calcium chloride

[JEREMY78247]

does anyone have any experience with using calcium chloride as an alternative to kalk. I've heard this a more concentraded form of calcium mainly used in construction and deicing roads. Anyway there's a place here in town (S.A.) by the name of UNIVAR (www.univarusa.com) they sell just about any kind of chemical, powder, carbon...you get the idea.
Well I can get a 50lb bag of calcium chloride (flake\pellet) for $17, just don't know how well it will work as a kalk. substitute. If I'm not mistaken, I think they said this stuff is 80% calcium chloride and the rest is potassium chloride and something else.

[christerrell2k3]

dont they use that for spas and pools also

[::pete::]

If useable a 50gal drum would be cheaper ;)

[JEREMY78247]

thanks for the fast replies, I just want to know if the stuff is useable and safe. I may just go ahead and try it slowly and see how it goes.

[GaryP]

I'm using a product called Dowflake. Its Calcium Chloride. It comes in a 50 lb. bag. If they have it at Univar I'll split a bag with you. I'm very familiar with Univar. They are a chemical distributor.

I bought a bag online but the shipping was more than the material. I'm glad someone found a local supplier. Its sold up north at Home Depots for side walk deicing. Please get me the trade name of the material that Univar carries and I will check it out and see if its OK for aquarium use. The potential problem is contaminants such as phosphates.

[JEREMY78247]

hi Gary, I called univar @210-333-2310 and they said there's no trade name they just sell it as calcium chloride. Here's the break down they gave me- calcium chloriede 77-80%, sodium chloride 5%, potasium chloride 2-3%, water 15-20%. Hope this helps, if the stuff is ok I'll definetly split a bag with you.

[GaryP]

OK, I was a little concerned when you said it was 20% potassium chloride. That sounds similar to the composition of Dowflake. Its a little higher in sodium chloride but that isn't a problem since its the major component in sea water. Make sure they give you a Material Safety Data Sheet with it and Technical Bulletin. Did they say if it was food grade?

This is basically the same thing that Kent sells as Turbo Calcium.

You might also want to try calling Chem Central. I think they are a distributor for Dow and would have Dow Flake.