Can you use pickling lime to add calcium?

tjnitro

tjnitro

Member
I read on more than one site that you can use dissolved pickling lime (food grade) to add calcium to a reef tank. I know that you use small amounts but it never really got into how much.
Does anyone know anything about doing this and how much you would use and how you go about adding it? I know you dissolve it in a container and then you put some of that liquid into the tank. i know that you have to be careful not to get any of the solids that are not dissolved into the tank.
 
jackri

jackri

Active Member
My topoff water drips it in my tank throughout the day. The key is not having too much added at once. I mix roughly 1 tablespoon per gallon and it slowly gets dripped in throughout the day. Add too much at once and you spike your pH and alk.
Mrs Wage's Pickling lime is like 3 bucks for 16oz and a very cheap way to add calcium.
My water gets dripped via 5 gallon bucket of mix (using a power head to keep it stirred as well). I lose about 1-2 gallons of evaporation a day and my calcium stays pretty steady at 380 with sps and 3 clams. It's all I dose.
 
scsinet

scsinet

Active Member
I'd search the forums on information on dripping kalkwasser. Pickling lime and kalkwasser are basically the same thing, the procedure for dosing it is exactly the same.
 
johnr2604

johnr2604

Member
Originally Posted by SCSInet
http:///forum/post/3151029
I'd search the forums on information on dripping kalkwasser. Pickling lime and kalkwasser are basically the same thing, the procedure for dosing it is exactly the same.
, My favorite way is to run a homemade nilsen reactor off your ATO pump. It requires you to have enough evap though.
 
stanlalee

stanlalee

Active Member
these add carbonates too and will raise alkalinity. dont use these if ALL you want is to raise calcium. Calcium chloride isn't expensive and WAY more concentrated than pickling lime/kalk (even the watered down 2 part formulas).
 
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