should we use calcium instead of sodium bicarbonate?

[toledosun]

was reading up on kh etc and came across an article that says calcium bicarbonate buffers both dh & kh. Apparently, calcium is usable by plants as well. If that's the case, why is it that we don't use calcium bicarbonate to raise the kh &dh as well, instead of baking soda? Just wondering ?

[ckll]

[quote:47660848cd="toledosun"]was reading up on kh etc and came across an article that says calcium bicarbonate buffers both dh & kh. Apparently, calcium is usable by plants as well. If that's the case, why is it that we don't use calcium bicarbonate to raise the kh &dh as well, instead of baking soda? Just wondering ?[/quote:47660848cd]

I believe calcium bicarbonate exists naturally as limestone/coral. And that have been used to raise both kH and dH. However, raising kH and dH levels this way is hard to control.

Raising kH is easier with baking soda because you can easily work out how much to dose to bring up to the desired levels.

As for dH, think you can do it with Seachem Equilibrium.

[Plantbrain]

Ca(HCO3)2?
Don't hear that one much.

Might be tough to dissolve, most Ca comopunds are very tough to dissolve. CaCO3 is the most common and it's usage is fine for slightly increases of Ca and KH.

The easiest form of Ca to dissolve is CaCl2.
Baking soda is what is used for KH, it's cheap as is the CaCl2 which can be combined with MgSO4(Epsom salt) at a 4:1 ratio for a good GH builder.

All those compunds dissolved immediately and enable folks to precisely and immediately set their GH/KH to whatver levels they want.

Regards,
Tom Barr

[loupgarou]

I recently (yesterday) started to use seachem equilibrium, I suspect that some of my stem plants and my repeated failure of tonina (despite ideal temp/water parameters) might be due to calcium deficiencies.

let's see how it turns out.

[toledosun]

[quote:0f2adb56eb="Plantbrain"]Ca(HCO3)2?
Don't hear that one much.

Regards,
Tom Barr[/quote:0f2adb56eb]

hee hee, you're right Tom. It's calcium carbonate I was thinking of.

[superman]

[quote:4946f493="loupgarou"]I recently (yesterday) started to use seachem equilibrium, I suspect that some of my stem plants and my repeated failure of tonina (despite ideal temp/water parameters) might be due to calcium deficiencies.

let's see how it turns out.[/quote:4946f493]

If its Calcium Deficiencies, I heard puting some Egg Shell can help to increase calcium. Maybe can add Baking Soda too. Correct me if i am wrong.

[juggler]

[quote:c52990b3b8="superman"][quote:c52990b3b8="loupgarou"]I recently (yesterday) started to use seachem equilibrium, I suspect that some of my stem plants and my repeated failure of tonina (despite ideal temp/water parameters) might be due to calcium deficiencies.

let's see how it turns out.[/quote:c52990b3b8]

If its Calcium Deficiencies, I heard puting some Egg Shell can help to increase calcium. Maybe can add Baking Soda too. Correct me if i am wrong. [/quote:c52990b3b8]

Egg shell is mainly Calcium carbonate (CaCO3), so it will slowly dissolve to provide for the Ca. I have used egg shells and coral chips in my filter to provide for the Ca and Mg.

Baking Soda is Sodium Bicarbonate (Na(HCO3)2), it has no Ca. Baking soda is mainly used for providing the kH.

[superman]

Wondering how many egg shells will be needed for a 3ft tank to have
enought calcium?
How long it take to dissolve. Im thinking of drying it under hot sun,
then try to crash it into very small pcs almost like powder. So when
needed, i could scope some and add directly to the water. Do you
think this way egg shell can be dissolved faster and i could calculated
the amt needed more acurately? Juggler

[bclee]

[quote:ccf4fa2d58="superman"]Wondering how many egg shells will be needed for a 3ft tank to have
enought calcium?
How long it take to dissolve. Im thinking of drying it under hot sun,
then try to crash it into very small pcs almost like powder. So when
needed, i could scope some and add directly to the water. Do you
think this way egg shell can be dissolved faster and i could calculated
the amt needed more acurately? Juggler [/quote:ccf4fa2d58]

Egg shell contains about 90-95% CaCO3. With some mathematics, you could probably figure out how much Ca you are adding. The shell is probably held together by some protein and organic matter. It will take some time to disolve.

BC