the purest cleanest calcium chloride i've ever worked with

[neuroslicer]

For all of you who add calcium and carbonate (alkalinity) solutions to your reef tank, I have found a source of calcium chloride that I love. I have dealt with Dowflakes in the past, but initially was concerned with that source now that it includes bromide ions in its contents. So I switched to Tetra calcium which comes directly from acid treatment of lime, but it has always been a bit dirty... you can smell it and see it. It was still fine for my purposes until I found a third source: it comes from Mallinckrodt Baker which manufactures chemicals for scientific research. It is a food grade of anhydrous calcium chloride, and it dissolves rapidly into a clear, clean, odorless solution. Here's a link to it:

http://www.mallbaker.com/literature/documents/8663.pdf

Of course good old Arm and Hammer baking soda is still the best for your source of alkalinity.

If you're new to all this, I can give you more info on how to make your own calcium and alkalinity solutions.

Through my research connections I have purchased a 50 pound bag of the calcium, and I will distribute it to anyone who needs it for a dollar a pound, close to my cost.

Happy reefing.
Jay

 

[Mako Shark II]

"Dr. Voo-Doo" is back!

"Dr. Voo-Doo" is back!

Uh-oh... :rolleye1:

"Dr. Voo-Doo" is back in the laboratory!!!!

Seriously, I think a Great segment (for us non-PhD's), would be to have a Chemical Workshop for Reef Keeping.
I seriously think several of us can glean a lot of information from you Jay.
:reading:

Please consider speaking or even better, providing a Demonstration at an upcoming Club meeting!!!

 

[luckyfish]

Jay, does the anhydrous form give off heat during the mixing?

 

[mempho reefer]

+1 Next meeting topic! I'll bring a slide rule and a periodic table.

 

[VitalApparatus]

yes please Im going broke buying calcium and magnesium!

 

[Mako Shark II]

+1 Next meeting topic! I'll bring a slide rule and a periodic table.

...and I'll bring the Limes and Mixer..... :beer:

 

[neuroslicer]

yes, it does give off heat but just when you mix it up into solution. it doesn't add heat to your tank after it's in solution. one use for it is to actually spread it over the ice on sidewalks, driveways, etc. Actually some reefers use a product called Prestone Heat in their reef tanks... not sure how pure it is though.

Hey, don't laugh, the year I took organic chemistry in high school was the first year we switched from slide rules to calculators. so yes, I can use a slide rule! (but will spare you all). Back in 1974, a small TI calculator that didn't do anything except the basics cost $75.

 

[MrRyanT]

I'm one of those that's currently using Prestone Driveway Heat for my calcium source. Here's a really good article explaining how to mix and use your own calcium, alk, and magnesium products:
http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2006-02/rhf/index.php#10

I've heard Jay speak on the subject before. His understanding of how all this stuff works is a bit over my head for sure, but he does a great job of breaking down for us lame brains.

 

[VitalApparatus]

bookmarked and appreciated Ryan

 

[tqui]

hey Ryan .. where did you purchase your Prestone Driveway Heat from...

 

[aab3rd]

...and I'll bring the Limes and Mixer..... :beer:

now that is my kind of additive!:celeb1:

 

[MrRyanT]

calcium

calcium

I

hey Ryan .. where did you purchase your Prestone Driveway Heat from...

I got it at Walgreens over a year ago but haven't seen any there since then.

 

[SNAKEMANVET]

I am currently useing BRS calcium chloride,I will have try the new one you mentioned Jay.

 

[OcEaN-BluE]

I'm one of those that's currently using Prestone Driveway Heat for my calcium source. Here's a really good article explaining how to mix and use your own calcium, alk, and magnesium products:
http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2006-02/rhf/index.php#10

That link has been my Bible to Calcium, Alkalinity, and Magnesium additions for the past 8 months. I use a slightly purer form of the Dowflake Calcium Chloride (i think like 83-87% Calcium Chloride, when normally 77-80%) found a farm supply site through Google and I got a 50lb bag shipped to the house for a total cost of around $45. I may be able to locate the site with some research. A friend and I have been using the Dowflake for a few months now on a 200 and a 225 gallon reef and still have about 3/4 bag left. It is a great deal.

I picked up the Magnesium Chloride through ebay for about $37 at http://stores.ebay.com/limpits-reef. And the Epsom Salts I get from Walmart.

I would recommend this recipe to anyone.

I have never used anything other than Dowflake but that seems to be around the same price of the Dowflake I ordered last time. If that is the case I may try it next time.

 

[neuroslicer]

that percentage of calcium chloride you quoted has nothing to do with purity... it has to do with water content. the dowflakes you are currently using contain bromide, and there has been sufficient debate about whether bromide ions in significant quantity can be detrimental to marine life... so ever since Dow stopped removing bromide from their calcium chloride synthesis process, I have avoided it.

 

[gflat65]

Is BRS CaCl DowFlake?

What are you paying for the new CaCl, Jay? Is it comparable to DowFlake?

 

[neuroslicer]

The Dowflake that is made now contains bromide; a couple years ago Dow decided to stop extracting the bromide from their calcium chloride synthesis process. BRS says their CaCl2 is bromide free. I know at the time BRS bought up a massive amount of the bromide free Dowflake before the new lots with bromide were produced. Whether BRS still has stores of this old bromide free Dowflake, or whether they have found a new source, I don't know. They're charging $17 for 7 pounds. The anhydrous CaCl2 I get from Mallinckrodt Baker sells for about $35 for a 50 pound bag (I pick it up locally, it's not shipped). If you're using Dowflakes at 77% CaCl2, it's probably the old Dowflakes. The newer lots are now 83%. Prestone Heat has bromide.

For anyone keeping up with this thread, there's plenty of discussion of Dowflakes (old and new), bromide ions, other sources of calcium, DIY two part supplements, etc. in the Reef Chemistry section of ReefCentral.

 

[dolphinman213]

i don't know about anybody else, but i'm sticking with the professor( jay you know i want some)

 

[gflat65]

$35 for a 50 pound bag sounds like a deal to me. Where is Mallinckrodt Baker located? Can the general public buy it?

 

[neuroslicer]

The phone number for Mallinckrodt Baker is on the PDF file I posted earlier in this thread. I called them up and found a distribution warehouse here in south Memphis; they sent some to the warehouse and I picked it up locally (wasn't charged for shipping). Perhaps there's a distribution site in Nashville, dunno... give em a call!