Keep in mind that you are treating the dirt (pond bottom ) not just water. The lime that is not absorbed by the water initially will improve the pond bottom ph and later the water. It looks like 1 gallon of Calcis = 15.66 lbs of ag lime. How does cost compare ?
Eric, current MAP (minimum advertised pricing) is as follows...
Priced Per GAL
2014-2.5 39 LBS 2.5 GAL...... $26.46
2014-5 78 LBS 5 GAL.......... $24.81
2014-30 470 LBS 30 GAL....... $23.74
2014-55 861 LBS 55 GAL....... $23.10
2014-250 4015 LBS 250 GAL.... $20.98
Here in Missouri, a lower mid Grade Ag Lime (Missouri legal minimum of 60% passing a 40 mesh) runs $28.50/ton, While a high grade Dolomite (80% passing a 60 mesh) out of Springfield MO runs 78.75/ton....both are FOB prices....Free delivery of the cheaper stuff with a 25 ton minimum, and a $10/ton spreading charge.....The High Grade stuff was $1200/30 ton delivery to my client....Plus renting a spreader truck, front loader, etc...
FWIW, Calcis is shipped for free for 60 gallon or larger orders
With travel, spraying 8 acres, multiple water testings, etc, total applied was $6300 for 250 gallons.
I'll add, it took about 3 hours to slowly cover the 8 acres while spraying....Had I washed in 50 ton of conventional Ag Lime from the barge at about 1200 pounds per run, it would have taken at least 2 full days to do, maybe 3. And, there is no comparison to the coverage consistency of the Calcis versus Ag Lime, since the Calcis readily disperses throughout the water column as it is sprayed and sinks.....Ag Lime will often get blasted into the water in spotty patches as it gets hit by the water spray, and there is no way to know exactly where each Ag Lime load stops and starts when applied.
