Can I add tums into my tank for calcium?

[FriendlyLoach]

I have a 40 gallon planted tank with neons, honey gourami, cherry shrimp, and snails. I am trying to feed my shrimp some calcium, so can I give them tums? Also if I crush the tums up and sprinkle it into my tank, will it add calcium into my tank's water, or can I just feed it to them? 

[Pakal]

15 minutes ago, FriendlyLoach said:

I have a 40 gallon planted tank with neons, honey gourami, cherry shrimp, and snails. I am trying to feed my shrimp some calcium, so can I give them tums? Also if I crush the tums up and sprinkle it into my tank, will it add calcium into my tank's water, or can I just feed it to them? 

This video should help: 

 

[BlackLabelCarling]

My snails prefer the pink ones (cherry)? in the Tums assorted fruit mix 😂

Edited February 9, 2021 by BlackLabelCarling
typo

[Marnol D]

I use the mint tums and my snails and shrimp both eat off of them. I have been doing this for almost a year now with no negative side effects. ( I would suggest putting the tums on a flat rock or feeding dish as not to powder coat the substrate). My plecos and other fish will also nip and feed on them. 

[CT_]

Has anyone noticed what this does to kh or ph?

My kh is sorta low, 3degrees, but my ph is pretty high  7.8 so i don't really want to raise it any more.  but I'd like to give my shirmp a bit more carbonate.

[Marnol D]

@CT_ I havent noticed a change since i usually only add two tabs at a time.

[FriendlyLoach]

Is it okay if the tums are quite old, like a year or more? 

[BlackLabelCarling]

15 minutes ago, FriendlyLoach said:

Is it okay if the tums are quite old, like a year or more? 

Calcium carbonate does not expire they just put expiration dates on bottles for retail purposes. 

[Fishhh]

But do y'all throw them in whole? Or do you crush it up and sprinkle it in?

[Mmiller2001]

Here's another option.

https://www.amazon.com/GlasGarten-Mineral-Junkie-Shrimps-Crayfish/dp/B089K8KG8S/ref=sr_1_5?crid=2BWZT6IR2ACE7&dchild=1&keywords=shrimp+mineral&qid=1620572945&sprefix=shrimp+mineral%2Caps%2C239&sr=8-5

[H.K.Luterman]

Whenever I use Tums, it's just eaten, so it's a good dietary supplement for snails and shrimp. I've tossed it in whole and everyone just goes to town on it, even the fish. Lately I like to crush it up and mix it in with Repashy food specifically for my snails. I've never noticed any difference in my Kh from it.

[tonyjuliano]

They eat them because of the sugar content, not because of the calcium - or because it is healthy for them.

Tums do not belong in an aquarium, IMO.

[Hobbit]

If you’re just looking to add calcium to the water, you can always use straight-up calcium carbonate powder. It will make the water look white and cloudy for a bit. Don’t add too much at a time—it will raise your pH a bit as it raises your buffer (KH).

https://www.amazon.com/North-Mountain-Supply-Calcium-Carbonate/dp/B01M23Y8LR/ref=sr_1_7?dchild=1&keywords=Calcium+carbonate&qid=1620648180&sr=8-7

If you’re looking to get your fish/snails to eat calcium, I’ve seen a lot of people crush tums into snello recipes (snail jello—jello for snails). Then it’s mixed in with veggies and spirulina. Part of a complete breakfast. 😉 

@BIG GREEN I thought the same thing 😅 but if it works for other people, hey, that’s great! Do what works.

[gardenman]

Cuttlebone is an aquarium safe alternative way to get extra calcium into your tank. Pet shops sell them in the bird supplies and they can take a while to sink in a tank, but they will eventually sink. They're mostly aragonite so if you don't want to add aragonite in the form of crushed coral, you can simply drop in a cuttlebone or two. (Cuttlebones are easier to remove than crushed coral also if you decide you don't need them later.) 

[Tanked]

For what it is worth, I drop a few common seashells  in the back of the tank for the snails and shrimp to snack on.  Having very hard water, I'm not sure any supplements are needed.

[Colu]

You can feed them hikari shrimp cuisine and snail pellets that have add calcium

[tonyjuliano]

Ways to add calcium...

1. Crushed Coral / Aragonite
2. Cuttlebone
3. Eggshells (yes, the chicken kind!)
4. Calcium Carbonate
5. Wonder Shells

Of these I prefer option #4, because you can precisely dose and have more control over the overall GH of the tank.

[Bru]

I use tums and usually within 24 hours I see a bunch of shrimp molts, so from what I can tell it helps them. I used to breed cherry and ghost shrimp by the tons in a 100 gallon and this was always part of a varied diet. If it's too messy for you just feed it the day before a water change and you can clean up the excess tums powder when vacuuming.

[CatfishLoachZealot]

Apparently kale is the calcium king of the veggies, so a leaf or two of that a week might work well if you want to go the organic route.