Reef Substrate Alternative? Pictures

[MattShack]

I'm sorry, I know this type of question is probably redundant in this forum. But I need some opinions on this. I found this at my local co-op. It is $7 for a 50 lb bag. I need at least 2000 lbs for a 1000 gallon and buying CaribSea or similar is just not economically feasible for me.

It is called feed grade lime, used for livestock. The manufacture is ILC, the brand is Unical "M" (The "M" stands for medium) It is about the same size as oolitic sand and does not appear to have rough edges.

This is the information I found on it.

Table 1. Typical Limestone Sources
Calcium Magnesium
Calcium Carbonate 38-40% 0.1-0.8%
Ground Limestone 33-37% 1-2%
Magnesium Limestone 25-32% 3-9%
Dolomitic Limestone 20-23% 0-13%

Other Sources of Calcium
Marble Dust . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38%
Oyster Shell . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38%
Aragonite . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38%
Calcite . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38%
Gypsum (calcium sulfate ) . . . . . . . . . . 22%
Steamed Bone Meal . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31%
Meat and Bone Meal . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8-14%
Calcium Phosphates
Monocalcium . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15-18%
Dicalcium . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-22%
Defluorinated . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31%

Here is a link to the information page
http://www.ilcresources.com/Publications/FeedGradeCalciumCarbonate.pdf

Thank you for any help.

 

[jayb12]

looks pretty good to me!
i used dolomite for my bed. had to wash it in panti hose first to get the powder stuff out first though

 

[bertoni]

The ingredients sound fine, and lots of people have used similar products successfully. I wouldn't worry much, but there's some chance that it might have some trace contaminants that cause problems.

 

[MattShack]

jayb12, Thanks. I looked for dolomite and can't find it locally. It's actually hard to find someone that even knows what I'm talking about.


bertoni, Thanks. Do you think washing it would be enough to get rid of any contaminants?

 

[bertoni]

Washing it might or might not remove contaminants. That would depend on what's in the product. I'd rinse it and see how it works, but I don't mind a little risk.

 

[MattShack]

Thanks again Jonathan,

I don't mind a little risk either, but 1000 gallons is a big risk to me

I have an empty 10 gallon. I think I'll set it up with some of this and see what I get.

 

[jayb12]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15506664#post15506664 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by MattShack
jayb12, Thanks. I looked for dolomite and can't find it locally. It's actually hard to find someone that even knows what I'm talking about.


bertoni, Thanks. Do you think washing it would be enough to get rid of any contaminants?

i know the feeling, i searched all over southern ontario only to find it at a tiny hardware store by my cottage for 6 bucks for a 50 lb bag.

they use it for out houses i guess?

 

[MattShack]

Every time I ask for it I get this dazed and confused blank stare that screams "huh?"

 

[Boomer]

"Dolomite " is common at Landscaping suppliers.

That LS should be fine. The tan color is usually due to impurities of clay and iorn oxide that are locked into the crystal lattice of the Calciteor the cement matrix. Rinsing it off is a good idea as it will remove all the fines, which have a slighter ability to go into solution in lower pH water. There will also will be no false Alk or Ca++ reading from all the very fine particles floating around in the tank that may get into the test vial for testing.

 

[bertoni]

The 10g experiment sounds like a fine idea. Good luck!

 

[MattShack]

Thanks for the info Boomer.

Jonathan, I'll let you all know how the test comes out.

 

[MattShack]

Test results:

Source water (my regular tap water) 0.5 ppm phosphate.
Test sample was 1.5 ppm phosphate.

I didn't test for anything else because that was enough for me not to use it.

Thanks for all of the input. It was worth a try.