Updated 1/13/12

THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN PLASTER OF PARIS AND PRODUCTS SUCH AS WONDER SHELLS OR SEALAB

I have read in many places about the use of Plaster of Paris (& occasional Tums too??) as a mineral 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 such as 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 Oxide, Iron, Sulfur, Aluminum, Silica and mostly Calcium Sulfate.
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.

It is also noteworthy that Calcium Sulfate is not the best source for Calcium in a “living” aquarium environment; Calcium Hydroxide (Kalkwasser), Calcium Carbonate, or Calcium Gluconate (the calcium salt of gluconic acid, an oxidation product of glucose) are much better sources for calcium in an aquatic environment.
In plant and animal studies, calcium chloride and calcium sulfate (found in Plaster of Paris), have been known to cause problems, however the problem is generally associated with the anions Cl- or S04 rather than calcium which is a necessary nutrient for plant and animal life and EVEN in high amounts is safe by itself or in the other forms I recommended earlier in the paragraph.

There is also a lot of mis-understanding in the aquarium community as to how VERY important bio-available calcium is (again Calcium Hydroxide, Calcium Carbonate, Calcium Gluconate; NOT Calcium Sulfate found in Plaster of Paris). Calcium is a very important mineral/electrolyte for so many body functions such as muscle contraction which is initiated by a sudden increase in calcium concentration in the muscle cells. Calcium is also important in times of stress, which is why a new fish added to aquarium that has poor bio available calcium is very likely to get sick and often the aquarist blames the opportunistic disease rather than realizing that the fish may be suffering form the lack of electrolytes such as calcium.

Another ingredient found in Plaster of Paris is Silica; this mineral can cause algae problems (especially brown) and is especially troublesome in marine aquariums.

Plaster of Paris is also 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:
CALCIUM, KH, AND MAGNESIUM IN AQUARIUMS; How to maintain a Proper GH & KH, why calcium and electrolytes are important.


Tums in Aquarium

Although I have not used Tums in an Aquarium, I know enough about aquarium chemistry to know that the calcium carbonate that makes up this product are NOT a complete mineral source for all the essential positive mineral ions fish require, and despite some forums that recommend the use, it is quite obvious from reading material cited here that these should not be used either.
As well Tums have other added ingredients to add flavor, maintain freshness, add color, etc that have no business in your aquarium.

RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN OCEAN WATER AND INTERNAL CHEMISTY OF ANIMALS:

I brought up ocean water chemical analysis to make a point that is the plasma and internal chemistry of all animals and fish is similar in composition to the ocean. This is why many electrolytes (elements) are important in the chemistry of aquarium environment (even fish food!).

Rene Quinton is a scientist who died in 1925.
"He postulated that from the mineral point of view, human and marine plasmas are environments of the same nature. In other words, there is physical and physiological identity between seawater and the internal environment of the organism. Not only do they exhibit very similar mineral compositions, but the particular form, organization and synergy of trace elements and mineral salts that make up the saline matrix of seawater closely resemble those of the internal environment constituents."

http://www.oceanplasma.org/

For more about proper Osmotic Function in fish, pleas see this article:
PROPER OSMOTIC FUNCTION

SUMMARY;


Basically my point is that all you add to your aquarium (freshwater or saltwater) should emulate this ocean ratio as close as possible. In saltwater fish are constantly drinking the water around them for proper hydration and osmotic function so they are very sensitive to their water chemistry.
In freshwater the fish are absorbing the water around them for hydration and osmotic function so they are less sensitive to poor water chemistry, this said, that is why you can often get away with dumping Plaster of Paris in Aquariums or ponds. This in NO means you are providing the proper electrolytes your fish need. Using products such as Sea Chem Buffer, SeaChem Replenish, or Wonder Shells are more likely to achieve a better balance here.
Besides, why would you want to throw a product in your aquarium manufactured by heating gypsum?

References:
http://web1.msue.msu.edu/imp/modf1/05209702.html
http://www.oceanplasma.org/
http://www.chemistry.wustl.edu/~courses/genchem/Tutorials/Vitamins/calcium.htm

Labels: Aquarium GH, Aquarium Minerals, Boby Fish, Fish GH, Matrix, Plaster and Fish, Plaster of Paris, Pond Minerals, Tums, Tums Aquarium