Calcium chloride in the water

[laurenrocksth]

I recieved a big bag of calcium chloride with my most recent snail shipment. The instructions were to mix 1/4tsp with tap H2O per 10 gallons and add to water. I assume that this is to strengthen the snails existing shell by hardening the water. Is this correct? Should I dose with it every water change?

 

[vanillaXtiffy]

pik01 posted in my thread earlier today when I had similar concerns and said that the calcium helps build new shell, and hard water keep the shell from eroding. He also recommended adding crushed coral if water is too soft.

 

[Hooked Newbie]

Not needed IMO. Throw a cuttlebone in there and be done with it.

 

[Lupin]

As I understand it, calcium chloride is a salt that can burn when ingested which is why, similarly to Kent's liquid calcium, calcium chloride does in fact need to be diluted before adding so the instructions given to you is correct. Calcium chloride is commonly used in saltwater setups and is the primary ingredient of Kent's liquid calcium. Calcium chloride is more soluble than calcium carbonate and apparently does not alter pH much compared to calcium carbonate so if you are trying to make your pH more alkaline, then you'll have to use calcium carbonate instead of calcum chloride.

Someone in another forum tried to add lime. Lime can actually burn as I had used this to negate the smell of chicken manure in my backyard. Her usual routine was dilute but for some reason, she was in a hurry and dump it directly killing her snails in the process. Airing on the side of caution, if it were me, I wouldn't have chosen to use this as I play a big risk in losing some of my snails in the process however much I'd love to for the sake of the snails' healthy shell growth. If the range of calcium enrichment is rather wide, why bother choosing the riskier ones?

 

[laurenrocksth]

So Lupin... are you saying to continue with the calcium chloride or that it's dangerous? Also, should I dose with every H2O change?

 

[Lupin]

So Lupin... are you saying to continue with the calcium chloride or that it's dangerous? Also, should I dose with every H2O change?

If diluted, it shouldn't pose too much risk but I still prefer calcium carbonate over calcium chloride as it can at least increase the pH the snails require to minimize shell erosions. Dosing on every water change depends on you. If your water is already hard and alkaline as it is, then you don't have to use it at all.

 

[kj5kb]

Interesting...considering I have plenty of calcium chloride on hand during the winter. Was wondering if it could be used to add Ca...hmmm...
and my PH is ~7.5 already...

I always felt the cuttlebone doesn't add enough...unless I'm not using enough cuttlebone...a half a bone per 20G.

 

[Bettacreek]

Calcium Chloride is a quicker change than the other stuff. The other forms of calcium are extremely slow to dissolve. It's easier for some to just dose when they change water than to have the ups and downs when they do water changes. You also don't have to worry about cloudy water or anything of that sort, as well as no pH changes.

 

[Fordtrannyman]

I recieved a big bag of calcium chloride with my most recent snail shipment. The instructions were to mix 1/4tsp with tap H2O per 10 gallons and add to water. I assume that this is to strengthen the snails existing shell by hardening the water. Is this correct? Should I dose with it every water change?

Target for Calcium = 10+ mg/l

 

[kj5kb]

So somebody check my math:

Calcium Chloride is CaCl2...atomic mass of calcium is 40, chlorine is 35...

So it's ~36% Ca by mass?

So I'd need ~27 mg of CaCl per liter to get 10 mg/l of Ca?

or about 1 gram (1.026) per 10 US gallons?
(that would be a little more than 10mg/l since most 10G tanks have about 8G in 'em)

..and all that before 10AM on a Sunday.

I would take a S.W.A.G. that 1/4 tsp is close to 1 gram.

Definitely would want to dissolve it first and add it gradually!