I picked up a couple of the Aquavitro products that Gabe recently got in and have had a chance to try them out here after my weekly water change. I used the Balance and Ions products and am very impressed with the results so I thought I would share with all of you.

Interesting Ions...

I use Red Sea standard salt and... wait for it... tap water, there, I said it, tap water! Moving on! Using my snazzy new Elos Magnesium test kit, I registered 1450 immediately after the water change. Why would I want to up that you say? Because I feel like it ok! Plus, I get a chance to write this plug, uh, I mean review of some new stuff . The label as I read it says due to its uber concentrated formulation you can up your Magnesium levels by 25/day. For reference, Tech M will only allow you 18.3/day if memory serves me correctly. Plus, you can dose daily instead of every other day as most others indicate, a big bonus for those of you fighting a Bryopsis outbreak. First impression was good, no shaking is called for and the product is completely clear; everything in this stuff is dissolved in solution, excellent!!! I poured in my maximum daily dose to a most anti-climactic end, it just dissapeared into the water column in seconds. Its called Ions and comes in a fancy bottle, where was the earth shattering kaboom? At least give me some sparks or an angelic hymn for God Sakes!!!!!!

Advance the clock 10 minutes...

Mag levels are up to 1500 now according to the new Elos test kit. Hmmmmmm, didn't it say a max increase of 25 parts? The best I can come up with is that the extra Magnesium pushed the test kit up to the next level, Elos measures in increments of 50. A precise number I can't give, but it was enough to move the test so I consider that pretty significant and likely very close to the prediction. Overall I rate the product highly, it does what it is supposed to do effectively and throws in a little strontium for good measure. Can't beat that with a stick.

I know, I know, the inevitable question remains, is it worth the price premium over Tech M? Honestly, I'm not sure. Tech M is cheaper per ounce, but requires more product to achieve the same increase. I would consider Ions superior if you needed to raise your Magnesium by say 50-75 parts in a few days. Anything more and you really should be using a powder anyway shouldn't you? Also keep in mind that these bottles really are meant for smaller tanks, we're talking 65 or less here. Its just not cost effective for you reefers running big glass cages. Then again, if you can afford a big tank, price probably doesn't matter. The best I can do is say that I'm happy with the purchase and don't feel let down at all. Your mileage may vary but I suggest at least dropping in to visit Gabe and giving it a shot.

On to the Balance...

Balance drew my attention because it fills a niche that hasn't been addressed by any other product out there, raising pH without effecting Calcium or Alkalinity levels. I prefer to keep my tank at 8.3 but using Red Sea standard salt and the dreaded tap water my mix up levels out at 8.1 - 8.2. It usually takes heavy aeration and an extra long photoperiod on my 'fuge to put me on target. Saturday's water change was no different and I ended up at 8.1 after about 4 hours.

In Balance???

The label says that many variables effect how much of a pH increase will result from dosing X amount of the product. Deciding to err on the side of caution, I dosed half of what was recommended to raise my 55 by .1 pH. When it hit the water, I'll admit, I had a panic attack as it resulted in what looked like a snowstorm of Calcium Precipitation. Did I mention I run my levels high? Calcium - 480, DKH - 12, Mag - 1500(after Ions here). As it turned out, the flakes and blobs were not precip and dissapeared within 45 seconds or so (insert sigh of relief here). I waited 5 minutes and took another pH reading and sure enough, I was at a solid 8.3 which I verified after another 5 minutes. This is strong stuff and should be dosed conservatively!!!!! Salifert confirmed that Calcium was uneffected and Elos showed not a budge in Alkalinity or Magnesium. Balance does exactly what it says it does even better than the label puts on...Highly recommended.

If the rest of the product line performs as well as these two have I would say there is definately a solid new competitor on the scene. I dose Iodine and will likely be picking up the Vibrance product on my next visit to Gabe's, I mean, the particular shop where I bought these. I'm not officially endorsing the line here, I'm just saying I will own 3 of the products, but again, not an endorsement.

P.S.
This has been an unpaid and impartial account of an experience with the Aquavitro line. The author wishes all readers to know he has recieved no compensation in the way of money, frags, fish, or beer from any store owner that may have been implied in this post. Thank you