Preston Driveway Heat may be a killer

falconut · #1 02/03/2007, 12:50 AM

I went by some of the people on RC who said they used it long term without any problems. I added the required amount (as I've been doing with Kent Turbo Calcium) about two weeks ago. On Monday I noticed that my anemone crab was dead, just laying on the bottom. The next day I noticedthat the tail section of my cleaner shrimp was internally turning white. Yesterday it was dead. This may just be coincidence, but the Driveway Heat will now only be used on the driveway.

I hear that DowFlake is safe to use and cheaper than turbo calcium. Is this definitely accurate or should I stick with the Turbo Calcium?

drummereef · #2 02/03/2007, 01:51 AM

I've been using it for a couple months now with no problems. Cleaner shimp is happier than ever. Wonder if there's something else going on here...

reefnetworth · #3 02/03/2007, 04:18 AM

ive been using Dowflake for over a year, never had a problem. i mix mine 5 cups to one gallon. its almost the same as Kent Turbo Calcium. appx. 100,000 ppm. i use 10 mL per gallon of tank water once week, in a 70G.
John...

jiggly75 · #4 02/03/2007, 05:28 AM

I've been using prestone driveway heat for a year now in my 180 with no problems. I use 2cups per gallon and use Randys calculator.

falconut · #5 02/03/2007, 08:04 AM

Does the Driveway Heat dissolve easily in the RO water for you? It tok alot longer to dissolve than the Turbo Calcium, I just figured it was because the pellets were bigger. I didn't even notice the container getting hot either, like with Turbo Calcium. Maybe I got a bad batch. We'll see how well it works on the driveway for melting ice.

Randy Holmes-Farley · #6 02/03/2007, 09:13 AM

Dowflake is definitely safe to use. I've carefully tested it for purity myself. It exactly matches some aquarium brands.

I also suspect the Prestone Driveway Heat was not responsible here.

How much did you add at once to the tank?

falconut · #7 02/03/2007, 04:59 PM

I added about 18.5 tsp (like the calculator said) over a half an hour period.

Does it matter if the Driveway Heat was from a 50# bag?

reefnetworth · #8 02/03/2007, 05:47 PM

18.5 tsp? in a 90? in .50 minutes? anyone wanna chime in on that one? appx. 92.5mL? am i correct?
John M?...

Hobster · #9 02/03/2007, 05:50 PM

FWIW, I have been using it for over a year. It gets very hot when added. Mine is a 25lb bag.

reefnetworth · #10 02/03/2007, 06:10 PM

how much did your ca rise? just courious.
FWIW, mine gets warm, i use Dowflake 50# bag. also, for mixing i bought a hand mixer from w-mart for $4.99, it helps alot. i mix 1/2 at once in a 5 galllon bucket, when its clear i slowly add the rest. using a paper funnel i pour it into a one gallon container.
John M...

falconut · #11 02/03/2007, 08:35 PM

It was really low = 330. I used the amount needed to raise 110 gallons from 330 to 405+/-. I have done this plenty of times with no ill effects using the Turbo Calcium.

So the opinion is that it wasn't the Driveway Heat itself, but maybe the quantity used in the short time period? I still have about 49+lbs of it, should I still try it, just in smaller amounts?

What do others think?

Buster4900 · #12 02/03/2007, 09:28 PM

I would give the driveway heat another try. I like others have had no problems. Just saving $$

acrylic_300 · #13 02/04/2007, 02:12 AM

No problems here either. It gets hot enough that you can smell the plastic container melting if you don't mix it fast enough.

jdieck · #14 02/04/2007, 02:39 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by falconut
It was really low = 330. I used the amount needed to raise 110 gallons from 330 to 405+/-. I have done this plenty of times with no ill effects using the Turbo Calcium.

So the opinion is that it wasn't the Driveway Heat itself, but maybe the quantity used in the short time period? I still have about 49+lbs of it, should I still try it, just in smaller amounts?

What do others think?

Usually up to 100 ppm in one shot is not a problem although I usually recommend 50 ppm in the calculator to reduce the risk of the potentil effect of unknown impurities.
In any case note that the Driveway Heat will be more closely related to Peladow which is more concentrated than Dow Flake and less concentrated than TurboCalcium.
I also do not think the Prestone DW heat might be the cause here. In any case it does not hurt to look for other potential causes.

Randy Holmes-Farley · #15 02/04/2007, 08:53 AM

So the opinion is that it wasn't the Driveway Heat itself, but maybe the quantity used in the short time period? I still have about 49+lbs of it, should I still try it, just in smaller amounts?

Did you dissolve it in fresh water first?

falconut · #16 02/04/2007, 10:07 AM

Yes, I dissolved it in RO water and then poured it into the tanks overflow so it mixes really well. I added about a cup at a time (1 cup water and about 3 tsp of the Heat) until I reached the correct amount. I do the same method with the unbaked baking soda.

I guess I could try it again.

Randy Holmes-Farley · #17 02/04/2007, 11:33 AM

Next time try adding it extra slowly just to be sure.

Hobster · #18 02/04/2007, 12:03 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by falconut
Yes, I dissolved it in RO water and then poured it into the tanks overflow so it mixes really well. I added about a cup at a time (1 cup water and about 3 tsp of the Heat) until I reached the correct amount. I do the same method with the unbaked baking soda.

I guess I could try it again.

Here you said:

"I added about 18.5 tsp (like the calculator said) over a half an hour period.

Does it matter if the Driveway Heat was from a 50# bag?"

You don't just mix up 1gal at a time using 2 cups of the Peladow (DW heat)?? and then use that?

jiggly75 · #19 02/05/2007, 03:59 PM

I buy mine in 50 lb. bags from lowes with no problems.