Caution with food grade NaOH

[LobsterOfJustice]

What lithium level?

Typically 300 - 400, sometimes up to ~600, but my two most recent tests have been 1314 ug/L (Triton ICP-OES) and 1534 ug/L (Oceamo ICP-MS).

 

[Miami Reef]

Which calcium chloride do you use?

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

Which calcium chloride do you use?

When I tested it long ago, it was an impurity in some brands of calcium chloride and not others.

https://reefs.com/magazine/aquarium-chemistry-purity-of-calcium-chloride/

 

[Miami Reef]

When I tested it long ago, it was an impurity in some brands of calcium chloride and not others.

https://reefs.com/magazine/aquarium-chemistry-purity-of-calcium-chloride/

I know it’s just a correlation, but everyone who claimed to have rising lithium also used a specific calcium brand online. I have no evidence if it’s true. I’ve been sticking with BRS because it’s proven for me and don’t want to take risks.

 

[Miami Reef]

I know of at least 2 people who had this lithium issue. I’m curious if @LobsterOfJustice is also using that calcium…

 

[LobsterOfJustice]

Earthborn Elements, from Amazon.

 

[Miami Reef]

Earthborn Elements, from Amazon.

Yep. That’s the same one those other people used. I know it says food grade, so I don’t know how likely it can contain lithium. I would never use that product for my tank after seeing so many cases of this. It was like the only variable for those people.

Of course, I can’t be 100% sure. I just would not use it in my tank.

 

[Miami Reef]

Here’s a picture the other guy I helped sent me. He also dosed sodium hydroxide. He initially reached out to me via pm, asking if IO purple was the culprit. He was also wondering about the sodium hydroxide.

I dose GALLONS of sodium hydroxide (pic in first post. We used the same brand). I’ve used IO purple very long-term. I never had an elevated lithium issue with countless ICP done throughout the years. The main difference between me and you guys is the calcium chloride; I use BRS.

I need to put a disclaimer that I can’t be 100% sure it’s the calcium chloride. I did not test that product. It’s also food grade, so I’ve always been skeptical to point a finger at it.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

Yep. That’s the same one those other people used. I know it says food grade, so I don’t know how likely it can contain lithium. I would never use that product for my tank after seeing so many cases of this. It was like the only variable for those people.

Of course, I can’t be 100% sure. I just would not use it in my tank.

I don’t think lithium is among the specifications. It is not a high tox chemical in people.

The search ai I just used gives these as the specifications for food grade (fcc grade) anhydrous calcium chloride. I think this is likely to be accurate since an AI can read it out of the fcc codex (an expensive book that lists all
Food grade specs).

• Assay: Typically ranges from 93.0 to 100.5%.
• Acid-Insoluble Matter: Limited to a maximum of 0.02%.
• Arsenic (As): Limited to a maximum of 3 mg/kg.
• Fluoride: Limited to a maximum of 0.004%.
• Lead (Pb): Limited to a maximum of 5 mg/kg.
• Magnesium and Alkali Salts: Limited to a maximum of 5.0%.
• pH of a 1 in 20 aqueous solution: Typically between 4.5 and 11.0.
• Identification: Positive for calcium and chloride.
• Appearance: Should be a white, granular or crystalline solid.
• Hygroscopic: Calcium chloride is hygroscopic, meaning it readily absorbs moisture from the air.

 

[Miami Reef]

I don’t think lithium is among the specifications. It is not a high tox chemical in people.

Excellent. So that means there’s a possibility it could have it. Lithium is great at having low toxicity. It’s a fantastic medication (salt. Lithium carbonate) for bipolar I. It is also very well studied to significantly reduce suicidal ideation with very little side effects. I have no idea why lithium has such an effect. It’s fascinating.

Of course, my tank doesn’t need to accumulate lithium. I wouldn’t want it to, but it has a low toxicity profile.

 

[LobsterOfJustice]

Yep. That’s the same one those other people used. I know it says food grade, so I don’t know how likely it can contain lithium. I would never use that product for my tank after seeing so many cases of this. It was like the only variable for those people.

Of course, I can’t be 100% sure. I just would not use it in my tank.

Well dang. I've looked for something comparable in price but just cant find it. The BRS is basically 2x the cost, and I go through a lot. But, if it keeps an impurity out of my tank, maybe its worth it. I will say, the price of the one I use has gone up tremendously over the last few months, so the decision to switch is a little less painful now than it was a year ago.

Lithium is great at having low toxicity. It’s a fantastic medication (salt. Lithium carbonate) for bipolar I. It is also very well studied to significantly reduce suicidal ideation with very little side effects. I have no idea why lithium has such an effect. It’s fascinating.

Well maybe thats the reason none of my fish are jumping out of the tank

 

[djkms]

I just switched from the BRS calcium chloride to the Earthborn Elements calcium as well (around the middle of June). Same reason, about half the cost. I dose roughly 350ml per day in a 600 gallon system.

My last 3 Oceamo ICP-MS lithium levels were:

03-03 - 227ppb
05-01 - 231ppb
06-26 - 217ppb

I am due to have another ICP go out next week and will report back my number in a couple weeks to add to the data here.

 

[LobsterOfJustice]

I'm dosing around 320 mL per day in a 400 gal system, but I make my solution more concentrated than typical. I use about 7 lb of the CaCl pellets into 4 gal of RODI water.

 

[Miami Reef]

I just switched from the BRS calcium chloride to the Earthborn Elements calcium as well (around the middle of June). Same reason, about half the cost. I dose roughly 350ml per day in a 600 gallon system.

My last 3 Oceamo ICP-MS lithium levels were:

03-03 - 227ppb
05-01 - 231ppb
06-26 - 217ppb

I am due to have another ICP go out next week and will report back my number in a couple weeks to add to the data here.

Looking forward to it. Thanks.

 

[djkms]

Just received my ICP test back.
08/26 - 347ppb

Looks like I'm not going to use the Earthborn elements calcium anymore.

Are there any other good sources for bulk calcium chloride other than BRS?

 

[Miami Reef]

Just received my ICP test back.
08/26 - 347ppb

Looks like I'm not going to use the Earthborn elements calcium anymore.

You meant 357 ug/L, right? If so, that’s good! That’s excellent. That’s where mine is at.

The people above were getting 1,000+ ug/L. How long have you been using the calcium product?

 

[djkms]

You meant 357 ug/L, right? If so, that’s good! That’s excellent. That’s where mine is at.

The people above were getting 1,000+ ug/L. How long have you been using the calcium product?

Read a couple posts up :)

It's not good because I just switched and it's already climbing.

ug/l = ppb

 

[KStatefan]

Just received my ICP test back.
08/26 - 347ppb

Looks like I'm not going to use the Earthborn elements calcium anymore.

Are there any other good sources for bulk calcium chloride other than BRS?

I have not looked at it but Captiv8 has it.

 

[djkms]

I have not looked at it but Captiv8 has it.

Good call on that one! Not sure why I didnt think of that considering I buy all my elements from them. Thank you!