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ESV Additives Info
| B-Ionic Calcium Buffer System |
B-Ionic Calcium Buffer is the original,
unique, easy to use, two-component liquid supplement system.
When using equal volumes of each component, the aquarist can
easily maintain calcium and alkalinity levels with no mixing
powders, disruption of ionic balance, or addition of organic
chemicals
B-Ionic Calcium Buffer System does not contain
phosphates or nitrates. In addition to supplying highly concentrated
calcium and carbonate alkalinity required for calcification,
B-Ionic Calcium Buffer System also provides all other important
major, minor, and trace elements in the proper ratios to duplicate
the composition of natural seawater. As a result, B-Ionic
Calcium Buffer System will help restore inorganic ions lost
from protein skimming and help maintain the ionic balance
of the aquarium water.
Our recommended starting dose is 1 ml. of
each component per 4 gallons of aquarium capacity per day.
Maintain alkalinity between 3.0 and 3.75 meq/liter (8.4 and
10.5 dKH) by testing daily and adjusting dose accordingly.
Depending on the degree of calcification occurring in the
aquarium, dose may have to be significantly increased over
our recommended starting dose. Never add more than 1 ml. per
gallon of each component in a 24 hour period, and never allow
pH to rise above 8.45. Once the proper dose has been determined
for your aquarium, testing can be performed less frequently.
If your aquarium tends to run at a higher pH (over 8.45) we
suggest you try our B-Ionic Calcium Bicarbonate System. When
using kalkwasser in addition to B-Ionic Calcium Buffer System,
follow the above procedure but start with 1 ml of each component
per 8 gallons of aquarium capacity per day. For more detailed
directions please refer to our product label.
Component #1 - Carbonate Alkalinity: 2800
meq/liter (7840 dKH). 1 ml per gallon of aquarium water will
raise alkalinity by 0.74 meq/liter (2.07 dKH).
Component #2 - Calcium Concentration: 54,000 ppm calcium ion.
1 ml per gallon of aquarium water will raise calcium concentration
by 16ppm.
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| B-Ionic Calcium Bicarbonate |
B-Ionic Calcium Bicarbonate System is a specially
formulated, lower pH version of our original B-Ionic Calcium
Buffer System. Some marine aquaria can naturally run at high
pH levels (peaking over 8.45 pH) if bright lighting, algae
scrubbers, or extended photo periods drive carbon dioxide
uptake from photosynthesis faster than carbon dioxide replenishment
from the atmosphere and heterotropic respiration. In these
systems, it may be counter-productive to use calcium and alkalinity
supplements which put further demand on available carbon dioxide,
resulting in higher pH. Since high pH can limit calcium and
carbonate alkalinity levels, these aquaria are best suited
for lower pH calcium and alkalinity supplementation methods,
such as calcium carbonate reactors which deliver calcium bicarbonate
to the aquarium via dissolution from carbon dioxide injections.
Our new B-Ionic Calcium Bicarbonate System
also delivers calcium bicarbonate, but without the high initial
cost of a calcium carbonate reactor, and without the fear
of nutrient contamination from calcium carbonate media. B-Ionic
Calcium Bicarbonate System employs all of the benefits formulated
into our original B-Ionic Calcium Buffer System, except alkalinity
is predominantly in the form of bicarbonate, rather than carbonate.
When bicarbonate ions are used by calcifying organisms to
form their skeletons, carbon dioxide is released as a by-product,
thereby lowering the system's demand from other sources. Since
B-Ionic Calcium Bicarbonate System does not raise pH, it need
not be added daily, depending on the calcium and alkalinity
demand on the aquarium. Since calcium and alkalinity are in
separate components, these parameters can be adjusted independently
compared to calcium carbonate reactors which deliver calcium
and alkalinity at a fixed ratio. Automated dosing systems
are also available.
For aquaria which tend to run at lower pH
levels, our original B-Ionic Calcium Buffer System would perform
the best. B-Ionic Calcium Bicarbonate System is one quarter
the strength of our original formula because bicarbonate salts
are less soluble than carbonate salts. We've addressed this
by lowering the price and offering a highly concentrated (partially
powdered) version in addition to the ready-to-use form. The
aquarist simply fills the concentrate bottles with RO and/or
DI water. This reduces shipping costs and makes this product
competitive with the purer calcium carbonate reactor media.
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| B-Ionic Magnesium |
Through the chemical process known
as "ion-pairing", magnesium ion concentration influences
the saturation point for calcium corbonate in solution. In general,
the further the magnesium concentration drops from natural seawater
levels (1350 ppm), the more difficult it becomes to maintain
adequate levels of both calcium and alkalinity. Magnesium also
plays an important role in stabilizing pH by interacting with
the buffer system of seawater.
B-Ionic Magnesium is an easy to use one component
liquid supplement which, when used with B-Ionic Calcium Buffer
or kalkwasser, will not disrupt the ionic balance of closed
marine aquaria. B-Ionic Magnesium does not contain nitrates,
phosphates, organics, or chelating agents. B-Ionic Magnesium
contains 60,000 ppm magnesium, and one mL will raise one gallon
of aquarium water by 15 ppm.
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| Potassium Iodide 1% |
Our Potassium Iodide Solution is
a very pure form of iodide. Iodide is an important micro-nutrient
for many marine plants. It has also been suggested that iodide
may play an important role in enhancing a coral's ability to
adapt to rapid changes in light intensity and spectrum. Our
recommended dosage is 1 drop per gallon per week (1 ml per 20
gallons per week).
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| Calcium Hydroxide |
Calcium Hydroxide is the proven
standard for maintaining calcium concentration and alkalinity
in closed marine aquaria. The calcium provided is directly used
by calcifying organisms, and the hydroxide ions provided readily
convert dissolved CO2 into bicarbonate and carbonate ions, which
are also directly used by calcifying organisms. The net result
is no ionic imbalances in the aquarium water, which can occur
through the prolonged use of other calcium supplements, such
as calcium chloride.
Our product is extrmely pure and meets American
Water Works and Water Chemicals Codex Specifications. This
means it's pure enough to be used in low-levels as potable
water additive by water municipalities. Due to the high pH
of Calcium Hydroxide solutions, it's important to add slowly
("dripping" is best) to your system so as to prevent
localized precipitation and the resultant loss of alkalinity.
Our packaging includes lot number, date tested, and the date
filled. We also provide complete instructions for use.
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| Strontium Chloride |
Our Strontium Chloride Solution
is a very pure and concentrated form of strontium, free of phosphates
and nitrates. The aquarist should be aware that Strontium Chloride
does not add bicarbonate and carbonate ions to the system. Since
most calcifying organisms require these ions in addition to
strontium ions, the aquarist should monitor alkalinity frequently
when using Strontium Chloride and make the proper adjustments
with a buffer additive.
Exactly how strontium suplementation benefits
marine aquaria is a subject open for debate. Some have demonstrated
its effectiveness in precipitating orthophosphate from the
water column. This could result in less problem algae blooms
and enhanced calcification of corals and coralline algae by
lowering phosphates, which has been shown to "poison"
calcification. Others have speculated that less energy is
required for calcifying organisms to extract strontium carbonate
than calcium carbonate because of greater insolubility. Regardless
of the mechanism involved, there is strong anecdotal evidence
that marine aquaria dosed with Strontium Chloride show increased
growth rates of coralline algae and hard corals. There have
been reports of suspected strontium toxicity to aquarium inhabitants
when large doses were applied, so we recommend that the aquarist
not exceed our maximum recommended dose.
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| Calcium Chloride |
Our Calcium Chloride is a very
pure anhydrous grade free of phosphates and nitrates. The advantage
of using Calcium Chloride as a calcium supplement in marine
aquaria is its very high solubility in water. This property
allows the aquarist to rapidly adjust calcium concentrations
to desired levels. The aquarist should be aware that Calcium
Chloride does not add bicarbonate and carbonate ions to the
system. Since most calcifying organisms require these ions in
addition to calcium ions, the aquarist should monitor the alkalinity
frequently when using Calcium Chloride and make the proper adjustments
with a buffer additive. Calcium Chloride can directly reduce
alkalinity by elevating the calcium ion concentration to excessively
high levels and thereby initiate the precipitation of calcium
carbonate from the water. This may or may not be visibly detectable,
depending on the magnitude of precipitation.
Excessive use of Calcium Chloride may disrupt
the balance of ions in a marine system by the continued addition
of chloride ions. Since saltwater contains such a large concentration
of chloride ions, it would take a very long time before significant
chloride imbalance would occur, especially if water changes
are performed. We recommend Calcium Hydroxide as a better
long-term calcium supplement, but Calcium Chloride can be
very useful in restoring proper calcium ion levels should
they drop while using Calcium Hydroxide.
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| Bromide-Flouride Supplement |
Our Bromide-Fluoride Supplement
conservatively adds these important major ions which can be
depleted via calcification and biological organic synthesis.
Fluoride is concentrated in coral skeleton and may play an important
role in calcification. Some marine organisms use bromide to
synthesize organic anti-microbial compounds which may enhance
their ability to resist disease. Bromide, like iodide, is also
highly concentrated in many marine algae. Any export of these
algae from the system, such as harvesting algae filters and
photosynthetic particulate removal via protein skimming, could
result in depletion of bromide.
Dosage: 1 ml per 6.5 gallons aquarium water
per week.
Ionic Concentration:
Bromide: 26,255 ppm
Fluoride: 488 ppm
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