Calcium Chloride
Contents:
Calcium source
by Paul Sears (Wed, 19 Nov 1997)
Calcium source
by "Louis Lin" (Wed, 19 Nov 1997)
Calcium source ...
Calcium chloride is a compound of significant interest to many marine aquarists. Besides its potential use in formulating artificial salt mixes, it is also useful in directly supplementing calcium to aquaria.
Calcium chloride (CaCl2): This is a form of calcium that may be added to reef tanks to maintain the calcium level.
Calcium chloride and buffer
Using calcium chloride in combination with buffer was probably the first method for maintaining calcium levels employed by most old reef hobbyists.
Calcium chloride dihydrate (CaCl2.2H2O; MW: 147) - soluble in water
Calcium chloride tetrahydrate (CaCl2.4H2O; MW: 183) - soluble in water
Calcium chloride hexahydrate (CaCl2.6H2O; MW: 219) - the most commonly available form - soluble in water ...
one of dehydrated calcium chloride (CaCI2, 2H2O) at a rate of 15 g/liter, which will provide the calcium;
the other of sodium bicarbonate (NaHCO3), at a rate of 17 g/liter, which will provide the carbonates.
a) Liquid additives usually containing saturated calcium chloride
- this is very concentrated, and you have to be very careful not to overdose,
or it will react with the KH in the water to form calcium carbonate, ...
And also GH booster, or calcium chloride (pool hardness increaser) and magnesium sulfate (epsom salts) if your GH is below 4 degrees.
You will notice an immediate fizzing - this is shell bits reacting with HCl and producing carbon dioxide and calcium chloride as a side product. Keep adding acid until the fizzing completely stops. Leave the sand soaking for some time.
6.0g NaCl - Sodium chloride
0.5g KCl - Potassium chloride
0.25g CaCl2 - Calcium chloride
0.25g Magnesium chloride ...
You can also purchase diluted calcium chloride (easier but kind of expensive) and dose that way.
This is high, and is because I used to use calcium chloride to keep the calcium level up, and let it get away from me. I'm using Kalkwasser now, and letting the level slowly drop down to around 450ppm.
 See also: Calcium, Water, Fish, Aquarium, Carbon
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