Calcium Chloride Source?

dja1980 · #1 10/25/2007, 10:36 AM

I’ve been trying to find an inexpensive online source for Calcium Chloride since I’ve been unsuccessful at finding it locally. However, I can’t imagine that it will be much longer before the stuff starts hitting the shelves around here… with cold weather right around the corner.

I do have one question. I found one online source that offers both Peladow AND Dowflake for the same price. My understanding is that Peladow (pellets) is more concentrated, and less is required to make a 1 gallon batch. The Dowflake (flake), on the other hand, is much more consistent as to how much moisture it contains (more consistent batches). If the two products are the same price, which one am I better off purchasing?

I also found some products not mentioned in the RHF articles. They are from a manufacturer named Milazzo Industries and go under the labels Qik Joe (pellets) and Hot Stuff (flake). Has anyone had any experience with this stuff? According to the RHF articles, as long as the product is food grade or pharmaceutical grade, it should be ok, but I can’t find this information about this product. It looks like it’s more expensive than the Peladow/Dowflake with shipping, but I might pick it up if I saw it locally. http://www.milazzoindustries.com/snow-ice.htm

So here’s what I’ve found so far. Pricing includes shipping to Naperville, IL. If anyone else has a good source for Calcium Chloride (local or online), please let me know.

Peladow 25lb $19.04 ($.76/lb. – waresdirect.com)
http://www.waresdirect.com/products/...ow-25-Bag87611

Dowflake 25lb $19.04 ($.76/lb. – waresdirect.com)
http://www.waresdirect.com/products/...ake-25-Lb87612

Qik Hot Stuff 20lb $22.14 ($1.11/lb. – idealtruevalue.com)
http://www.idealtruevalue.com/servle...l?sfs=9f39e094

Qik Hot Stuff 50lb $40.65 ($.81/lb. – idealtruevalue.com)
http://www.idealtruevalue.com/servle...l?sfs=9f39e094

Qik Joe 20lb $24.14 ($1.21/lb. – idealtruevalu.com)
http://www.idealtruevalue.com/servle...l?sfs=9f39e094

Qik Joe 40lb $37.07 ($.93/lb. – idealtruevalu.com)
http://www.idealtruevalue.com/servle...l?sfs=9f39e094

dja1980 · #2 10/25/2007, 11:48 AM

Well, I did more research and it looks like the Milazzo Industries product (Qik) is actually Dow under a different label. The problem is that after digging into this, I found out about the Bromide problem with Dow beginning in 2007. Has anyone else heard of this?

Here's the discussion I found over on "The Reef Chemistry Forum"
http://archive.reefcentral.com/forum...readid=1222473

dja1980 · #3 10/25/2007, 01:58 PM

Another source I found:

Dowflake 50lb $40.09 ($.80/lb. – coolpooldeals.com)
http://coolpooldeals.com/index.asp?P...D&ProdID=11794

saleenpwr88 · #4 10/25/2007, 02:28 PM

twopartsolution.com: Cost is a little more, but I would rather use the high purity calcium chloride! 35lbs for $49.99. They also have Dow Flake for $1 lb.

dja1980 · #5 10/25/2007, 02:40 PM

Thanks! Do those prices include shipping by chance? I'll have to check it out. All the prices I quoted above include shipping to Naperville. I'm find that shipping on this stuff can cost as much, if not more than the actual product. Thanks again for the info.

I'm also waiting for a call back from Tetra Chemicals to see if their product if available locally. Supposedly, their product is the most pure of all the products available. I'll let you know what I find out.

dja1980 · #6 10/25/2007, 03:46 PM

Dowflake 35lb $51.62 ($1.48/lb. – twopartsolution.com)
http://www.twopartsolution.com/index...roducts_id=170

Dow Food Grade Anhydrous Pellets 35lb $66.62 ($1.90/lb. – twopartsolution.com)
http://www.twopartsolution.com/index...roducts_id=169

robsee06 · #7 10/25/2007, 05:14 PM

Ummm....

You have a 24 gallon tank and you are comparing prices on bulk calcium chloride?

I purchased Dowflake from Buckeye for my 120 reef. I think I bought like 10 pounds. It is going to last a very long time.

Order whatever is convenient for you or from whomever has the most reasonable shipping.

robsee06 · #8 10/25/2007, 05:16 PM

I'm sorry...what I wrote above came out wrong...

My point is order the stuff that everyone is using instead of some stuff that is unfamiliar to everyone. With your size tank, it is not going to make any difference price wise so just get the stuff that has proven itself in the hobby.

Randy1 · #9 10/25/2007, 05:37 PM

Prestone driveway heat.

dja1980 · #10 10/25/2007, 07:37 PM

Thanks Robsee. Yeah, that was kind of the point of this thread. I've been searching everywhere locally trying to find the stuff, but it's too early in the season to be out on the shelves yet. Honestly, if I could find 10 lbs at a hardware store, I'd pick it up regardless of the price. However, since I've had to resort to the Internet to find it, I figured I might as well get the best bang for my buck, and figured it might be helpful to some of the other locals with larger demands to find an inexpensive online source. Now the problem I've run into, after doing some research, is the Dow bromide issue, which affects many different labels including Prestone Driveway Heat. Thinking I might luck out and find some stock locally from last winter (should still be virtually free of bromide), I stopped at Farm & Fleet and True Value on my way home from work, but no luck. I'm thinking I will just have to resort to LFS prices for now.

robsee06 · #11 10/25/2007, 11:29 PM

Good Luck My Friend...

Randy1 · #12 10/26/2007, 05:54 AM

I just bought some ESV Calcium chloride from lfs to get the through till lowes has driveway heat.

dja1980 · #13 10/26/2007, 08:42 AM

Randy1, aren't you worried about the bromide in the new production of Driveway Heat?

treejohnny · #14 10/26/2007, 12:28 PM

i use prestone driveway heat as well.....and i am in the same boat as i am out as well......local farm and fleet it hoping to get some in by next weekend.
what is the deal with bromide......havent heard of that issue yet?

dja1980 · #15 10/26/2007, 01:57 PM

Bromide Issue:
http://archive.reefcentral.com/forum...readid=1166963

Randy1 · #16 10/26/2007, 07:02 PM

The indredients are Calcium Chloride to my knowledge. Never had a problem.

Quote:

Originally posted by dja1980
Randy1, aren't you worried about the bromide in the new production of Driveway Heat?

kimha · #17 10/26/2007, 08:18 PM

You forgot to search on reef central

. You can get 3 bags of dow flake (25lb/ea) from me for just $20

Randy1 · #18 10/27/2007, 08:45 AM

I just found driveway heat at autozone. I read the link above and was not aware of this increased additive. Can anyone substainite this claim with proof of the unsafe conditions? If you hang around these forums long enough like I have you can tell manufacturers are here dispensing counter-intelligence marketing if you will. They're in a sense convincing us to buy their more expensive product over someone Else's. I'm not saying this is the case but I've definitely see it on this forum and others. I appreciate members bring these thing to our attention so that we are able to exercise caution if needed.

dja1980 · #19 10/28/2007, 03:13 PM

Randy1, you make a good point about "counter-intelligence marketing". I have not found any examples of unsafe conditions, but I also understand that bromide is difficult to test for. Also, from what I understand, it's not that Dow has "increased" an additive, but rather they are no longer removing the bromide to save on production costs. I did get a call-back from someone over at Tetra Chemical, and he knew of the bromide issue at Dow before I even mentioned it. In fact, he started out by recommending the Dow product due to its availability, but when I mention it would be used as a calcium source for an aquarium, that's when he mentioned the bromide issue. However, that still doesn't confirm any unsafe conditions. To be honest, I don't know what the effects of bromide are in our tanks, but from what I've read, it doesn't sound like it's a good thing, and I'm not sure that I want to risk adding anything to my tank that I can't test for.

On a side note, i did learn that DampRid (moisture absorber) can also be used as a calcium source as well. This can be found at most hardware stores including Home Depot, Lowes, etc. for around $10 for a 4lb bucket. The nice thing about this is it is available year round. I Googled Damprid+reef to find this information. I think I might post this over in the chemistry forum to see of others have had success with this product

Randy1 · #20 10/29/2007, 05:14 PM

Ok. Maybe I will get some of that and save the driveway heat for the driveway. I'm looking at calcium reactors anyway.

Chicago · #21 10/29/2007, 05:56 PM

is there an issue then withthe high purity grade of dow pellets i just got from twopart solutions?

treejohnny · #22 10/29/2007, 06:18 PM

I have been on the fence about going the calcium reactor route as well. I have read alot, it looks like the way to go. I should just bite the bullet and get it done with...

Randy1 · #23 10/29/2007, 07:28 PM

I think I'm going with reeftek.com and then the co2 package deal from aquacave.com

dja1980 · #24 10/30/2007, 10:09 AM

Chicago, from what I've read, the bromide issue will affect ALL calcium chloride products by Dow.

Original Letter:
http://www.dow.com/calcium/news/August_2005_add.pdf

As for twopartsolutions.com, link over to that thread about the bromide issue, and look for posts by "Snarkys"... he or she is twopartsolutions.com, and it sounds like they've got things under control over there.

dja1980 · #25 10/30/2007, 02:31 PM

Hey, you guys that are looking at calcium reactors, did you happen to see the Thread Of The Month back in July? I was sold on going the calcium reactor route too, but after reading that thread, it sounds like setting up an automatic dosing system for 2 part is the way to go.

"Ca Reactor vs. 2-Part System"
http://archive.reefcentral.com/forum...readid=1134839