calcium montmorillonite clay

[sponge man]

anyone know if calcium montmorillonite clay is ok to use in a reef as a calcium additive? i use this stuff all the time at home and work for outdoor koi ponds. i figured its calcium, so why not use it in a reef. the company (microbe-lift recomends 1 teaspoon for 100-249 gallons twice a week.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

I would not recommend it.

It consists of (Na,Ca)0.33(Al,Mg)2(Si4O10)(OH)2·nH2O.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Montmorillonite

I do not believe that it will appreciably dissolve in seawater, but if it did, you be adding large amounts of many other ions as well.