aragonite will work too

 

[Riiz]

umm some fine grain aragonite will work too

As a planted tank substrate or as media in a filter?

 

[KarlTh]

Problem with calcium carbonate is it's only soluble (and then sparingly) in acid water. I'd go for calcium chloride myself because (a) it won't raise KH as well if you don't want that, and (b) it's soluble.

 

[James0816]

I've never tested for calcium levels so I can't say as to how much it actually adds but....I use cuttlebone in my tanks.

 

[Riiz]

I've never tested for calcium levels so I can't say as to how much it actually adds but....I use cuttlebone in my tanks.

In a planted tank?

 

[psyche]

I have used at various times Tums, vacation feeders, coral sand and liquid calcium. All worked fine in my planted tanks with no adverse effects.