calcuim chloride

Nope, I wouldn't do that.

The commercial 2-part additives keep the calcium and the buffer
additives separate for a reason: mix them together and you get what
looks remarkably like fizzy milk.

Try this chemistry experiment at home, folks:

in 4 oz of plain tap water, add 1 teaspoonful of CaCl2 (calcium
chloride)- stir well to dissolve. It will go to a clear, colorless
solution. Then add an equal portion of NaHCO3 (sodium bicarbonate).
Stir. Observe your solution go opaque no matter how much you stir.
It will be fizzing as well. After a while, you'll notice the "snow" has
settled out on the bottom of your glass

The chemical reaction going on is basically the Calcium portion of the
CaCl2 has just combined with the Carbonate portion of the sodium
bicarbonate to make insoluble calcium carbonate - leaving salt water in
solution, and some carbon dioxide gas (the fizz) as well as some extra
water balance out our reaction. Fun with chemistry!

Almost looks like an Alka-seltzer....

So, in a nutshell, you can't short-cut the process and add them together
in the same drip chamber - because at the pH of your reef tank, that
insoluble CaCO3 isn't going to be dissolving.

Cheers

RedDeerReefer
Geoff Norris



4G Mitsubishi wrote:
am am using teh calciun chloride and bicarb soda in my tank along with 40%
water changes once a week. all good sofar.
but i was wandering wether i can mix the 2 solutions i make together in a
bucket of water and drip it as ppl do with lime?

Glen