3-Part Calcium Additive...Where can I find them?

[pmcustom]

Everyone says Lowes or Home Depot has them, but I looked and cannot find the ingredients. Do I have to wait until closer to Winter to find them? Does anyone have any they would sell me? I just need to get the calcium levels up, then I'm going to maintain it with kalk. Thanks.

 

[Bcollins111900]

Where are u located in Columbus? I know for sure the E. Broad St Store, Easton, and Dublin Stores have the lb jug of Prestone Driveway Heat. If you are in the dublin/worthington area I have some to spare if you want some for free?

 

[pmcustom]

I looked at the home depot on north cleveland, but i coud've just missed it. do you have all three ingredients or do i just need 2?

 

[zeppelin]

The alkalinity part is Arm and Hammer Washing Soda. You can find that at Krogers, Walmart, etc. Same with the Magnesium part, which is Epsom Salts. Walmart has it in the pharmacy area I think.

 

[pmcustom]

ok, then i guess i just need the calcium part. so lowes in easton definately has some? where at, in the garden dept?

 

[Bcollins111900]

should be in the over stock top stock area. It esacpes me exactly where I have seen it there, but I know they have it. I want to say it is in the inside lawn and garden department area overtop of the chemical aisle which is aisle 20

 

[Bcollins111900]

Oh and PMcustom be sure to put only 2 cups of the prestone driveway heat in a gallon of water. The driveway heat i found out has a higher percent of clacium chloride and requires 20% less than the original receipie

 

[pmcustom]

great, thanks for the help!

 

[RokleM]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7752800#post7752800 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Bcollins111900
Oh and PMcustom be sure to put only 2 cups of the prestone driveway heat in a gallon of water. The driveway heat i found out has a higher percent of clacium chloride and requires 20% less than the original receipie

About 1 cup actually.

 

[Bcollins111900]

His page says 20% less of whatever receipe you are using. In my case it is receipe 1 which calls for 2 1/2 cups or calcium chloride. 20% reduction would be 2 cups. I added and updated link for you with the new formulas and a dosing calculator made to make you life easier. I know it has mine. Please correct me if I am wong as I don't want to screw up my tank or someone elses for that matter...

http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2006-02/rhf/index.php#15


http://jdieck1.home.comcast.net/chemcalc.html

 

[pmcustom]

How much calcium and baking soda should I add in at a time, and is it worth the time to use baked baking soda instead of washing soda? I haven't been dosing any calcium, so I need a lot.

 

[RokleM]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7753102#post7753102 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Bcollins111900
His page says 20% less of whatever receipe you are using. In my case it is receipe 1 which calls for 2 1/2 cups or calcium chloride. 20% reduction would be 2 cups. I added and updated link for you with the new formulas and a dosing calculator made to make you life easier. I know it has mine. Please correct me if I am wong as I don't want to screw up my tank or someone elses for that matter...

http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2006-02/rhf/index.php#15


http://jdieck1.home.comcast.net/chemcalc.html

Ahh, so you have a low PH then. Then it would make sense. Normal/high PH only requires 1.25 (or 1 after decrease).

 

[RokleM]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7753117#post7753117 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by pmcustom
How much calcium and baking soda should I add in at a time, and is it worth the time to use baked baking soda instead of washing soda? I haven't been dosing any calcium, so I need a lot.

What are your current levels according to testing?

 

[Bcollins111900]

Don't dose all at once if you have not been dosing it in the past. The site states to do it over a few days if your calcium or alkalinity levels are low. The calculator is nice as you can plug in yout tank size which can account for live rock and sand, you current calcium and alkalinity levels and what you would like them to be at, and how mch to does and any warnings that may happen with the dosing.

 

[pmcustom]

I mean do I need to add a little bit at a time, and raise the levels over a week or so? If so, how much should I add at a time? 30ml, 100ml?

 

[RokleM]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7753153#post7753153 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by pmcustom
I mean do I need to add a little bit at a time, and raise the levels over a week or so? If so, how much should I add at a time? 30ml, 100ml?

There is no way to know without knowing your current levels. Byt yes, you will dose a very small amount to start out with, gradually ramping up and fixing your levels within a couple of weeks depending how off they are.

 

[Bcollins111900]

What gal is your tank, how many lbs or live rock, how many lbs of sand, current calcium level, current alkalinity level, current PH level and we can tell you exactly n what receipe you need and how much to does yadda yadda

 

[pmcustom]

My test kit isn't a very nice one and it's old, so I don't know how accurate it is...a nice new one is next on my list. Anyway, I have a 90gal with about 20gal in the sump, approx. 130lb LR, maybe 50lb sand (enough to have about 1 1/2" on the bottom), and I grow macro if that matters. PH is 7.9, Alk is normal (that's all the test says), and I haven't tested for Ca yet, but I imagine it's very low, like around 100 maybe. My tank is very lightly stocked, though (2 clowns, 1 mandarin, a few soft corals, maybe 50 inverts total) which is probably why I've never been able to detect any ammonia, nitrites, or nitrates at all. I bought the rock and sand established, though. Or my test kit is worthless.

 

[RokleM]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7753243#post7753243 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by pmcustom
My test kit isn't a very nice one and it's old, so I don't know how accurate it is...a nice new one is next on my list. Anyway, I have a 90gal with about 20gal in the sump, approx. 130lb LR, maybe 50lb sand (enough to have about 1 1/2" on the bottom), and I grow macro if that matters. PH is 7.9, Alk is normal (that's all the test says), and I haven't tested for Ca yet, but I imagine it's very low, like around 100 maybe. My tank is very lightly stocked, though (2 clowns, 1 mandarin, a few soft corals, maybe 50 inverts total) which is probably why I've never been able to detect any ammonia, nitrites, or nitrates at all. I bought the rock and sand established, though. Or my test kit is worthless.

I highly doubt your calc is at 100 unless you aren't doing any water changes at all. I don't know of ANY salt that mixes this low. IO is pretty bad at low calc, but even that mixes at 250-300ish.

Honestly, I would invest in a calc, alk, and mag Sailfert kit before you start dosing. Having no idea what your levels are to start with, you could end up doing some major damage to your tank and inhabitants.

 

[pmcustom]

yea i was way off, Ca level is about 265