- Hey, it's Thomas here.
And today we're going to be getting familiar
with ESV salt mix.
Yeah.
This is the only salt mix I've ever seen
that has more than one component.
It's actually got four components to mix up your salt,
which has its advantages.
So let's dive into it and find out
why you might actually want to add a few extra steps
to your salt mix routine.
Picking the right salt for your reef comes down
to more than just cost.
Not all salts are the same,
and depending on your needs,
one salt will definitely be a better choice over another.
What levels of alkalinity,
calcium and magnesium you want to achieve.
How quickly and easily they're going to mix up.
How long they can be stored for.
How much maintenance they require,
and also how much they're going to cost you
will ultimately determine which salt is right for you.
So with that said,
ESV's unique approach with their four-part salt mix
may tack on a few extra steps,
but you can kiss stratification issues goodbye,
and know that from the first batch of saltwater you mix up
to the last batch,
your levels will be ultra consistent.
It provides slightly elevated levels
of the major three elements for reefers that want
that little bit of extra wiggle room without shooting
for truly elevated dKh levels.
ESV is also pharma grade, mixes up clean and clear quickly,
has no trouble being stored for weeks,
which is perfect for those who want
to do automated water changes,
plus it's not going to leave any of that
crusty precipitate crud inside of your storage container,
which nobody likes,
especially if you're planning on storing it longterm,
so that you don't have to mix up salt as often.
And you can do small water changes whenever you want.
And skip some of that mixing process.
In the box you'll get a large bag of sodium chloride,
a smaller bag of magnesium sulfate, liquid component A,
liquid component B.
And if you got the starter kit version,
you'll get a set of Oxo measuring cups,
as well as a graduated cup.
And of course,
the mixing instructions with a chart,
depending on how much water you want to mix up.
ESV salt mix is available in three sizes,
50, 100 and 200 gallons.
You can get them as either a starter kit
that includes a set of measuring cups and a graduated cup,
or as refill kits that just include
the ESV salt mixing components.
Like I was touching on earlier.
ESV's salt mix is a really great middle of the road option
in terms of your calcium, alkalinity and magnesium levels.
While the levels are higher than natural seawater,
they aren't quite as high
as some of those elevated level mixes that many reefers use,
and overall it provides a really good middle ground
with an alkalinity of roughly 9 dKh,
a calcium level of 450 ppm,
and a magnesium level of 1400 ppm
when mixed to a salinity of 34 ppt.
Which is right around where most reefers
will mix their salt to.
So, if you want to give yourself a wider
and more forgiving safe zone for that alkalinity level
without having to run at truly elevated levels
of alkalinity, calcium and magnesium,
ESV is a really great option.
To mix up your ESV salt you have four separate components
that you add to your RO/DI water,
and the instructions walk you through
the process step-by-step.
First, you'll want to start with a known volume of water.
And thankfully ESV gives you plenty of exact measurements,
both by volume and weight,
based on how much salt water you want to mix up.
Starting with as little as one gallon,
all the way up to a hundred gallons.
They also provide some simple tips
for accuracy and consistency,
like starting with 10% less water
than you're intending to mix.
So you can adjust it by adding more RO/DI at the end,
if necessary.
And using a digital scale instead of measuring cups
for added accuracy.
After that,
it's just a matter of adding in the sodium chloride
and mixing until it's dissolved.
Then the magnesium sulfate until it's dissolved.
Then you can add liquid component A,
and mix it for one minute,
then liquid component B and mix it for one minute.
Double check your salinity is where it should be
with a refractometer or hydrometer.
And you're good to go.
Like I was saying earlier,
ESV is also a really great option for those who like
to mix up and store large batches of saltwater
for things like automatic water changes
or just for use later on.
Based on Randy's investigates,
it performed very well and had virtually zero changes
after weeks of storage.
Making it one of the best options for those reefers
who like to mix and store large batches.
Because of its purity,
it also makes for a very low maintenance option,
since it won't leave heaps of residue or off-white buildup
on the inside of your storage container,
or pumps and heater.
Speaking of that investigates episode,
another concern with salt mixes is stratification.
Stratification can affect how consistent a salt mix will be
from the first scoop at the top of that bag or bucket,
to the very last scoop at the bottom.
Because ESV has four separate components,
it is incredibly consistent and essentially immune
to stratifying out during shipping,
which is another unique perk of having
this four-part approach to salt mix.
Ultimately, if you're looking for a pharma grade salt
that's going to mix up clear, easily and quickly,
that is also super stable and can be stored
for weeks on end without worry about precipitate
and falling calcium or alkalinity levels,
that also doesn't leave your salt mixing container
encrusted with crud,
then ESV probably matches your reefing mantra.
And if you'd like to pick some up for yourself,
you can click right here.
(upbeat music plays)