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Re: Aquatic Plants Digest V3 #1122
Hello Justin,
Calcium hydroxide -- slaked lime -- Ca(OH)2, is a VERY STRONG base! A
saturated solution (about 1000 ppm) has a pH of 12.4.
In soft, unbuffered water Ca(OH)2 will drive the pH too high, in hard
water it will precipitate calcium carbonate. This is the process by
which many municipalities soften their water.
If you want to add calcium to the water, start with marble chips,
dolomite, or coral sand. It is safe and, over some time, will do the
job.
Best,
George
> Date: Tue, 29 Jun 1999 18:42:26 -0700
> From: "Mortimer Snerd" <n9720235 at cc_wwu.edu>
> Subject: Calcium hydroxide and kH
>
> Hey, all...
>
> Does calcium hydroxide raise kH, and if so, how much do I need to add to 100
> gallons of water to raise the kH 1 degree? Also, is there any good reason
> to raise kH but not GH? I ask because I am looking to supplement calcium,
> and I already have a bunch of calcium hydroxide I accidentally got at an
> auction. I've been using sodium bicarbonate to raise the kH of my really
> soft Northwest water, but have been running into problems with low calcium
> levels for my MTS and (I think) some of my swords. Anyhow, any help, as
> usual, is greatly appreciated.
>
> Thanks,
> Justin Collins, in Bellingham, WA, where summer may never actually arrive.