Calcium

[zelmo]

After looking around, a local hardware store still has PELADOW de-icer. I looked at Dow's website and it is very similar to DowFlake, except that it is in pellet form and is 90% CaCl2.

Does anyone know how easily the pellets dissolve?

[kaybinster]

Why do you want to add calcium chloride to raise calcium, why not calcium carbonate which is plain old lime. You can buy a 50# bag at the garden store very cheaply -- remember to get the white powdered kind not that newer pellet style.

[zelmo]

Why do you want to add calcium chloride to raise calcium, why not calcium carbonate which is plain old lime. You can buy a 50# bag at the garden store very cheaply -- remember to get the white powdered kind not that newer pellet style.

Since what the pool stores sell to raise calcium is CaCl2, I figured that is what I needed. It is also what waterbear suggested, and is the chemical in the bleac calc program.

Thanks for suggesting lime. I will look into that.

[kaybinster]

Zelmo WAIT WAIT WAIT!!!!

I am not saying you should run out an buy lime, I am asking why not use it as a cheaper source of calcium. I don't know off hand if it would be a problem or not, but I would think it would work quite well. I suggest you wait till someone that knows replies before you run off and possibly screw up your pool if this is the wrong way to go. I cannot see why it would be a bad additive, but lets wait and see.

[waterbear]

Biggest problem with calcium cabonate is the solubilty vs. calcium chloride. Calcium carbonate is also what we call "scale deposits" and if you have ever has them on your tile line you KNOW that they are hard to remove . Eggshells are about 95% calcium carbonate and marble is just about all calcium carbonate and they will not dissolve in normal pool water (at least I hope the marble doesn't or my spa spillover is going to have some MAJOR problems )."Lime: is actually either calcium carbonate or calcium oxide and calcium oxide would most likely play havoc with the pH

[kaybinster]

Biggest problem with calcium cabonate is the solubilty vs. calcium chloride. Calcium carbonate is also what we call "scale deposits" and if you have ever has them on your tile line you KNOW that they are hard to remove

Not sure I follow why this would be a problem, if you need calcium. The CaCO3 should dissociate and just result in CO2 off gasing assuming you don't add more than is needed.

[waterbear]

Not sure I follow why this would be a problem, if you need calcium. The CaCO3 should dissociate and just result in CO2 off gasing assuming you don't add more than is needed.

only in an acidic medium.

[cpoz06]

Stumbled across this discussion last nite and felt it necessary to add some
insite. I have held a public pool operators certificate for 10 years and i am appalled at the lack of understanding of the basics of pool chemistry on this site. The first thing that you missed is that lime is extremely CAUSTIC!!!, AKA alkaline! If you really want to destroy your systems this is a great first step.

What I see here is that you folks just want to back door your local pool store operator for a few bucks savings on a product that is one of the most consistent items in pool water balance.

If you cant manage an average size pool for between 7 and 10 dollars per
week working with a reputable pool store you need to get rid of the pool!

I regularly talk to several of the store owners in my area who have invested a large part of their lives to teach people to manage their pool, and are the first ones you turn to when you cant fix it by groping around here.

I wonder how some of you would feel if the customers that pay your daily wage started to figure out how not to pay you for th skill set you chose to earn a living!

[mwsmith2]

Well, you *could* use lime, but it is somewhat of a pain the the butt to do. Adding lime to water results in "kalkwasser" which is used to maintain Ca levels in marine aquaria. However, to do this properly, you need to add the lime, mix and let the cloudy bits settle out. The cloudy material is the insoluble calcium carbonate. Then the clear, calcium rich portion is decanted off. This has to be done as soon as possible after it settles, because the kalkwasser will react with air to form more carbonates. However, I don't think it's worth the trouble, and for sure is not as potent as calcium chloride.

Generally, Ca only needs to be adjusted once or twice a season, unless you get a LOT of rain (several feet worth). The cost for CaCl is worth it in time savings.

Oh, and please don't use ice melter. God only knows what's in that stuff, as it isn't designed for swimming in. Is your health worth it to save a few cents?

Michael

[waterbear]

Oh, and please don't use ice melter. God only knows what's in that stuff, as it isn't designed for swimming in. Is your health worth it to save a few cents?

Michael

What in it is 73-80% calcium chloride. If you look up most cacium increasers at the pool store they also say that they are calcium chloride in that same range. All I know is that is whay I was sold at the local Pinch a Penny pool store. Where is Ben when you need his knowledge?