DampRid Calcium Chloride?

[dja1980]

Has anyone had success using DampRid (moisture absorber) as a calcium source? I Googled Damprid+reef and found several local reefing forums where people are using this product in their tanks, but couldn't find any info on RC. If this product is safe to use, would Randy's recipe need to be altered at all? According to the MSDS on the DampRid website, the product contains 79%-85% Calcium Chloride.

Unfortunately, none of local stores are carrying products such as Prestone Driveway Heat yet due to it being seasonal, but I'm thinking that this might be a good year-round source since it can be found at almost every hardware store including Home Depot, Lowes, etc. Also, after reading about the bromide issue in the other products, I'm not sure that I want to look for them even when they do come into season. However, I guess there's a chance that Dow is the Calcium Chloride used in DampRid as well.

 

[edandsandy]

I would just buy calcium from the store. I would'nt take a chance.

 

[dja1980]

By getting calcium from the store, do you mean LFS? I definitely won't take a chance unless others have had success. After doing some research I've found that most calcium chloride products are the exact same thing sold under different labels. The problem with purchasing under a label at the LFS is that the stuff is marked up like 500%, however, still worth it if the seasonal products are unavailable and the year-round products are unsafe.

 

[bertoni]

I thought there were some old posts on this product, but I don't remember that there was enough data on the source to be sure about the quality. I just went online and paid the shipping.

 

[isjg]

It's used pretty extensively here in Oz. I use it, no probs so far. And it's much cheaper than LFS brands. Since we don't get those driveway heat type products here (no snow) it's the only thing available outside LFS or pool supplies.

 

[dja1980]

bertoni, when you say you went online and paid the shipping, what product did you end up purchasing? I'm guessing you used twopartsolution.com?

isjg, I hear you... it's just as frustrating when the products are seasonal. I did call a pool store, and they had a product by BioGuard called Balance Pak 300. I believe 5lbs was $10... any experience?

 

[davy182]

I think most pool supply have the calcium as hardness up and alkalinty was just as it is written.

 

[bertoni]

I got mine from another vendor, but it's the same stuff.

 

[dja1980]

bertoni, do you mind me asking what online vender you ended up using? I started another thread in my local forum asking for good online sources for calcium chloride, but no one has really come up with anything. It seems like the shipping usually ends up making it not worth buying online. Feel free to PM me if you'd rather not share publicly.

My other thread on the subject:
http://reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=1236345

 

[bertoni]

I got the calcium chloride from MainStreetSupply.com and the magnesium chloride from HarveySalt.com. The shipping came to about $1 per pound, which was painful, but cheaper than the alternatives.

 

[dja1980]

Thanks! I tried the MainStreetSupply.com website, but it doesn't appear that they are in business anymore. That site just gives you a link to other websites when you perform a search.

 

[bertoni]

http://www.mainstreetseedandsupply.com/saltproducts.htm

I was close.

 

[dja1980]

Thanks again... $1.08/lb including shipping to Naperville, IL... not bad. You're right though shipping = "painful".

 

[tperk9784]

I know at least one person who uses Damp Rid and has good success with it.