ESV 2 part replacement ingredients?

[Thumbster]

I’m looking for a DIY solution to replace ESV 2 part but I am stuck trying to decide what ingredients I need to get and where to get them.

For alkalinity I’m pretty sure I can pick up some baking soda from the store but the calcium part has got me stumped. Dowflake at one point seemed to be recommended (and then it wasn’t) but I don’t see where folks are getting it and I’m not sure if that is what the latest recommendation is.

I’ve read so much that I’m stumped and I’m wondering if it’s even worth DIY’ing since I can get a gallon of ESV for less than $50 and it would last me quite some time. I’m a big fan of DIY though.

 

[exnisstech]

Maybe this will help? I think brs sells what is needed.

Randy Recommended DIY Two Part Recipes

There are a whole lot of different DIY recipes around now, and I thought I lay out the differences and my recommendations. In all cases, food grade, USP (pharma) grade, or Analytical Reagent/ACS grades are all good choices for materials. Lower or ungraded materials may be fine, but its more...

www.reef2reef.com

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

I’m looking for a DIY solution to replace ESV 2 part but I am stuck trying to decide what ingredients I need to get and where to get them.

For alkalinity I’m pretty sure I can pick up some baking soda from the store but the calcium part has got me stumped. Dowflake at one point seemed to be recommended (and then it wasn’t) but I don’t see where folks are getting it and I’m not sure if that is what the latest recommendation is.

I’ve read so much that I’m stumped and I’m wondering if it’s even worth DIY’ing since I can get a gallon of ESV for less than $50 and it would last me quite some time. I’m a big fan of DIY though.

Easiest place to get ingredients is BRS, but any food grade calcium chloride is good.

 

[Big E]

For the calcium chloride you can use Peladow.................get if from Amazon

Btw, Randy's or BRS are 3 parts and are not an exact replacement for ESV B-ionics 2 part

Just putting this info out for you before you decide to change.

A better understanding of ESV B-Ionic 2-Part

Hello fellow reefers. A few days ago I reached out to ESV Aquarium Products Inc via email and spoke with Mr. Bob Stark about their B-Ionic 2-Part. As I’m transitioning over from another 2-part product I wanted to know the potency of ESV (mainly the Alkalinity component) so that I could safely...

www.reef2reef.com

You can get the 8 gallon ESV buckets for 100 or under if you wait for sales. Not sure why you are paying so much for one gallon. That's 4 gallons of each solution, so around 25 per gallon. It's not premixed so you just add some RO water per directions.

8 Gallon Package - ESV B-Ionic Calcium Buffer System

Each ESV B-Ionic Calcium Buffer System has two components - Alkalinity and Calcium. When used in equal parts, easily maintain calcium and alkalinity levels with no mixing of powders, disruption of ionic balace or addition of organic chemicals. Formulated to provide all the proper ratios to...

www.bulkreefsupply.com

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

To effectively match ESV, my recommendation is diy alk and calcium parts, and then a third part that is Tropic Marin Balling Part C or Aquaforest mineral salt.

 

[Thumbster]

For the calcium chloride you can use Peladow.................get if from Amazon

Btw, Randy's or BRS are 3 parts and are not an exact replacement for ESV B-ionics 2 part

Just putting this info out for you before you decide to change.

A better understanding of ESV B-Ionic 2-Part

Hello fellow reefers. A few days ago I reached out to ESV Aquarium Products Inc via email and spoke with Mr. Bob Stark about their B-Ionic 2-Part. As I’m transitioning over from another 2-part product I wanted to know the potency of ESV (mainly the Alkalinity component) so that I could safely...

www.reef2reef.com

You can get the 8 gallon ESV buckets for 100 or under if you wait for sales. Not sure why you are paying so much for one gallon. That's 4 gallons of each solution, so around 25 per gallon. It's not premixed so you just add some RO water per directions.

8 Gallon Package - ESV B-Ionic Calcium Buffer System

Each ESV B-Ionic Calcium Buffer System has two components - Alkalinity and Calcium. When used in equal parts, easily maintain calcium and alkalinity levels with no mixing of powders, disruption of ionic balace or addition of organic chemicals. Formulated to provide all the proper ratios to...

www.bulkreefsupply.com

Thanks for the links and tips!
Looks like it will probably be simpler for me to get the gallon ESV. It is actually 2 gallons (1 gallon of each) for about $50 including tax and shipping. I only dose about 5ml a day right now so it will last me a quite a while.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

There’s nothing wrong with ESV, but it will be more expensive than diy.

 

[Thumbster]

There’s nothing wrong with ESV, but it will be more expensive than diy.

I’m a BIG proponent of diy and have used several of your recipes, but in this case, for the length of time it will take me to use this up, it’s just as easy and not too much more expensive to get the ESV.

Thank you again for your help in all of this!