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

oscarinw · 05/13/2015, 10:56 AM

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 · 05/13/2015, 11:26 AM

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 · 05/14/2015, 01:09 PM

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 · 05/14/2015, 01:15 PM

I used BRS for those chem's.

ryeguyy84 · 05/14/2015, 01:19 PM

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.

05/13/2015, 10:56 AM	#1
oscarinw Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Western Massachusetts Posts: 1,091	2 part dosing cost comparison (DIY vs. Brand Names) 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.

05/13/2015, 11:26 AM	#2
ca1ore Grizzled & Cynical Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Stamford, CT Posts: 17,319	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. __________________ Simon Got back into the hobby ..... planned to keep it simple ..... yeah, right ..... clearly I need a new plan! Pet peeve: anemones host clowns; clowns do not host anemones! Current Tank Info: 450 Reef; 120 refugium; 60 Frag Tank, 30 Introduction tank; multiple QTs

05/14/2015, 01:09 PM	#3
lespaul339 Reefer Join Date: Aug 2012 Location: Iowa Posts: 903	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. __________________ Reefer Madness! Current Tank Info: 60x24x24 150 gallon reef, 55 gallon sump.

05/14/2015, 01:15 PM	#4
downbeach Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Smyrna, Delaware Posts: 3,767	I used BRS for those chem's.

05/14/2015, 01:19 PM	#5
ryeguyy84 Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: New Jersey Posts: 2,753	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.