Re: [GSAS-Member] Bulk chemicals - help!

[Steev Ward <steevward@yahoo.com>]

It's mostly because carbonates raise the pH and sulfates don't. So sulfates 
aren't
really buffers. But people might have other reasons for avoiding sulfates. In 
marine
tanks I think people avoid adding any sulfates. Otherwise Magnesium sulfate, 
epsom
salts, is great stuff. I think it is good to add for LOTS of fish, not just 
cichlids.
Especially livebearers, goldfish, koi, rainbowfish, "sharks", corys, and barbs.


--- Clifford Miller <clifford@clevergeek.com> wrote:

> 
> While the topic was up I thought I'd get some opinions on the buffering
> agents I'm using.  Better to use Magnesium Carbonate than sulfate?
> 
> I currently use a mix of epsom salts, baking soda and marine salt in my
> cichlid tanks.  Nice and cheap, and easy to get at any drug store if not
> already on hand. The fish all seem to be doing well (I haven't lost any
> fish yet, including the 13 daffodils that I think were from Erik.)
> 
> Thanks,
> 
> Cliff
> 
> 
> > Hmm, interesting... certainly a possibility for the CaCO3 (if not for the
> > MgCO3).
> >
> > As an aside, I did consider going ultra-cheap with something like Dolomite
> > from a garden center... but there I'm worried there might be TOO much bad
> > stuff for the fish.  Various web resources seemed to confirm this.
> >
> >    - Erik
> >
> > On Sat, 26 Jul 2008, Connie Carlson wrote:
> >
> >> Have you tried any feed stores/livestock supply houses??  I do not know
> >> for sure but would guess that these are also used as mineral supplements
> >> for cattle, etc.
> >>
> >> It might be worth an internet search or phone call (DeYoungs in
> >> Woodinville & Sumner Animal Grub in Sumner are ones I have dealt with in
> >> the past for such things, but there are many others here locally) and
> >> you could probably get them in manageable quantities if so (ie one 50#
> >> bag).
> >>
> >> Good luck!
> >> Connie
> >>  ----- Original Message -----
> >>  From: Erik Olson<mailto:erik@thekrib.com>
> >>  To: gsas-member@thekrib.com<mailto:gsas-member@thekrib.com>
> >>  Sent: Saturday, July 26, 2008 4:24 PM
> >>  Subject: [GSAS-Member] Bulk chemicals - help!
> >>
> >>
> >>  For the past umpteen years, Kathy and I have foregone the pricey
> >> "Cichlid
> >>  Salts" and mixed our own formula for our Lake Tanganyika tanks.  This
> >>  formula consists of dumping in roughly equal parts Calcium Carbonate
> >> and
> >>  Magnesium Carbonate.  It's cheap, it's relatively accurate for Lake
> >>  Tanganyika, and it's not so harsh on plants.
> >>
> >>  Unfortunately, our umpteen year supply just ran out, and we're kinda
> >>  stumped where to get more.  We tried Welch-Allyn, which has reasonably
> >>  decent prices on both, but they cancelled our order because we're not
> >> an
> >>  educational institution.  Bah!  How utterly annoying.
> >>
> >>  Anyway, does anyone have any ideas where one might obtain inexpensive
> >> Mag
> >>  Carb and Calcite?  Also, if others are interested, I might try to
> >>  coordinate a group buy.
> >>
> >>     - Erik
> >>
> >>  --
> >>  Erik Olson
> >>  erik at thekrib dot com
> >>  _______________________________________________
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> >> 
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> >
> > --
> > Erik Olson
> > erik at thekrib dot com
> > _______________________________________________
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> 
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