calcium dosing?

sammyp · 02/14/2007, 03:36 PM

Can i use Calcium carbonate (CaMgCO3) to dose calcium to my tank? will this help brink the alk up as well as gh?

also, can i use espom salt (magnesium sulfate) to dose mg?

last, can i use baking soda for raising alk?

(i'm a planted fw nut who is currently doing his first salt aquarium so i know a few things about water chemistry but not saltwaater specific stuff plus i have all these chemicals already and i use them on my planted tanks occasionally)

Thanks!

Amphiprion · 02/14/2007, 04:09 PM

Calcium carbonate should just be CaCO3. Looks like you were trying to make some sort of complexed or poisoned crystal

. No, it is not a viable alternative. If it was, then adding an aragonitic sand would be all that was necessary to keep up with the demand and calcium reactors would be unnecessary. The reasoning behind this is that CaCO3 is poorly soluble in seawater. Some will dissolve, but it is miniscule. Stick to a two part supplement (commercial or Randy's DIY), kalkwasser, or a calcium reactor. You can use MgSO4, but alone it will enrich the water in terms of sulfate ions. MgCl2 would be better, but a mix of the two is best. You can find the recipe in Randy's forum. Yes, you can use baking soda to raise alkalinity. Here is a handy website that will help you in calculating the amounts needed: http://reef.diesyst.com/ .

02/14/2007, 03:36 PM	#1
sammyp Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Long Guy Land, NY Posts: 81	calcium dosing? Can i use Calcium carbonate (CaMgCO3) to dose calcium to my tank? will this help brink the alk up as well as gh? also, can i use espom salt (magnesium sulfate) to dose mg? last, can i use baking soda for raising alk? (i'm a planted fw nut who is currently doing his first salt aquarium so i know a few things about water chemistry but not saltwaater specific stuff plus i have all these chemicals already and i use them on my planted tanks occasionally) Thanks!

02/14/2007, 04:09 PM	#2
Amphiprion Premium Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Mobile, AL Posts: 6,611	Calcium carbonate should just be CaCO3. Looks like you were trying to make some sort of complexed or poisoned crystal . No, it is not a viable alternative. If it was, then adding an aragonitic sand would be all that was necessary to keep up with the demand and calcium reactors would be unnecessary. The reasoning behind this is that CaCO3 is poorly soluble in seawater. Some will dissolve, but it is miniscule. Stick to a two part supplement (commercial or Randy's DIY), kalkwasser, or a calcium reactor. You can use MgSO4, but alone it will enrich the water in terms of sulfate ions. MgCl2 would be better, but a mix of the two is best. You can find the recipe in Randy's forum. Yes, you can use baking soda to raise alkalinity. Here is a handy website that will help you in calculating the amounts needed: http://reef.diesyst.com/ . __________________ You've done it now, haven't you? Current Tank Info: 40g breeder patch reef w/ seagrass; 2-250w XM 10K; Vortech MP40wES & MP10wES; BM Curve 7 skimmer; carbon & occasional GFO