Pickling Lime aka Kalk $4.00

[reeftanknewbie]

This works out to about $2.66 a pound. Throw in the shipping, and I bet the cost per pound will come out pretty close to if not less than Wallymart. The stuff never goes bad, you'll most likely never have to buy it again, and you won't waste any more time and gas looking through Walmarts for the stuff. The alternative is to wait a few weeks until every dept. store and supermarket has canning supplies in stock.

http://www.bulkreefsupply.com/store/products/calcium-alkalinity-magnesium/kalkwasser-calcium-hydroxide/1-gallon-bulk-kalkwasser-calcium-hydroxide-for-aquariums.html

Angelo,
You make a really good point....seems like a waste of time to me now that you put it that way thanks.

[coralnut99]

Frankly, I would just buy the smallest container of Kalk that will hold you over for a month or so. Then look for Mrs Wages in the box stores. If you ever get down toward Lancaster, or any more agriculturally oriented areas, canning is still a VERY big thing toward the end of summer. There are other brands too. Just make sure it's pickling lime and not pickling salt. Mrs Wages does have a website of their own, but it sells for the same as Walymart.

[reeftanknewbie]

Frankly, I would just buy the smallest container of Kalk that will hold you over for a month or so. Then look for Mrs Wages in the box stores. If you ever get down toward Lancaster, or any more agriculturally oriented areas, canning is still a VERY big thing toward the end of summer. There are other brands too. Just make sure it's pickling lime and not pickling salt. Mrs Wages does have a website of their own, but it sells for the same as Walymart.

thanks I think I have enough to get by for another month. I hope to find some soon and if I don't I may just order it online. 

[jonbry]

Just to add a note to the subject being discussed which is to save money instead of buying expensive powders to raise Ph just use Arm&Hammer baking soda.  It is  the same thing the companies have as the primary ingredient to raise Ph levels in our tanks.  I've been using it for years and it is very effective at about an 1/8 the cost.  A 5lb box costs about $2.50 and will last me for almost 6 months or longer.

[reeftanknewbie]

Just to add a note to the subject being discussed which is to save money instead of buying expensive powders to raise Ph just use Arm&Hammer baking soda.  It is  the same thing the companies have as the primary ingredient to raise Ph levels in our tanks.  I've been using it for years and it is very effective at about an 1/8 the cost.  A 5lb box costs about $2.50 and will last me for almost 6 months or longer.

I heard baking soda lowers PH unless you bake it to release the CO2.

[coralnut99]

Just to add a note to the subject being discussed which is to save money instead of buying expensive powders to raise Ph just use Arm&Hammer baking soda.  It is  the same thing the companies have as the primary ingredient to raise Ph levels in our tanks.  I've been using it for years and it is very effective at about an 1/8 the cost.  A 5lb box costs about $2.50 and will last me for almost 6 months or longer.

I heard baking soda lowers PH unless you bake it to release the CO2.

That would be correct, bake it for 2 to 2 1/2 hours (and needs to be stored airtight). It's a key elemant of the 2-part formula that's used for tanks that have trouble keeping PH up. ALL tanks and situations will differ somewhat.

[jonbry]

Interesting.  I never heard that and use it to raise the PH of water as well for freshwater dips.  Causes huge spikes in the Ph when I first tried this.  My ph always comes up when I put in the water column and generally stays at 8.2 for a good lenght of time. 

[HENRYSTYLE]

pickling lime is on the shelf's at Walmart. Saw it this morning. Next to the garden area.

[coralnut99]

The baking process drives the CO2 out of the Baking Soda. Obviously, CO2 lowers PH. I would post the link to the 2-part formula on RC, but I'm short on time. I'm sure it's right atthe top of the Chemistry forum though.

[jonbry]

Same here Angelo gotta finish a spreadsheet but what the heck I'll just cook it just to be sure.  My original point was though to use this instead of the store sold items as it is so much less expensive.  thanks.

[reeftanknewbie]

pickling lime is on the shelf's at Walmart. Saw it this morning. Next to the garden area.

yes.....thanks Ant......Off to Walmart I go....