While shopping at my local farm store, I came across "Sweet Barn Lime". Bag says for dairy barn cleaning. On the back of the bag it says " High Purity Calcium Carbonate ". 50 lbs bag for $ 5.99, so I wonder if this can be used instead of oyster shell ??
Thanks
The Ole Bohunk
Calcium Carbonate
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- der wo
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Re: Calcium Carbonate
Yes. And 50lbs is enough for a long long time...
In this way, imperialism brings catastrophe as a mode of existence back from the periphery of capitalist development to its point of departure. - Rosa Luxemburg
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Re: Calcium Carbonate
Hmmm BoHunk is alive... i know he don't answer his phone when someone tries to call.... just figured he didn't have cell service in heaven...
happy stillin,
FS
call if and when you can sir
happy stillin,
FS
call if and when you can sir
Do it Safely read The safety section: http://homedistiller.org/forum/viewforum.php?f=33
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New Distillers Reading: http://homedistiller.org/forum/viewforum.php?f=46
Hookline's Basic Still Designs: http://homedistiller.org/forum/viewtopi ... =1&t=18873
Re: Calcium Carbonate
Because it is a powder it has huge surface area compared to whole shells, so it won't act as a buffer the same way. It's pretty hard to stuff up using whole shells and you can usually get away with just chucking in a handful and forgetting about pH.
Add this stuff with caution, measuring and recording pH changes to learn how to use it.
Add this stuff with caution, measuring and recording pH changes to learn how to use it.
- der wo
- Master of Distillation
- Posts: 3817
- Joined: Mon Apr 13, 2015 2:40 am
- Location: Rote Flora, Hamburg
Re: Calcium Carbonate
The calcium carbonate for gardening is not really fine milled normally. But even if, it's not possible to rise the pH in a yeast unfriendly range with it because somewhere at pH 4-5 it stops solving. I experimented with pure and hot backset directly from the still. I dumped in more and more powdered calcium carbonate, but the pH didn't go over 4.5. The most of it remained unsolved at the bottom, even after a few days.
Imo you can chuck in and forget just like with shells. I usually use 1tbs per 10l mash or wash. The most of it will be unsolved after fermentation.
Imo you can chuck in and forget just like with shells. I usually use 1tbs per 10l mash or wash. The most of it will be unsolved after fermentation.
In this way, imperialism brings catastrophe as a mode of existence back from the periphery of capitalist development to its point of departure. - Rosa Luxemburg
Re: Calcium Carbonate
Thanks for the response, the bag says " course ground ", but I have oyster shells, and will continue using that. Just interested in this form, a small 4 oz bottle of Calcium Carbonate costs $ 2.99, and a fifty pound bag of this costs $ 5.99. I might just pick up a bag, if I never use it, I'll think I beat the system.
Tim, sorry but I almost never carry my phone, but we'll talk again one day. Thought you'd have forgotten me by now !!
The Ole Bohunk
Tim, sorry but I almost never carry my phone, but we'll talk again one day. Thought you'd have forgotten me by now !!
The Ole Bohunk
Re: Calcium Carbonate
Ha ha. I could have bought a 2lb bag of slaked lime, but spent a dollar more and ended up with a 56lb bag that filled up two of my fermenters. I hardly ever use It.
Re: Calcium Carbonate
Calcium carbonate will correct pH faster than shells but if it isn't ground too fine it will have a similar buffering effect... Excessively fine calcium carbonate can potentially over-correct pH and should be used sparingly over time...