B-Ionic Reef Keeping (BRK)
B-Ionic® stands for "Balanced Ion Technology;" the foundation upon which ESV’s B-Ionic® Calcium Buffer System, the first ionically balanced two component, was developed in 1995. Through this technology, our products are aimed at maintaining and improving the overall ionic balance of your aquarium water. We offer the ultimate in product quality, consistency, and purity. This is accomplished through rigorous quality control, expert formulation, raw material selection, and product purification. We start by selecting chemicals with extremely low heavy metal impurity levels, which is of most concern. In many cases we choose FCC grade chemicals over USP grade. In those cases, the FCC grade is certified to have less than half the heavy metal (as Pb) content of USP grade. B-Ionic® Reef Keeping (BRK) strives to simplify the science and art of reef maintenance, moving it further away from more complex methods.
Compatible with most aquarium setups and reef keeping methodologies
Enhanced Nutrient Control
With the Transition Element products, along with the soon to be released B-Ionic® Nitrogen, the aquarist can control nutrient levels to reduce or eliminate the use of Ferric Hydroxide, or other phosphate removal media.
No ICP Testing Required
With BRK, the overall ionic balance can be monitored at home with readily available test kits. While ICP testing can be valuable in diagnosing problems, it is not required with BRK. Since most elements are going into the aquarium with B-Ionic® Calcium Buffer, harmful levels of these elements are avoided if proper salinity is maintained. Home test kits give immediate results, and avoid the lag time involved with receiving ICP results.
No need for complicated spreadsheets or calculating trace element dosages based on calcium and alkalinity usage
B-Ionic® Calcium Buffer supplies all major, minor, and trace elements of synthetic seawater. As such, increased calcification rates require increased dosages of B-Ionic® Calcium Buffer, which in turn increases the input of all other elements. The elements supplied in our B-Ionic® TE and B-Ionic® TE PLUS are not necessarily linked to calcification. The uptake of iron,manganese, and zinc could be higher in systems with macroalgae and soft coral. Therefore, the dose of TE products are independent of calcification rates.
Minimal to No Water Changes Required
Through recent test results, we have determined that many major and minor ions are kept stable even without water changes when using B-Ionic® Calcium Buffer. This can be verified by using home test kits for magnesium, strontium, boron, and others. If the concentration of any elements drop below acceptable levels, using our weekly and as needed additives can remedy the situation without water changes. Dissolved organic buildup can be reduced with ESV Granular Activated Carbon. Water changes will, however, lower the buildup of nutrients if they can not be remedied through other methods such as protein skimming, algae scrubbing, or organic carbon dosing.
Daily Additives
ESV B-Ionic® Calcium Buffer System, adds all major, minor, and trace elements of artificial seawater daily with no risk of overdosing in systems maintained at normal salinity, calcium, and alkalinity. While many products claim to be balanced for calcium and alkalinity, many are not balanced with regards to the ions they leave behind in your aquarium water. After calcium and alkalinity have been used by the organisms in your aquarium, products based solely on calcium chloride and sodium carbonate/bicarbonate leave unwanted sodium chloride behind in your water. Over time, as salinity is corrected, the ionic content of the aquarium water drifts closer to a sodium chloride solution, rather than a synthetic seawater solution. B-Ionic® Calcium Buffer System solves this problem by leaving behind all major, minor, and trace elements of synthetic seawater in their correct ratios. In this case, as salinity is corrected, the ionic balance of the aquarium water is not disrupted, and in fact, is pulled closer to the correct ratios of synthetic seawater with no risk of overdosing any elements. Based on our ingredient selection and formulation capability, B-Ionic® Calcium Buffer is completely balanced for magnesium, eliminating the need for a 3rd component. While B-Ionic® adds all the elements of synthetic seawater on a daily basis, some elements are depleted more rapidly than B-Ionic® can keep up with. For this reason, the second main additive of the B-Ionic® Reef Keeping System is one of the two B-Ionic® Transition Element products.
B-Ionic® Transition Elements and Transition Elements PLUS+ both add the transition elements iron, manganese, and zinc on a daily basis to the aquarium. Through extensive research and development, we have arrived at concentrations of these elements which will not accumulate in your aquarium water. B-Ionic® TE and TE PLUS+ will help mitigate any hydrogen sulfide formation, and provide limiting trace elements for maximum growth of macro algae and zooxanthellae. Enhanced coral coloration and polyp extension have also been observed with the use of the B-Ionic® TE and TE PLUS+. B-Ionic® Transition Elements PLUS+ also supplies carbon dosing for aquariums requiring nutrient reduction.
Weekly Additives
B-Ionic® Iodide and B-Ionic® Strontium Iodide and strontium are ions that can deplete faster than the levels supplied in B-Ionic® Calcium Buffer, and for this reason we recommend weekly additions of these products. The aquarist has the option of customizing this dosage based on test kit results.
As Needed Additives
B-Ionic® Magnesium, B-Ionic® Potassium, B-Ionic® Boron, and B-Ionic® Sulfate. B-Ionic® Calcium Buffer adds all of the ions supplied by the above listed products on a daily basis in their correct ratios, and are effective at maintaining their correct concentrations. Should any of these elements deviate over time, these additives are available to be dosed based on test results. All ESV additives are formulated to prevent disruption of ionic balance in your aquarium water. We will soon be releasing a simple method for approximating sulfate concentrations using a home test kit. Sulfate concentration, along with other element test kit results, are important in determining the overall ionic balance of a system not employing water changes. B-Ionic® Potassium, B-Ionic® Boron, and B-Ionic® Sulfate will be available later this year.
Compatible with most aquarium setups and reef keeping methodologies
Enhanced Nutrient Control
With the Transition Element products, along with the soon to be released B-Ionic® Nitrogen, the aquarist can control nutrient levels to reduce or eliminate the use of Ferric Hydroxide, or other phosphate removal media.
No ICP Testing Required
With BRK, the overall ionic balance can be monitored at home with readily available test kits. While ICP testing can be valuable in diagnosing problems, it is not required with BRK. Since most elements are going into the aquarium with B-Ionic® Calcium Buffer, harmful levels of these elements are avoided if proper salinity is maintained. Home test kits give immediate results, and avoid the lag time involved with receiving ICP results.
No need for complicated spreadsheets or calculating trace element dosages based on calcium and alkalinity usage
B-Ionic® Calcium Buffer supplies all major, minor, and trace elements of synthetic seawater. As such, increased calcification rates require increased dosages of B-Ionic® Calcium Buffer, which in turn increases the input of all other elements. The elements supplied in our B-Ionic® TE and B-Ionic® TE PLUS are not necessarily linked to calcification. The uptake of iron,manganese, and zinc could be higher in systems with macroalgae and soft coral. Therefore, the dose of TE products are independent of calcification rates.
Minimal to No Water Changes Required
Through recent test results, we have determined that many major and minor ions are kept stable even without water changes when using B-Ionic® Calcium Buffer. This can be verified by using home test kits for magnesium, strontium, boron, and others. If the concentration of any elements drop below acceptable levels, using our weekly and as needed additives can remedy the situation without water changes. Dissolved organic buildup can be reduced with ESV Granular Activated Carbon. Water changes will, however, lower the buildup of nutrients if they can not be remedied through other methods such as protein skimming, algae scrubbing, or organic carbon dosing.
Daily Additives
ESV B-Ionic® Calcium Buffer System, adds all major, minor, and trace elements of artificial seawater daily with no risk of overdosing in systems maintained at normal salinity, calcium, and alkalinity. While many products claim to be balanced for calcium and alkalinity, many are not balanced with regards to the ions they leave behind in your aquarium water. After calcium and alkalinity have been used by the organisms in your aquarium, products based solely on calcium chloride and sodium carbonate/bicarbonate leave unwanted sodium chloride behind in your water. Over time, as salinity is corrected, the ionic content of the aquarium water drifts closer to a sodium chloride solution, rather than a synthetic seawater solution. B-Ionic® Calcium Buffer System solves this problem by leaving behind all major, minor, and trace elements of synthetic seawater in their correct ratios. In this case, as salinity is corrected, the ionic balance of the aquarium water is not disrupted, and in fact, is pulled closer to the correct ratios of synthetic seawater with no risk of overdosing any elements. Based on our ingredient selection and formulation capability, B-Ionic® Calcium Buffer is completely balanced for magnesium, eliminating the need for a 3rd component. While B-Ionic® adds all the elements of synthetic seawater on a daily basis, some elements are depleted more rapidly than B-Ionic® can keep up with. For this reason, the second main additive of the B-Ionic® Reef Keeping System is one of the two B-Ionic® Transition Element products.
B-Ionic® Transition Elements and Transition Elements PLUS+ both add the transition elements iron, manganese, and zinc on a daily basis to the aquarium. Through extensive research and development, we have arrived at concentrations of these elements which will not accumulate in your aquarium water. B-Ionic® TE and TE PLUS+ will help mitigate any hydrogen sulfide formation, and provide limiting trace elements for maximum growth of macro algae and zooxanthellae. Enhanced coral coloration and polyp extension have also been observed with the use of the B-Ionic® TE and TE PLUS+. B-Ionic® Transition Elements PLUS+ also supplies carbon dosing for aquariums requiring nutrient reduction.
Weekly Additives
B-Ionic® Iodide and B-Ionic® Strontium Iodide and strontium are ions that can deplete faster than the levels supplied in B-Ionic® Calcium Buffer, and for this reason we recommend weekly additions of these products. The aquarist has the option of customizing this dosage based on test kit results.
As Needed Additives
B-Ionic® Magnesium, B-Ionic® Potassium, B-Ionic® Boron, and B-Ionic® Sulfate. B-Ionic® Calcium Buffer adds all of the ions supplied by the above listed products on a daily basis in their correct ratios, and are effective at maintaining their correct concentrations. Should any of these elements deviate over time, these additives are available to be dosed based on test results. All ESV additives are formulated to prevent disruption of ionic balance in your aquarium water. We will soon be releasing a simple method for approximating sulfate concentrations using a home test kit. Sulfate concentration, along with other element test kit results, are important in determining the overall ionic balance of a system not employing water changes. B-Ionic® Potassium, B-Ionic® Boron, and B-Ionic® Sulfate will be available later this year.