Confused on dosing ESV B-Ionic

[mike550]

I am starting to use ESV B-Ionic, and up until now, I have been dosing Component #1 (Alk) and #2 (Calcium) in separate proportions to achieve my target of 8.4dKH and 450 Calcium. The directions suggest dosing each part equally (1ml / 4 gallons). But I’m confused since it seems like my consumption rates for Alk and Ca are different

So am I supposed to dose 1 ml / 4 gallons or adjust dosing to my target parameters?

Thanks in advance!

 

[Joe Rice]

I just finished my first two gallon bottles of B-Ionic. At first, I found that my consumption rates for alk and Ca were different as well, but as I tweaked it over the course of the month so that levels remained stable I noticed that the consumption rates converged. Not sure if this will continue, but I was surprised when both bottles ran low at the same time.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

It is ok to dose an off 1:1 ratio, but In truth, your actual consumption will be very close to that. The main thing that throws off the ratio are water changes with a mix that does not match the tank, or those few processes that mess with alkalinity, such as a sulfur denitrator, rising or falling nitrate (or dosing it), or using tap water for top off.

Do not dose based on gallons. Start dosing both parts equally to maintain alkalinity, and adjust the calcium up or down slowly to stabilize calcium.

 

[mike550]

I just finished my first two gallon bottles of B-Ionic. At first, I found that my consumption rates for alk and Ca were different as well, but as I tweaked it over the course of the month so that levels remained stable I noticed that the consumption rates converged. Not sure if this will continue, but I was surprised when both bottles ran low at the same time.

Thanks. It sounds like you managed your own dosing levels (not just equal parts each day) but that over time it evens out?

 

[Mastiffsrule]

Hi,

That guy @Randy Holmes-Farley likes to make his own stuff up ;Happy . He even made up his awesome wicked calculator to help the rest of us do dosing.

Esv is a great product and the man is a genius. follow the dosing and your tank will balance out. (and read his articles)

Are you dosing manually or set up automatically ?

Reef Chemistry Calculator

Edit, Ps, Thanks to Randy. Don’t get enough thank you from people I think. Read tons of your stuff.

 

[bam123]

Dose both parts evenly. Go lower then suggested on the bottle by at least 1/3. For example, I have a 70 gallon system. I started off with 5ml each for both parts. Wait a few days, and adjust slowly. Check the same time each day. For example I started at 5ml and dkh dropped to 7.6. Went to 10ml and went to 8.4. Went to 7ml fell to 8.3. Goal for me is dkh 8.2. Now at 6ml will check and adjust. I have an apex doser so it's a little easier to be precise. I never check calcium. If I am growing tons of coralline algae, its gotta be good.

 

[tehmadreefer]

ESV was created to dose in equal parts as it helps supplement other things like mag I believe?

 

[mike550]

Hi,

That guy @Randy Holmes-Farley likes to make his own stuff up ;Happy . He even made up his awesome wicked calculator to help the rest of us do dosing.

Esv is a great product and the man is a genius. follow the dosing and your tank will balance out. (and read his articles)

Are you dosing manually or set up automatically ?

Reef Chemistry Calculator

Edit, Ps, Thanks to Randy. Don’t get enough thank you from people I think. Read tons of your stuff.

Yep! Completely agree that we’re lucky to have @Randy Holmes-Farley helping us out!

I received my doser last week and have been bench testing it to make sure I understand how to operate it and that all is okay. My plan is to add the doser to my system this weekend. So for the past couple of weeks I’ve been dosing manually and trying to get a sense of consumption rates.

Always open to suggestions or advice!

 

[Mastiffsrule]

My suggestion would be to use his calculator first. Fill in the numbers on the calc and it will show you what you need to dose to get you system balanced and to your target #. (I’ll put a ex. at the bottom)

Once the 2 are balanced and at the correct level you can start to dose the 1:1 ratio. Then you just test to determine daily consumption rate to set your dosers. When you set the dosers they should add each product in equal amounts, but at separate times of the day.

Here is an example using his calculator on a 100 gallon take. After you put in the target numbers make sure the balanced alk and calc line match up and you have your numbers. (2.9meq/l converts to roughly 8.12 Dkh)

 

[mike550]

My suggestion would be to use his calculator first. Fill in the numbers on the calc and it will show you what you need to dose to get you system balanced and to your target #. (I’ll put a ex. at the bottom)

Once the 2 are balanced and at the correct level you can start to dose the 1:1 ratio. Then you just test to determine daily consumption rate to set your dosers. When you set the dosers they should add each product in equal amounts, but at separate times of the day.

Here is an example using his calculator on a 100 gallon take. After you put in the target numbers make sure the balanced alk and calc line match up and you have your numbers. (2.9meq/l converts to roughly 8.12 Dkh)

@Mastiffsrule thanks for your explanation and example. So if I understand what you and @Randy Holmes-Farley are saying is that if my desired Alk is 8.2 (as in your example) then I should target 419 ppm for Calcium to be balanced. is that right?

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

@Mastiffsrule thanks for your explanation and example. So if I understand what you and @Randy Holmes-Farley are saying is that if my desired Alk is 8.2 (as in your example) then I should target 419 ppm for Calcium to be balanced. is that right?

it does not really matter where your calcium is, but start with it wherever you want to keep it.

 

[mike550]

Quick update and would appreciate some guidance. I now have my Alk and Ca levels where I want. I also know that I need to supplement Alk at 3ml/day. So am I supposed to dose both Alk and Ca at 3ml/day?

My Ca consumption suggests around 20ml / day -- but trying to follow the suggestion to does in equal parts / 1:1 ratio.

Thanks in advance!

@Zirco @Randy Holmes-Farley @Mastiffsrule @bam123 @tehmadreefer

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

Quick update and would appreciate some guidance. I now have my Alk and Ca levels where I want. I also know that I need to supplement Alk at 3ml/day. So am I supposed to dose both Alk and Ca at 3ml/day?

My Ca consumption suggests around 20ml / day -- but trying to follow the suggestion to does in equal parts / 1:1 ratio.

Thanks in advance!

@Zirco @Randy Holmes-Farley @Mastiffsrule @bam123 @tehmadreefer

Unless you are supplementing alkalinity some other way, I don't believe the calcium demand is really 7 times higher than expected based on the alkalinity demand, but if for whatever reason that works (dosing pumps out of balance, water changes messing with ratios, etc.), then it is fine to dose what you need. For example, if you are using a high alk and normal to low calcium mix for water changes, that will skew the demand.

my suggestion is to start at equal parts to maintain alkalinity, then slowly over a week or more, increase the calcium dose if the calcium is falling below where you want it.

 

[mike550]

Unless you are supplementing alkalinity some other way, I don't believe the calcium demand is really 7 times higher than expected based on the alkalinity demand, but if for whatever reason that works (dosing pumps out of balance, water changes messing with ratios, etc.), then it is fine to dose what you need. For example, if you are using a high alk and normal to low calcium mix for water changes, that will skew the demand.

my suggestion is to start at equal parts to maintain alkalinity, then slowly over a week or more, increase the calcium dose if the calcium is falling below where you want it.

Thanks @Randy Holmes-Farley I'll start with equal amounts of Alk and Ca and see how things go.