ESV Salt,,, BAD BATCH?????

[CHEMCHEF]

I don't think so. I am at a point of thinking that this salt just sucks from a quaility control standpoint.
Every batch I have made so far has been off by quite a bit.
My first three batches were 5 galons. 2 times I used a scale and the other time I used the cups. Either way the batch was off and needed adjusting.
But tonight is the kicker. I made a 25 gallon batch using a brand new 25 gallon box.
I started with 24.5 galons of ro and the entire box of salt and liquids.
My readings
SG 1.024
ALK 15
CAL 570
I didnt even bother to test mag. I mean what is the point??
How could this product be so far off right out of the box????

 

[Josh]

You need to measure it. Don't just dump everything from the box in there.

 

[CHEMCHEF]

It is a 25 galon box. It should make 25 gallons.....NO??

 

[Jim]

You need to measure it. Don't just dump everything from the box in there.

+1. I was told to measure every batch. There is bound to extra of at least 1 of the parts

 

[garys reef]

i use this salt and really never had a problem i keep hearing guys having trouble with it i usually start with 25 gallons of water add all the measurements for a 30 gallon mix using the cups supplied let it sit for at least 8 hours test and add fresh ro one gallon at a time usually right on i do get different readings with the water bieng cold but after it gets to 79-80 its right on

 

[CHEMCHEF]

+1. I was told to measure every batch. There is bound to extra of at least 1 of the parts

This is just proving my point about bad quality control.

 

[JARRETT SHARK]

I just switched over the other day to esv and my levels were dead on!!!love this stuff, i waited 1/2 hr for each to mix before adding next thing the instructions said. Did you wait or just added at once?? What test kits you using?

 

[Josh]

It is a 25 galon box. It should make 25 gallons.....NO??

No, first off, they can't give you less than the right amount or they would have major complaints. Basically this is the equivalent of IKEA putting one extra piece of every bit of hardware in their packages.

It is a large amount of salt, they have to give you MORE than you need rather than less. I don't think it has anything to do with quality control, in all likelihood it is by design.

 

[Josh]

I just switched over the other day to esv and my levels were dead on!!!love this stuff, i waited 1/2 hr for each to mix before adding next thing the instructions said. Did you wait or just added at once?? What test kits you using?

You only need to wait for the water to clear, so essentially you can mix everything in just 5 minutes. No need to wait 30 mins in between. The only one that takes any time to dissolve is the first part, the salt.

 

[ed51802]

put a power head and heater in container leave it over night than check again

 

[JARRETT SHARK]

you only need to wait for the water to clear, so essentially you can mix everything in just 5 minutes. No need to wait 30 mins in between. The only one that takes any time to dissolve is the first part, the salt.

i know 5 mins is plenty i was told but i like to play it safe and maybe he did not disove it right and that can cause problem. Just trying to find the problem b/c this salt is great and has real good reviews. This is the first bad review i heard

 

[Josh]

Not really, either it dissolves or it doesn't. The only thing I think you can do wrong is to mix the two liquids which would yield solid calcium. As long as you wait a few minutes between parts 3 and 4 there is very little to go wrong aside from not measuring things correctly.

 

[CHEMCHEF]

It did not occur to me that the company would put more than needed in the box by design.
I guess if this is true. It's on me. But I don't know if I will be able to fix this batch. I already have 25 gallons in a 32 gallon can. I'm thinking it will take about 4-6 gallons more ro to get the Cal. and Alk. in check and then bring up the salinity with salt from my original 50 gal box.
Any more than that I would have to split it up and it would just become a mess.
Just a little pissed because I am trying to do a big water change after getting KILLED by bio pellets.
I wish they had a warning about not using the entire contents to make the specified box gallonage.

 

[reefmaniac]

I used a 200 gallon set to do my newest tank, At the end of measuring everything out, I had a lot more of part A, and salt than I had imagined would have been left in there. The Part B was almost dead on for the bottles and the Mag was very close as well.

 

[mbg75]

Leave it as is and re-test tommorow. U got a powerhead and heater running?

 

[KathyC]

It did not occur to me that the company would put more than needed in the box by design.
I guess if this is true. It's on me. But I don't know if I will be able to fix this batch. I already have 25 gallons in a 32 gallon can. I'm thinking it will take about 4-6 gallons more ro to get the Cal. and Alk. in check and then bring up the salinity with salt from my original 50 gal box.
Any more than that I would have to split it up and it would just become a mess.
Just a little pissed because I am trying to do a big water change after getting KILLED by bio pellets.
I wish they had a warning about not using the entire contents to make the specified box gallonage.

Hey James - curious about something..you mention using a 32g can..I am assuming it is a Brute can. How do you know you have 25 gallons of water in there? How are you measuring the actual water volume?

..and yes, you definitely have to measure out each of the ingredients and never just dump the box in.
If you call ESV tomorrow during business hours they can tell you how much of what to add to 'correct' the batch. You are far from the first person to have things go wrong in the actual mixing/measuring

 

[CHEMCHEF]

Leave it as is and re-test tommorow. U got a powerhead and heater running?

Yes. I made the batch sunday 3pm and check levels monday 8pm.

 

[CHEMCHEF]

Hey James - curious about something..you mention using a 32g can..I am assuming it is a Brute can. How do you know you have 25 gallons of water in there? How are you measuring the actual water volume?

..and yes, you definitely have to measure out each of the ingredients and never just dump the box in.
If you call ESV tomorrow during business hours they can tell you how much of what to add to 'correct' the batch. You are far from the first person to have things go wrong in the actual mixing/measuring

I actually use distilled. So I have 24 gallons and 2 qts to Start.
Now 26-2qts Cal down to 500 alk 13

 

[prattreef]

I'm not sure what numbers you target or what percentage WC this 25g. represents, but once this batch is diluted by your remaining tank water that 500 CA and 13 dKH is going to fall into very acceptable --- for some, even ideal range.

 

[ereefer]

I to have had problems with the ESV Salt. I have never mixed a batch with a Ca less then 580, and Alk of 12DkH. I called and spoke with one of the owners Bob and he suggested using a scale. So I went out and bought another 200 gal box a higher end scale and what do you know... Cal 580 Alk 12, I even weighed out every gal of water. This will be my last box of ESV I will buy.