Turtle Heath Block

[ErinF]

Hi, just wondering if anyone has used a mineral and calcium block intended for turtles and their shells to help with shedding etc? I'm new to shrimp keeping but have done some research and work at a pet store and spotted the blocks and was just wondering if this was something people did. 

 

Thanks ?

[jayc]

@ErinF, welcome to SKFA.

The problem with those blocks is that they keep on releasing calcium into the water, and subsequently over saturate the water with calcium. Too much calcium is just as bad as not enough. Eggs will be harder, and thus harder to fertilise. The shrimps carapace will get too hard and moulting will become an issue with adult shrimps. 

The constant release of calcium will play havoc with water parameters.

Better to add calcium and magnesium in your water changes. You got to do the water changes anyway, so adding Ca and Mg from remineralising mixes like Salty Shrimp GH+ is no extra work.

[ErinF]

7 minutes ago, jayc said:

@ErinF, welcome to SKFA.

The problem with those blocks is that they keep on releasing calcium into the water, and subsequently over saturate the water with calcium. Too much calcium is just as bad as not enough. Eggs will be harder, and thus harder to fertilise. The shrimps carapace will get too hard and moulting will become an issue with adult shrimps. 

The constant release of calcium will play havoc with water parameters.

Better to add calcium and magnesium in your water changes. You got to do the water changes anyway, so adding Ca and Mg from remineralising mixes like Salty Shrimp GH+ is no extra work.

Excellent information thank you! 

[jayc]

No problem.

Those calcium blocks DO have their uses however.

If your pH is too low and constantly stays too low, a small chip off the calcium block can be added to the tank to maintain pH.