[chotee]

Just wondering if anyone out there knows of a freshwater safe (copper free) calcium supplement.

I have been researching this a little online and haven't come up with any products. That being said I have read of people putting antacids and those stones for birds to groom their beaks on in the tank. As well some people have also said they use saltwater or lizard calcium supplements. I am hesitant to use anything of this nature as I would not know the appropriate amount to dose. As well I am weary of the copper content in some of these products.

The reason this is of concern to me is because we have a bunch of apple sails which are breeding. Even with housing them in multiple tanks and placing some aragonite in a media bag in the filter we are having trouble keeping enough calcium in the water for proper shell development. I have even purchased other shells and have watched many disintegrate in the water but this does not appear to be a solution even with a load of them in the tank. Over time their shells are degenerating and holes are appearing...we have had a number of snail deaths which I suspect is due to their shells.

So if you have any suggestions I would appreciate any insight into this I could get. Would be a bonus if this was a safe/natural DYI item or a product that could be purchased online as I live in a place with limited access to aquarium products and I have found nothing in any of my LFS that is good for this purpose.

Thanks in advance.