Couldn't find Dowflake-will this work?

SueQ · 10/17/2006, 10:53 AM

The local Pinch-A-Penny pool store didn't have dowflake so they handed me a tub of Suncoast Calcium Hardness Increaser. It lists 77% CaCl and 23% Inert Indgredients. Is this stuff safe to use?

boxfishpooalot · 10/17/2006, 01:47 PM

I doubt its pure enough to use long term in a reef tank. When they make that stuff they dont worry about trace metals like copper. Its made for swimming pools.

Randy has tested the dow flake brand and believes its pure enough.

Useing that could be disasterous,adding an unknown chemical is dangerous! If your serious about keeping marine life look into a different brand imo.

Boomer · 10/17/2006, 04:16 PM

I doubt there is much difference between that stuff and what Randy has tested. Most are pretty much the same, as the manufacturing process is the same.

CALCIUM CHLORIDE 77-82%

SODIUM CHLORIDE 1-2%

POTASSIUM CHLORIDE 2-3%

Purity of Calcium Chloride
http://www.advancedaquarist.com/issues/mar2004/chem.htm

SueQ · 10/17/2006, 04:48 PM

Ok, found the MSDS sheet. Looks the same as other products...
http://www.bestbuypoolsupply.com/med...sincreaser.pdf

SECTION 2 COMPOSITION/INFORMATION ON INGREDIENTS
COMPONENT WT. % OSHA PEL ACGIH TLV CAS REGISTRY#
CALCIUM CHLORIDE 77-82% N/A N/A 010043-52-4
SODIUM CHLORIDE 1-2% N/A N/A 007647-14-5
POTASSIUM CHLORIDE 2-3% N/A N/A 007447-40-7
WATER 007732-18-5

Randy Holmes-Farley · 10/17/2006, 05:39 PM

I can't say if it is adequately pure or not, but it might be OK.

To convince myself that Dowflake was OK to recommend, I ran quite a few tests and compared it to hobby brands:

Purity of Calcium Chloride
http://www.advancedaquarist.com/issues/mar2004/chem.htm

csb102 · 10/17/2006, 09:57 PM

Leslie's Pool Supply sells Hardness Plus that is 94 to 97% calcium chloride. Here is the link to the MSDS sheet search:
http://www.lesliesmsds.com
Type Hardness Plus in the Product Name field and click on search. It will return list of MSDS for two manufacturers they use. One happens to be Dow, but both show same percentages.
http://www.lesliespools.com is their web address. They have stores all over the US or I believe you can order online. I have used their product for over a year.

Randy Holmes-Farley · 10/18/2006, 04:51 AM

To Reef Central

Those listed impurities are not the ones that I'd be concerned about. If you can trace it back to Dow, I'd have much higher confidence in it than if you cannot.

SueQ · 10/18/2006, 05:56 AM

That's what I was hoping to find with this post, that Suncoast was actually just buying and repackaging their CaCl. That doesn't apppear to be the case. I think I may have another lead on local Dowflake. Thanks to everyone who posted!

Quote:

Originally posted by Randy Holmes-Farley

To Reef Central

Those listed impurities are not the ones that I'd be concerned about. If you can trace it back to Dow, I'd have much higher confidence in it than if you cannot.

Randy Holmes-Farley · 10/18/2006, 06:16 AM

Good luck.

beaniebeagle · 10/18/2006, 10:04 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Randy Holmes-Farley

To Reef Central

Those listed impurities are not the ones that I'd be concerned about. If you can trace it back to Dow, I'd have much higher confidence in it than if you cannot.

it is from DOW. I asked the workers at leslie's for that sheet. DOW was listed as the manufacturer. tried to find out if leslie's did anything else with it, didnt get to far

Randy Holmes-Farley · 10/19/2006, 05:14 AM

That sounds good to use then, IMO.

10/17/2006, 10:53 AM	#1
SueQ Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Anderson, SC Posts: 678	Couldn't find Dowflake-will this work? The local Pinch-A-Penny pool store didn't have dowflake so they handed me a tub of Suncoast Calcium Hardness Increaser. It lists 77% CaCl and 23% Inert Indgredients. Is this stuff safe to use?

10/17/2006, 01:47 PM	#2
boxfishpooalot Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: canada, Grande Praire, Ab Posts: 5,824	I doubt its pure enough to use long term in a reef tank. When they make that stuff they dont worry about trace metals like copper. Its made for swimming pools. Randy has tested the dow flake brand and believes its pure enough. Useing that could be disasterous,adding an unknown chemical is dangerous! If your serious about keeping marine life look into a different brand imo. __________________ Its a good idea to have a refrence sample for alk test kits. 1.1350 grams of baking soda in 1gallon of distilled water=10dkh. Check your alkalinity test kit! Algae is Mother Natures phosphate remover Current Tank Info: 220 galon mixed reef.

10/17/2006, 05:39 PM	#5
Randy Holmes-Farley Reef Chemist Join Date: Apr 2001 Location: Arlington, Massachusetts Posts: 86,233	I can't say if it is adequately pure or not, but it might be OK. To convince myself that Dowflake was OK to recommend, I ran quite a few tests and compared it to hobby brands: Purity of Calcium Chloride http://www.advancedaquarist.com/issues/mar2004/chem.htm __________________ Randy Holmes-Farley Current Tank Info: 120 mixed reef

10/18/2006, 04:51 AM	#7
Randy Holmes-Farley Reef Chemist Join Date: Apr 2001 Location: Arlington, Massachusetts Posts: 86,233	*To Reef Central* Those listed impurities are not the ones that I'd be concerned about. If you can trace it back to Dow, I'd have much higher confidence in it than if you cannot. __________________ Randy Holmes-Farley Current Tank Info: 120 mixed reef

10/18/2006, 06:16 AM	#9
Randy Holmes-Farley Reef Chemist Join Date: Apr 2001 Location: Arlington, Massachusetts Posts: 86,233	Good luck. __________________ Randy Holmes-Farley Current Tank Info: 120 mixed reef

10/17/2006, 04:16 PM	#3
Boomer Bomb Technician (EOD) Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: Duluth, Minnesota Posts: 11,842	I doubt there is much difference between that stuff and what Randy has tested. Most are pretty much the same, as the manufacturing process is the same. CALCIUM CHLORIDE 77-82% SODIUM CHLORIDE 1-2% POTASSIUM CHLORIDE 2-3% Purity of Calcium Chloride http://www.advancedaquarist.com/issues/mar2004/chem.htm

10/17/2006, 04:48 PM	#4
SueQ Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Anderson, SC Posts: 678	Ok, found the MSDS sheet. Looks the same as other products... http://www.bestbuypoolsupply.com/med...sincreaser.pdf SECTION 2 COMPOSITION/INFORMATION ON INGREDIENTS COMPONENT WT. % OSHA PEL ACGIH TLV CAS REGISTRY# CALCIUM CHLORIDE 77-82% N/A N/A 010043-52-4 SODIUM CHLORIDE 1-2% N/A N/A 007647-14-5 POTASSIUM CHLORIDE 2-3% N/A N/A 007447-40-7 WATER 007732-18-5

10/17/2006, 09:57 PM	#6
csb102 Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Indiana Posts: 2	Leslie's Pool Supply sells Hardness Plus that is 94 to 97% calcium chloride. Here is the link to the MSDS sheet search: http://www.lesliesmsds.com Type Hardness Plus in the Product Name field and click on search. It will return list of MSDS for two manufacturers they use. One happens to be Dow, but both show same percentages. http://www.lesliespools.com is their web address. They have stores all over the US or I believe you can order online. I have used their product for over a year.

10/19/2006, 05:14 AM	#11
Randy Holmes-Farley Reef Chemist Join Date: Apr 2001 Location: Arlington, Massachusetts Posts: 86,233	That sounds good to use then, IMO. __________________ Randy Holmes-Farley Current Tank Info: 120 mixed reef