Anyone tried Esv bionic Salt?

[Diamond Jack]

I'm gonna give it a shot. My tank isn't full of huge colonies or anything. My goal is to keep up with weekly or biweekly water changes and to not use any supplemental additives.

Anyone else try this salt yet?

 

[CLeadfootS]

Seems a little pricey for salt. What's so good about it?

 

[silentscream]

I've been using it for close to two years now. My motivation for using it in the first place was consistent parameters. Using bucket salt in the past always resulted in different parameters each time I'd mix up 10-15 gallons because of the stratification that can occur in buckets. I would roll the buckets on the floor, flip them over and over again, mix it back and forth between buckets, but I could never get a consistent mix.

ESV's system has completely eliminated any variance in parameters, every time I make salt, I know it will mix to 10 dkh, 450 ppm Ca and 1450 Mg. No mater what quantity I mix up. Other bonuses to their salt is it is the cleanest mixing salt I've ever used; there is absolutely no residue left over in the mixing barrel, and no precipitation. You can also use the salt almost immediately after mixing (not that I've ever needed to).

It is pricey, but I buy the 200 gallon kit for about $95 shipped to my door from marine depot, and that lasts a couple months for my system.

 

[Diamond Jack]

Yeah I'm trying it so I can get a consistent mix. I only do small batches (5-10) and want the params close to the same each time. Will report back how it goes. I have always run reef crystals.

Tank is doing pretty decent, but I want to get it going even better.

 

[silentscream]

Nice tank. My advice when using ESV salt is to do all the measuring of the individual components by weight. I went to target and bought a food scale that I can measure out my quantities with because it's difficult measuring the liquids by volume with the measuring cups they provide-- especially on smaller batches.

 

[SerenityReef]

+1 that $7 scale will be the best companion purchase you can make. Like ESV in my tank, seen good changes.

 

[Diamond Jack]

Thanks guys. I will go buy a scale.

 

[greenhead]

Since it is a synthetic salt can u immediately start doing say 10% or a little more water changes with it? I currently run RC and am done with the brown crust it puts in my mixing containers. After every water change I see a bloom of this brown slime algae in my tank. And I personally know of 2 tank crashes that have been almost and I say that with extreme prejudice linked to reef crystals. One of those tanks being my absolute favorite Tank of the month tank ever posted. Lately I have noticed if I mix for over 48 hours the brown crust it puts off will actually freeze up the wp40 I use to mix the water with. It takes a small tap to get the crust out of the bushings so the pump will spin freely again.

I think RC is using more of that clay substance as of late to make the salt not clump up in the package which tells me they are adjusting something in their blend and I just don't know if I want to be using a product with that much of an ingredient in it which our systems do not need.

 

[Miz40B]

Since it is a synthetic salt can u immediately start doing say 10% or a little more water changes with it? I currently run RC and am done with the brown crust it puts in my mixing containers. After every water change I see a bloom of this brown slime algae in my tank. And I personally know of 2 tank crashes that have been almost and I say that with extreme prejudice linked to reef crystals. One of those tanks being my absolute favorite Tank of the month tank ever posted. Lately I have noticed if I mix for over 48 hours the brown crust it puts off will actually freeze up the wp40 I use to mix the water with. It takes a small tap to get the crust out of the bushings so the pump will spin freely again.

I think RC is using more of that clay substance as of late to make the salt not clump up in the package which tells me they are adjusting something in their blend and I just don't know if I want to be using a product with that much of an ingredient in it which our systems do not need.

I'm getting similar results using RC.

 

[silentscream]

Since it is a synthetic salt can u immediately start doing say 10% or a little more water changes with it?

Do you mean, can you immediately use it after mixing? If so, the instructions say to wait one hour if you are uncertain how well it has mixed.

I mix up 30-40 gallons at a time in a 55 gallon barrel, and run a pump briefly just before using it. I store water for up to a month before I need to refill the barrel, and when you look inside there is not a speck of residue left behind.

 

[greenhead]

No, I meant some salts don't mix well together. Like Red Sea and RC. You can crash your system unless you do very small blends until you have slowly changed the balance over. I was simply asking how it mixed with RC. Since they are both synthetic I assume it's ok but you never know..

 

[Diamond Jack]

I'm going to just do a 10% wc and see what happens. It can't be worse than my current rc bucket. Everytime I do a waterchange with it the corals and tank look worse for a few days!!! I used rc for years with no problem, but this has made me want to try something else.

Also sick of the crap/ residue that it has been leaving. Way more than it use to be. It actually seized up my maxijet that I was using. Had to give it a good cleaning to get it working good again.

 

[albano]

+1 to ESV, been using for over 2 yrs, do 50-60g WC 3-4 times a month, never a problem, mixes clean.
I actually measure out and 're-package' enough ingredients to do 6-10 WCs in advance.
Digital scale is a must.

 

[silentscream]

No, I meant some salts don't mix well together. Like Red Sea and RC. You can crash your system unless you do very small blends until you have slowly changed the balance over. I was simply asking how it mixed with RC. Since they are both synthetic I assume it's ok but you never know..

I switched to ESV from Red Sea Coral Pro which is not synthetic. I was doing 15% water changes weekly and didn't witness anything adverse.

 

[SammyJ916]

For the price they should provide a scale with it!!

 

[albano]

For the price they should provide a scale with it!!

It's actually often available at LFSs in NY area for about $60 for 200g box

 

[silentscream]

Dang, that's a good deal. The perks of living near the source!

 

[Diamond Jack]

Ok got the salt shipped in from Premium Aquatics. I bought it off their ebay store and shipping was free. I agree that having a food scale is a must for precise measurement of the 4 components. I'm amazed that the water is crystal clear after mixing everything together.

 

[robert s b.]

Tell me how it goes Marius, I have been looking into it. But seems to be a hassle just to mix it.