Plaster of Paris in Aquariums: Is This The Best Method For Adding Calcium, Electrolytes And GH?

I have read in many places about the use of Plaster of Paris as a calcium source for both ponds and freshwater aquariums (I too have used this many years back when old timers in the hobby suggested its use for ponds to me). However, with the exception of a calcium emergency (or possibly to absorb pollutants in a pond in bulk, which I have used Plaster of Paris for), Plaster of Paris is not the same as products like Wonder Shells or Sealab blocks. My own years of use have shown me the vast difference in fish health and vitality.

In this article I will hopefully explain this a little more scientifically.

PLASTER OF PARIS:

Plaster of Paris is manufactured by heating gypsum at 120o - 160oC. When Plaster of Paris is mixed in water it dehydrates and form dense matrix of gypsum crystal.

Here is a list of ingredients of Plaster of Paris:

*CaSO4 , 1/2H2O: 97.97%
* SiO: 0.94%
* Al2O3: 0.69%
* Fe2O3: 0.28%
* MgO : 00.12%

What I see here is some Magnesium, Iron, Sulfur, Aluminum, Silicone and mostly Calcium.
Where is the Strontium, the Sodium, Potassium and more? These ratios are also NO WHERE near correct for proper assimilation.

This is not to say that products such as Wonder Shells or Kalkwasser are also spot on in these ratios, however they are much closer than this (or at least Wonder shells are). This also why Marine Buffer by Sea Chem is better for KH control as the proper ratios are applied in this product.

Plaster of Paris is a poor choice for GH or Calcium as Calcium needs to be in the proper ratios with other elements such as Magnesium to be utilized by aquatic life (such as osmotic function).

PROPER OCEAN CHEMICAL ANALYSIS:

By contrast here is the chemical composition of the ocean as a percentage:

Chloride- 55.03%
Sodium- 30.59%
Sulfate- 7.68%
Magnesium- 3.68%
Calcium- 1.18%
Potassium- 1.11%
Bicarbonate- 0.42%
Bromide- 0.19%
Borate- 0.08%
Strontium- 0.04%
Fluoride- 0.003%
Other- less than 0.001%

As you can see, calcium is actually less than magnesium, so even the Wonder Shells that I promote are out of balance here. The Calcium in Wonder Shells is used as a carrier and will raise your GH, at least the other proportions (with the obvious exceptions of Chloride and Sodium) are in basic proportion to this other than the Calcium.

For more about Calcium, Electrolytes in aquariums, please read this article:

Tags: aquarium

Related posts

• Your First Cichlid Aquarium (0)
• Your Child’s First Pet (0)
• Yellow Tetra (0)
• X-Ray Fish (0)
• Will You Need A Fish Tank Stand For Your Aquarium? (0)

Tags: aquarium