Replacing for a CaCl2 source

[pat w]

I'm currently dosing CaCl2 in the form of DowFlake tm Calcium Chloride from Dow Chemical that I get from my swimming pool supply folks. The last time my wife went to the pool place and bought a bag she came home with Tetra Flake tm from Tertra Chemicals.

Here's the break down:

DowFlake

www.oxy.com/msds/msds.asp?details=M48006

Tetra Flake

http://www.tetrachemicals.com/getFile.asp?File_Content_ID=3708

I'm in a bind since I'm due for a water change and I haven't found Dowflake anywhere. Would the Tetra Flake be a suitable substitute?

Pat

 

[Seattle_Aquarist]

Hi pat w,

I use Dri-Z-Air crystals, available for $1.50 at most hardware stores to remove moisture.

 

[pat w]

I don't use it for moisture removal. It's a calcium source I dose to the water column.

Pat

 

[Hallen]

Why not get some plaster of Paris? (atleast that's what I think it's called over there). It's cheap dissolvable and no chloride in it, I always use it together with some epsom salt and extra K for my GH booster.

 

[pat w]

Yeah i could ... but I've already got the CaCl2 for the swimming pool. I'm getting quite an inventory of chemicals ... I'm starting to expect black SUVs to pull up to my house any day now. When I mix up my ferts my son refers to the scene in the kitchen as my 'meth lab'. I'd just rather not add 'one more thing'.

Pat

 

[BigFlusher]

both are about the same CaCl.H2O

Cl is helpful

 

[BigFlusher]

also Tetra is food grade, don't know if Dow is or not

 

[pat w]

Cool .. Thanks, I feel a little better now about using it. On with the water change.

Thanks to everyone else for the feedback, but what I really needed was support on using the other product I had on hand.

Pat

 

[Seattle_Aquarist]

Hi pat w,

That is what I use it for as well. Dri-Z-Air is 90% CaCl. Per the MSDS:

3. COMPOSITION/INFORMATION ON INGREDIENTS

Component Percentage CAS Number
Calcium chloride > 90.0 - < 92.0 10043-52-4
Potassium chloride > 2.0 - < 3.0 7447-40-7
Water > 4.0 - < 6.0 7732-18-5
Sodium chloride > 1.0 - < 2.0 7647-14-5
Calcium bromide (CaBr2)

 

[pat w]

Sorry SA, I assumed that it was something like a silica dessicant. I'll keep it in mind. It has a higher Ca content than either of the pool chemicals.

Pat

 

[Seattle_Aquarist]

Hi pat w,

Adding CCl to H2O creates an exothermic reaction; to avoid giving my fish a "hot mouth" I always mix my CaCl and water outside the aquarium.

 

[pat w]

Same here. Healthy fish are like infants, everything they see goes in their mouths first. If they don't like the taste they spit it out