2 part dosing cost comparison (DIY vs. Brand Names)

[oscarinw]

Hi all,

I use the Randy Holmes recipe for 2-part dosing and was wondering how much money that is saving me versus purchasing the brand Calcium, Alkalinity and Magnesium additives. So I decided to compare prices.

Method:
I looked at 3 different major brands and their prices from online vendors. The prices don't include shipping because some vendors will ship for free after a certain purchase amount and the rates will vary depending on where you ship the merchandise to. I also utilized the shipped prices that I have payed for the materials required for the Randy Holmes DIY recipe.
In order to not hurt vendors or make enemies, I have left brand names out of this write-up.
Where my prices for the DIY recipe come from:
Alkalinity (baking soda): Grocery store
Calcium (Calcium chloride dihydrate): Ebay
Magensium A (magnesium chloride hexahydrate): Ebay
Magensium B (Epsom Salts): Grocery store

Data:

BRAND A
Alkalinity ($20 for 1gal)
Ca ($20 for 1gal)
Mg ($30 for 1 gal)

BRAND B
Alkalinity ($18 for 1gal)
Ca ($18 for 1gal)
Mg ($23 for 1 gal)

BRAND C
Alkalinity ($27 for 1gal)
Ca ($27 for 1gal)
Mg (Dry) ($20 for enough to make 1 gal)

DIY
Alkalinity (Dry) ($0.77 for enough to make 1gal)
Ca (Dry) ($4.11 for enough to make 1gal)
Mg (Dry) ($3.55 for enough to make 1 gal)

Assumption:

This calculation assumes that all liquids and dry mixtures result in the same concentration.

Example:

I currently dose approximately 1.4 gallons of Alkalinity, 1.9 gallons of Calcium and 0.22 gallons of Magnesium per month.

In Brand Name additives, this would cost:

Alkalinity -> 1.4 x $21.66 (brand average) = $30.33
Calcium -> 1.9 x $21.66 (brand average) = $41.54
Magnesium -> 0.22 x $24.33 (brand average) = $5.35
For a total monthly projected cost (in my case) of $77.22

In DIY additives, this actually costs me:

Alkalinity -> 1.4 x $0.77 = $1.08
Calcium -> 1.9 x $4.11 = $7.8
Magnesium -> 0.22 x $3.55 = $0.78
For a total monthly projected cost (in my case) of $9.66

For a savings of $67.56 a month or almost 800%!!

Conclussion:

Brand Alkalinity is approximately 28 times more expensive than DIY.
Brand Calcium is approximately 5.3 times more expensive than DIY.
Brand Magnesium is approximately 6.9 times more expensive than DIY.

 

[ca1ore]

I was a dyed in the wool 'branded 2-part' guy for a long time and it got really expensive. Initially I switched to the dry chemicals with a similar level of savings. Even better, though, was getting my calcium reactor in shape to fully replace the need for 2-part. I now spend $22/year on reactor media and $15/year on CO2; so about $3 per month. OK, there is a sizable up-front investment in a reactor, and you'd probably never justify it based on a $7 monthly delta, but its worth thinking about for the stability.

 

[lespaul339]

Where do you guys get your calcium chloride and magnesium chloride from? What brands do you use? I'm having trouble finding it in stores around where I live.

I think I'm going to give this a go once I run out of my brand name stuff.

 

[downbeach]

I used BRS for those chem's.

 

[ryeguyy84]

I started using prestone driveway heat a while back and I barely made a dent in my $10 20LB bag.

at 2 cups per gallon I wouldn't even be able to guess how many gallons of Cal I can get out of this bag.

I still buy my MG from BRS, it just wasn't worth the effort for something that I don't use that much of.