Calcium chloride?

[SoonerFan732]

Anyone know where I could find some calcium chloride locally (Norman/OKC area) for the two part additive system?

I had been using some calcium chloride I picked up when I first set up my reef. I was given it when I bought some live rock and I am about to run out of it.

Thanks!

Kevin

 

[Travis L. Stevens]

If you want to spend an arm and a leg, you can get "Turbo Calcium" from LFSs. I believe it is made by Kent. Also, I was able to find it at Lowe's here in Stillwater in the Pool section. It was in a blue, one gallon jug. I don't remember what it was called, but I believe it was by DuPont. It has an ingredients label on the front. It was 94% Calcium Chloride. What the other 6% is, I'm not sure, but it is purer than DowFlake 77-80%

 

[SoonerFan732]

Thanks Travis! I didn't know Lowe's had a pool section. I will go see what I can find.

I found some place on the net using Froogle that wanted $7.41 for a 25 lb bag of Dowflake, but wanted $70.25 for standard shipping, ha!

 

[Travis L. Stevens]

The Stillwater Lowe's is holding it in the outside garden section a couple aisles away from the sand, paving stones, fencing, etc.

If you could get DowFlake, it would be much cheaper. But, the shipping would probably equal how much you would pay for the Pool Chemicals.

I found what you should look for on the Lowe's website. Here you go. http://www.lowes.com/lowes/lkn?action=productDetail&productId=232457-23132-10049&lpage=none

<img src="http://images.lowes.com/product/012500/012500858982.jpg" height=322 width=322>

 

[Travis L. Stevens]

One last word of caution. When mixing the Calcium Chloride with water, make sure to wear gloves. When you mix the two together, the chemical reactions that take place makes the mixture quite warm. While not hot enough to burn you, you don't want to risk it.

Also, that 4lb jug should make around 3 gallons of Calcium Chloride. Also, there is another product I believe called Total Alkalinity Increaser. It is 100% Sodium Bicarbonate. While you can get it at the grocery store cheaper, you might not want to make a second trip, so you can pick it up a couple feet away from the Calcium Chloride

 

[SoonerFan732]

Thanks Travis, I found it right where you said it would be located. This should do the trick!

Kevin

 

[Travis L. Stevens]

Awesome! :thumbsup: Would it have helped if I gave you a treasure map, too? :lmao: I'm glad I could help.

Be ready to make a chore out of mixing the Alkalinity Buffer. The baking soda and water is a pain in the rear. I got tired of mixing it and decided to use a blender to do the work for me. It took me a couple hours before I gave up. My tank doesn't use much Carbonate in the first place. I guess I'll just have to dose it heavier.

 

[captbunzo]

Note that these products become extremely hard to find in the winter and early spring... So stock up early when it comes that time of the year...

 

[Travis L. Stevens]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7826197#post7826197 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by captbunzo
Note that these products become extremely hard to find in the winter and early spring... So stock up early when it comes that time of the year...

But then, that's when other forms of Calcium Chloride come out such as DowFloake, and Prestone Driveway Heat De-Icer

 

[captbunzo]

Ah - let me rephrase.

These can be hard to find in early late fall and early spring, when the summer and winter products are unavailable... That's when I tried to find them earlier in the year.

 

[SoonerFan732]

Thanks guys.

Travis,
I have been using a Maxi-Jet to mix my two part additive system. It works really well. Very little effort on my part!

 

[chris4693]

There is a place in OKC that sales large bags of Dow Flake for $20 if I remember right it is on coucil south of I-40, for the life of me I can not remember the name of the place. It is a idustrial chemical supply house. Anyway I found it going to the Dow chemical web site, and found the suppliers list. If I remember right.

I will see if I can find the reciept, its got to be here somewhere.

 

[chris4693]

This is where I got it.

Univar USA
3320 S Council Rd
Oklahoma City, OK 73179-4409
US

(405) 745-2376

 

[saltysooner]

fwiw, I have read that when using two part solutions to watch your specific gravity, calcium chloride and sodium carbonate over time will increase it.

 

[captbunzo]

Cool - thanks for posting that address...