anyone use Foster & Smith bulk calcium chloride?

DFW · Dec 11, 2014

If you use this, and/or the mag chloride, please tell me what you think of the product/products! Does the mixture get hot when you mix with water as they say that it does? Does it make a clear solution, or is it hard to dissolve? Thanks!

hart24601 · Dec 11, 2014

I have been using their calcium and their carbonate for alk. It does get warm, all calcium that is anhydrous will since it doesn't have the water attached like BRS calcium, but you get more calcium for the weight. I wouldn't say hot, but warm. No problems dissolving for me. Been working fine for my tank, it would be nice if they said what grade it was, but DFS generally doesn't put their name on junk, so I am trusting them to be ok.

DFW · Dec 11, 2014

hart24601 said:
I have been using their calcium and their carbonate for alk. It does get warm, all calcium that is anhydrous will since it doesn't have the water attached like BRS calcium, but you get more calcium for the weight. I wouldn't say hot, but warm. No problems dissolving for me. Been working fine for my tank, it would be nice if they said what grade it was, but DFS generally doesn't put their name on junk, so I am trusting them to be ok.

Thank you very much for the feedback! There is not much in the way of reviews to be found online!

So it is actually anhydrous, which means it goes further than the brs stuff. Is it clear looking, or cloudy looking after you mix it? How about the magnesium chloride? I will probably use baking soda from the grocery store. Thanks again!

reefknight · Dec 11, 2014

A friend of mine has tried out a couple of these products. I don't recall which one remains cloudy for him. He usually siphons the clear solution off the top and doses it, leaving the precipitate in the bottom of the jug. I know when he called Dr's F&S they told him that the product is produced for them by Fritz, which has been providing chemicals for aquatics for years. Hope this helps!

hart24601 · Dec 11, 2014

I have not used their magnesium, I still have some of BRS stuff. I don't remember either the calcium or alk leaving anything on the bottom, but it has been a month or so. I will try and make some tonight and double check.

DFW · Dec 11, 2014

reefknight said:
A friend of mine has tried out a couple of these products. I don't recall which one remains cloudy for him. He usually siphons the clear solution off the top and doses it, leaving the precipitate in the bottom of the jug. I know when he called Dr's F&S they told him that the product is produced for them by Fritz, which has been providing chemicals for aquatics for years. Hope this helps!

It sounds like he might be using their kalk. Thanks!

DFW · Dec 11, 2014

hart24601 said:
I have not used their magnesium, I still have some of BRS stuff. I don't remember either the calcium or alk leaving anything on the bottom, but it has been a month or so. I will try and make some tonight and double check.

Thank you!

beaslbob · Dec 11, 2014

Fwiw I got anhydrous calcium chloride (cal-chlor?) from a local redimix concrete place.
25 pound bag was $9 or so.
magnesium chloride was harder to get but I found a local industrial chemical supplier who ordered a 50 pound bag for $20 or so. then did have to ship it in but did not change for any shipping.
used to give the stuff away at local club meetings.

ksanfranfan · Dec 11, 2014

I use the DFS Calcium Chloride for my tank and as mentioned, it does get warm when added to RO/DI water because of its anhydrous nature. It mixes clear as well and works perfect for my calcium needs.
I also use the DFS Magnesium Chloride and the DFS Calcium Hydroxide ( Kalkwasser). All of these products have worked well for me and just as good if not better than other brand name products.
I haven't tried their Sodium BiCarbonate of Sodium Carbonate yet but I'm sure that it would work just as well as the other products that they sell under their brand.

DFW · Dec 11, 2014

beaslbob said:
Fwiw I got anhydrous calcium chloride (cal-chlor?) from a local redimix concrete place.
25 pound bag was $9 or so.
magnesium chloride was harder to get but I found a local industrial chemical supplier who ordered a 50 pound bag for $20 or so. then did have to ship it in but did not change for any shipping.
used to give the stuff away at local club meetings.

very interesting! How long have you used these, and are you keeping a lot of acros?

DFW · Dec 11, 2014

ksanfranfan said:
I use the DFS Calcium Chloride for my tank and as mentioned, it does get warm when added to RO/DI water because of its anhydrous nature. It mixes clear as well and works perfect for my calcium needs.
I also use the DFS Magnesium Chloride and the DFS Calcium Hydroxide ( Kalkwasser). All of these products have worked well for me and just as good if not better than other brand name products.
I haven't tried their Sodium BiCarbonate of Sodium Carbonate yet but I'm sure that it would work just as well as the other products that they sell under their brand.

This is the information that I need! Thank you for taking the time to help me!
David

beaslbob · Dec 11, 2014

DFW said:
very interesting! How long have you used these, and are you keeping a lot of acros?

I used them on two tanks for 5 years or so. Both have been taken down when we moved to a new house. I didn't keep much sps or acro corals.
That said those materials were used by several club members who did have sps tanks with great success.
To make it more interesting at the redimix place I drove up in the gmc envoy amounst all the cement trucks, with construction workers in hard hats and the like. Just me and my non tie type business casual type clothes.
The guy asked me what I need it for and I explained for a marine aquarium to dose calcium. He just gave me a bag. No charge. So 25 pounds of anhydrous calcium chloride for nothing. :xd:

DFW · Dec 11, 2014

I have just emailed a local chemical company about getting a bag. I will likely go with F&S, but who knows? They may want to give me a bag!:xd:

-Logzor · Dec 11, 2014

I just bought two buckets of the Ca and Alk. It was more than $20 cheaper than BRS. I'm guessing it's the same stuff.

DFW · Dec 12, 2014

-Logzor said:
I just bought two buckets of the Ca and Alk. It was more than $20 cheaper than BRS. I'm guessing it's the same stuff.

The 5 gallon buckets are 115 each delivered from brs, and 56 each delivered from f&s to me here in Fort Worth.

-Logzor · Dec 12, 2014

I got them for 50 each from the Black Friday sale but shipping was free.

hart24601 · Dec 13, 2014

It's not the same stuff as the calcium is anhydrous and more concentrated, but I assume they are both good!

-Logzor · Dec 13, 2014

Does that mean it only needs 2 cups per gallon verses the 2.5 for BRS?

Randy Holmes-Farley · Dec 13, 2014

-Logzor said:
Does that mean it only needs 2 cups per gallon verses the 2.5 for BRS?

Yes, that's about right.

ksanfranfan · Dec 13, 2014

DFW said:
This is the information that I need! Thank you for taking the time to help me!
David

You are welcome and no problem at all. I've been using their products for almost a year now,about 11 months almost to the date. Personally I'm very satisfied with the DFS supplemental products and haven't had any issues using them in my tank.