Gypsum Powder (Calcium Sulfate)

Water analysis, treatment, and mineral recipes for optimum taste and equipment health.
Birdcollin
Posts: 69
Joined: 6 years ago

#1: Post by Birdcollin »

I stumbled on a water recipe online that uses Gypsum Powder. I noticed that when mixing the concentrate that the powder doesn't dissolve. Has anyone used Gypsum as a mineral additive and what is your experience?

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homeburrero
Team HB
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Joined: 13 years ago

#2: Post by homeburrero »

Can't say I've tried it, and I don't think I want to. Calcium sulfate is weakly soluble in water and the solubility goes down when water is heated, which may produce difficult to remove calcium sulfate deposits. (Typical descaling methods don't dissolve calcium sulfate.)

Most of the popular DIY recipes that use a sulfate salt use Epsom salt (magnesium sulfate) and little or no calcium salts, thereby avoiding potential for calcium sulfate deposits.

Note:
I think TWW uses magnesium sulfate and about 300 mg/gallon calcium citrate hydrate , which when dissolved gives you calcium and sulfate ions together. But the amount of calcium is low.
Pat
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