Heads Up! Kalkwasser vs. Pickling Lime

[Kelp]

Okay, I did it, I'm crusing through Super Walmart and there it is, a One Pound package of Ball Pickling Lime, costs $1.23. So I buy it, take it home and stash it with my other fish stuff. Last night as I'm finishing off a container of Kalkwasser I pick up the pickling lime to compare ingrediants- Pickling lime says 35% calcium.
Kalkwasser (Kent) says min. 50%- max 54% calcium. Any of you ever notice this? Do I use extra of the lime in my make up water to make up the difference in calcium? I wonder if different brands of pickling lime will contain different amounts of calcium. I had no choice at walmart, this was the only brand/pkg they had. Comments? suggestions? Thanks.

 

[Anonymous]

I am a purchaser for a chemical manufactorer. What you have bought is the same chemical as Kalkwasser, food grade hydrated lime. Both companies can say what percentage of calcium it contains and then would have to show how the came to those numbers. Typicaly they claim what percentage they are trying to market to.

Use the same amount you would use for Kalwasser, 1 1/2 - 2 teaspoons per gallon.

 

[BReefCase]

Let's run the numbers here.

We hope we are using pure Calcium Hydroxide to add Ca++ and (OH-) ions to our tanks. Its chemical formula is Ca(OH)2.

Calcium is atomic weight=40, Oxygen=16, Hydrogen=1, so total atomic weight of Ca(OH)2 is 40 + 2(16+1) = 40 + 2(17) = 40 + 34 = 74, for the total atomic weight of Calcium Hydroxide.

Since 40 is about 54% of 74, when buying pure Calcium Hydroxide, Ca(OH)2, we would expect the label to say 54% Calcium by weight. So, your Kalk mix is right on the money, percentage of Calcium-wise.

If your "pickling lime" is only 35% Calcium by weight, you have to wonder what impurities are in there that are reducing the percentage of Calcium by weight. A hopeful guess off the top of my head would be that the Ca(OH)2 is complexed witha little extra water, i.e., Ca(OH)2-H2O. Let's hope so. (Otherwise, who knows what else might be in there.)

Then again, for $1.23 for a pound of pickling lime vice 6-10 bucks for 100 grams of Kalk mix at the LFS or 20-25 bucks for 500 grams of lab-grade Ca(OH)2 at a chemical MO place, you can well afford to add a bit more of the pickling lime powder per gallon....

 

[Anonymous]

This guy uses Ball's pickling lime, and his tanks appears to do OK:
http://www.globaldialog.com/~jrice/reef.html

 

[Bryan]

What part of the store did you find the pickling lime in..

-=Bryan=-


<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by Kelp:
<STRONG>Okay, I did it, I'm crusing through Super Walmart and there it is, a One Pound package of Ball Pickling Lime, costs $1.23. Thanks.</STRONG><HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

 

[fishpoo]

in Kansas it's easier to find than Canada, i'll lay odds.

 

[Anonymous]

<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by Bryan:
<STRONG>What part of the store did you find the pickling lime in..

-=Bryan=-


</STRONG><HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

Bryan

Around here it is sold by the Salt and flour. It is always with canning supplies. Make sure it is Pickling lime and not pickling salt. If you do not see it Mrs Wages pickling lime sells direct on line. Feed stores that carry canning supplies would also be a source.