Cal Mexicana = Food Grade Lime = Calcium Hydroxide

[Wryknow]

I am on a quest to find a local source of calcium hydroxide at a good price in Austin and I have been stumped trying to find pickling lime in my area. A local Fiesta Mart manager pointed me to "Cal Mexicana" and he told me that it was food grade lime that that was used to make tortillas. It looks like lime to me but I am apprehensive about trusting the word of a grocer (however knowledgable) with the health of my aquarium. Can anyone confirm that this is, in fact, calcium hydroxide before I give it a try? At $.99 for a 4 oz bag this may be a good substitute for $20 / lb Kalk mixes.

Thanks!

Jason

[GaryP]

I did some research, with the help of a translator. Cal is not the same as Kalk. It is Calcium Oxide, not Calcium Hydroxide (Kalk). You might know Cal by another name, Portland Cement. Calcium Oxide turns in Calcium Hydroxide when it is added to water. That's basically what happens when you make up cement. You also get a lot of heat as a by-product.

Trying checking with someone that lives in one of the smaller towns. The last time I checked, you can get Mrs. Wages pickling lime at Super S grocery stores. Super S is usually only in small towns. I believe there is one in Blanco, down the road from where the MAAST meeting is being held this weekend.

[Wryknow]

Well, there's one way to know for sure. I'll put a little in some DI water and see if it heats up or not Thanks for checking into this for me! I'll scope out Super S next time I see one.

[GaryP]

Check the label for the ingredients. Make sure there is nothing in it except lime. Something lableled as an anti-caking agent may be silicates.

[JeremyGlen]

Have you tried a Whole foods or stores like that?

[GaryP]

Its going to have to be a store that carries canning supplies. Not many city folks do much canning any more. That's why I said you need to look in a small town grocery store.

Here you go, everything you ever wanted to know about lime and Kalk.

http://www.reefkeeping.com/issues/2005-01/rhf/index.php

[brewercm]

If you are coming to the meeting this weekend I still have a couple cans of Balls Pickling Lime that I bought from my Super S when I lived in Bandera. I can bring one for you or you can have both if you want.

I did it as a bulk order a year ago or so at $2 a can. About the size of a small coffee can I'd guess since I don't remember exactly. I think they cost me like $1.94. The extra .06 is for the shipping and handling charges.

[Wryknow]

Brewer - That's very kind of you to offer! Unfortunately I will not be able to make it this weekend.

Gary - Thanks for the link. The reef central chemistry forum is what got me looking for this in the first place and somone on the forum pointed out that local reefers may know best what the heck "Cal Mexicana" is! Dr Holmes said that he thought that what I had was most likely fine. The ingredients list is 100% Cal Mexicana and it is packaged and distributed by an American company in Florida so I'm pretty confident giving it a try at this point.