DIY Balling Method Recipe

[Miami Reef]

And pls tell me exactly how many mililit of Tropic Marine A and K should be added to the component pls.

80 mL low demand, 160 mL medium demand, or 330 mL high demand system

 

[Slark]

@Randy Holmes-Farley Thank you for answering my question, so that if I don't have balling part C or something ( sorry I still don't know what it is ), I just keep using your old method because I've been using it for a year.
@Miami Reef Thank you !

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

@Randy Holmes-Farley Thank you for answering my question, so that if I don't have balling part C or something ( sorry I still don't know what it is ), I just keep using your old method because I've been using it for a year.
@Miami Reef Thank you !

The old method is ok, but not as ionically balanced as when using Balling Part C or similar products.

I explain what it is and why it is used here:

How a Two Part Alkalinity and Calcium System Works, and Why it Matters

How a Two Part Alkalinity and Calcium System Works, and Why it Matters By Randy Holmes-Farley This article is intended to help aquarists understand some of the important differences between the great variety of two and three part alkalinity and...

www.reef2reef.com

 

[sticksreef]

Hi Making this recipe, locally i only have this calcium chloride in “prills” is it ok to use? And if I should still use 20% less ? Thank you!

 

[Miami Reef]

Hi Making this recipe, locally i only have this calcium chloride in “prills” is it ok to use? And if I should still use 20% less ? Thank you!

It’s calcium chloride dihydrate, the same this recipe uses.

Follow standard protocol (500 g per gallon)

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

It says it is 94-97%. I’duse 20% less by weight since is has less moisture in it.

 

[Miami Reef]

It says it is 94-97%. I’duse 20% less by weight since is has less moisture in it.

Oh. Thanks for this info.

 

[Anxur]

La ricetta dell'integratore fai da te Balling prevede un rapporto di dosaggio 1:1:1 per mantenere un'adeguata alcalinità. Ad esempio, se si necessitano 50 ml di soluzione alcalinizzante, è necessario aggiungere anche 50 ml di Calcio e Balling.

Alcalinità (sceglierne una):​

Opzione 1: convertire il bicarbonato di sodio in carbonato di sodio a casa:

Distribuire 594 grammi (circa due tazze e ¼) di bicarbonato di sodio su una teglia. Riscaldare in forno a 150 °C per un'ora. Questo processo elimina acqua e anidride carbonica; il surriscaldamento non è un problema. Sciogliere il solido risultante in acqua a sufficienza per ottenere 4 litri di carbonato di sodio.
Fonte


Se hai acquistato la soda caustica già pronta, la quantità è di 375 g per gallone.


Opzione 2: idrossido di sodio (liscivia)


Aggiungere 283 grammi di idrossido di sodio alimentare a 4 litri di acqua fresca. La soluzione diventerà piuttosto calda. Assicurarsi che non ammorbidisca il contenitore. Questa soluzione conterrà circa 1.900 meq/L di alcalinità (5.300 dKH). Non esiste un additivo alcalinizzante che aumenti il pH più degli idrossidi.


ATTENZIONE CON QUESTA SOLUZIONE: HA UN pH SUPERIORE A 14. Evitate il contatto con gli occhi o la pelle. Tenete tutti i prodotti chimici per la barriera corallina, in particolare questa parte di alcalina, in un luogo fuori dalla portata di bambini o animali domestici.
Fonte


*È possibile aggiungere Tropic Marin A- Trace Elements a entrambe le componenti di alcalinità.

Sistema da 80 mL a bassa richiesta, 160 mL a media richiesta o 330 mL ad alta richiesta per la parte alcalina.

Calcio:​

Sciogliere 500 grammi (circa 2 tazze e ½) di cloruro di calcio diidrato (come il cloruro di calcio Dowflake al 77-80% o il cloruro di calcio ESV; vedere di seguito per sostituti e fonti) in acqua a sufficienza per ottenere un volume totale di 4 litri. È possibile scioglierlo in circa 2 litri e mezzo di acqua, quindi versare il contenuto nel contenitore da 4 litri e riempirlo fino all'orlo con altra acqua fresca. Questa soluzione contiene circa 37.000 ppm di calcio.
Fonte


Nota: se si utilizza cloruro di calcio anidro o monoidrato (come Dow Mini-Pellets, Kent's Turbo Calcium, Prestone Driveway Heat o Peladow Calcium Chloride), si consiglia di utilizzare circa il 20% (1/5) di cloruro di calcio solido in meno in volume per preparare la ricetta. Si noti che la soluzione diventerà piuttosto calda durante la dissoluzione del cloruro di calcio anidro. Consultare la sezione sulle sostituzioni per ulteriori informazioni.
Fonte

*È possibile aggiungere gli oligoelementi Tropic Marin K+ alla parte Calcio.

Sistema da 80 mL a bassa richiesta, 160 mL a media richiesta o 330 mL ad alta richiesta per la parte di calcio.

Metodo di Balling (scegline uno): ​

Opzione 1: Tropic Marin Balling Parte C

Sciogliere 182 grammi (circa sette misurini) in una quantità di acqua RO/DI o purificata sufficiente a ottenere un volume totale di un gallone.


Le istruzioni di Tropic Marin sono per concentrazioni più deboli del 50%, quindi ho raddoppiato opportunamente il dosaggio per ottenere un rapporto 1:1:1.



Opzione 2: Sale minerale Aquaforest

Sciogliere 189 grammi in una quantità di acqua RO/DI o purificata sufficiente per ottenere un volume totale di un gallone.

Le istruzioni di Aquaforest si riferiscono a soluzioni più deboli del 50%, quindi ho raddoppiato opportunamente il dosaggio per ottenere un rapporto 1:1:1.

Rapporto magnesio 10:1:​

Sciogliere 7¼ tazze (1.285 g) di cloruro di magnesio esaidrato e 3/4 tazze (128 g) di sale Epsom (solfato di magnesio eptaidrato) in acqua sufficiente a ottenere un gallone.


Istruzioni per il dosaggio del magnesio:

Per ogni gallone di altre soluzioni utilizzate, aggiungere 203 ml di miscela di magnesio.

Aggiornamento 8/3/25
Puoi aggiungere questa parte di magnesio (203 ml) alla parte Balling. Si dissolverà, rendendolo un vero e proprio tricomponente.

Dobbiamo integrare il magnesio extra perché il metodo Balling ne contiene solo quanto basta per compensare lo squilibrio ionico, non il consumo.

Il rapporto 10:1 è il rapporto cloruro/solfato della normale acqua di mare, necessario per questa ricetta.




Se qualcuno ha altre domande, non esiti a scriverle in questa discussione.

The Balling DIY supplement recipe utilize a 1:1:1 dosing ratio to maintain proper alkalinity. For instance, if you require 50 mL of the alkalinity solution, you should also add 50 mL of Calcium and Balling.

Alkalinity (Choose One) :​

Option 1: Converting Baking Soda (Sodium bicarbonate) into Soda Ash (Sodium carbonate) at home:

Spread 594 grams (approximately two ¼ cups) of Baking Soda on a baking tray. Heat in an oven at 300°F for one hour. This process drives off water and carbon dioxide; overheating is not a concern. Dissolve the resulting solid in enough water to make 1 gallon total of Soda Ash.
Source


If you purchased pre-made Soda Ash, it is 375g per gallon.


Option 2: Sodium Hydroxide (Lye)


Add 283 grams of food-grade sodium hydroxide to 1 gallon of fresh water. It will get quite warm. Make sure it doesn't soften your container. This solution will contain about 1,900 meq/L of alkalinity (5,300 dKH). There is no alkalinity additive that has a greater pH boost than hydroxides.


BE CAREFUL WITH THIS SOLUTION: IT HAS A pH ABOVE 14. Do not get it in your eyes or on your skin. Keep all reef chemicals, especially this alk part, in a way that children or pets cannot access them.
Source


*You can add Tropic Marin A- Trace Elements to either Alkalinity part.

80 mL low demand, 160 mL medium demand, or 330 mL high demand system to the alk part.

Calcium:​

Dissolve 500 grams (about 2 ½ cups) of calcium chloride dihydrate (such as Dowflake 77-80% calcium chloride or ESV calcium chloride; see below for substitutes and sources) in enough water to make 1 gallon of total volume. You can dissolve it in about ½ gallon of water, and then pour that into the 1 gallon container and fill it to the top with more freshwater. This solution has about 37,000 ppm calcium.
Source


Note: If you use an anhydrous or monohydrate calcium chloride (such as Dow Mini-Pellets, Kent's Turbo Calcium, Prestone Driveway Heat or Peladow Calcium Chloride), then you should use about 20% (1/5) less solid calcium chloride by volume to make the recipe. Note that the solution will get quite hot when dissolving anhydrous calcium chloride. See the section on substitutions for further information.
Source

*You can add Tropic Marin K+ Trace Elements to the Calcium part.

80 mL low demand, 160 mL medium demand, or 330 mL high demand system to the calcium part.

Balling Method (Choose One) : ​

Option 1: Tropic Marin Balling Part C

Dissolve 182 grams (about seven scoops) in enough RO/DI or purified water to make one gallon total volume.


Tropic Marin’s instructions are for concentrations 50% weaker, so I’ve appropriately doubled it to equal 1:1:1 dosing.



Option 2: Aquaforest Mineral Salt

Dissolve 189 grams in enough RO/DI or purified water to make one gallon total volume.

Aquaforest’s instructions are for solutions 50% weaker, so I’ve appropriately doubled it to equal 1:1:1 dosing.

Magnesium 10:1 Ratio:​

Dissolve 7¼ cups (1,285g) of magnesium chloride hexahydrate and 3/4 cups (128g) of Epsom salt (magnesium sulfate heptahydrate) in enough water to make one gallon.


Dosing Instructions for Magnesium:

For every gallon of other solutions used, add 203 mL of the magnesium mix.

Update 3/8/25
You can add this magnesium part (203mL) into the Balling Part. It will dissolve, which makes this a true three-part.

We must supplement the extra magnesium because The Balling Method only has enough to offset ionic imbalance, not consumption.

The 10:1 ratio is the chloride-to-sulfate ratio of normal seawater, which is necessary for this recipe.




If anyone has further questions, please feel free to ask in this thread.

Where's potassium?

 

[Miami Reef]

Where's potassium?

Balling contains potassium, but only enough to offset ionic imbalance from regular 2 part systems.

However, it does not contain enough potassium to increase levels. Potassium is usually kept stable by water changes and foods. If you have a potassium deficiency, you can dose it by using my recipe here:

DIY Potassium Dosing for Reef Tanks

Most tanks don’t need additional potassium supplementation; water changes and foods usually supply enough for most tanks. However, some folks note a higher demand for potassium, possibly from salt mixes, ionic imbalance from certain 2 parts, consumption, or even the types of foods being fed...

www.reef2reef.com

 

[Anxur]

Balling contains potassium, but only enough to offset ionic imbalance from regular 2 part systems.

However, it does not contain enough potassium to increase levels. Potassium is usually kept stable by water changes and foods. If you have a potassium deficiency, you can dose it by using my recipe here:

DIY Potassium Dosing for Reef Tanks

Most tanks don’t need additional potassium supplementation; water changes and foods usually supply enough for most tanks. However, some folks note a higher demand for potassium, possibly from salt mixes, ionic imbalance from certain 2 parts, consumption, or even the types of foods being fed...

www.reef2reef.com

Balling contains potassium, but only enough to offset ionic imbalance from regular 2 part systems.

However, it does not contain enough potassium to increase levels. Potassium is usually kept stable by water changes and foods. If you have a potassium deficiency, you can dose it by using my recipe here:

DIY Potassium Dosing for Reef Tanks

Most tanks don’t need additional potassium supplementation; water changes and foods usually supply enough for most tanks. However, some folks note a higher demand for potassium, possibly from salt mixes, ionic imbalance from certain 2 parts, consumption, or even the types of foods being fed...

www.reef2reef.com

In my case potassium go down 10-20 ppm every 5 days

In mature and sps full tank...all the balling aren't enough to maintain value.

 

[Miami Reef]

In my case potassium go down 10-20 ppm every 5 days

In mature and sps full tank...all the balling aren't enough to maintain value.

Balling doesn’t have enough potassium to offset consumption.

Do you use zeolites? Potassium generally does not deplete that fast.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

In my case potassium go down 10-20 ppm every 5 days

In mature and sps full tank...all the balling aren't enough to maintain value.

If not using new zeolites, then you may be using foods that are low in potassium. Potassium does not necessarily deplete in reef tanks. Mine did not.

In any case, if you are confident in the test, I’d supplement with potassium chloride, which is inexpensive as food grade potassium chloride.

 

[Anxur]

Il Balling non contiene abbastanza potassio per compensarne il consumo.

Usi le zeoliti? Il potassio generalmente non si esaurisce così velocemente.

No zeolite

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

No zeolite

How are you currently supplementing alkalinity and calcium?

A two part lacking potassium will cause it to deplete by very roughly 0.3 ppm per day when adding 1.1 dKH per day.

 

[Anxur]

Come stai attualmente integrando l'alcalinità e il calcio?

Una carenza di potassio in due parti ne causerà la diminuzione di circa 0,3 ppm al giorno aggiungendo 1,1 dKH al giorno.

Ati Essential + 1&2

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

Ati Essential + 1&2

OK, I do not know how much they put in (if any, it is often a substantial contaminant in calcium chloride), but they claim to have potassium in it.

 

[chris_ek]

Hello everyone, I don't know if my post belongs in this thread, but it's somewhat related to this dosing method. If I should post this in a different thread or start a new one, just let me know.
Three weeks ago, I switched from a two-part balling method (New DIY Two-Part Recipes with Higher pH Boost) to a three-part dosing method using this recipe. Since I didn't want to use highly concentrated liquids and I use metric units, I converted the proportions as follows:
NaOH: 7.5 g per 1000 ml of water
CaCl2*2H2O: 13.2 g per 1000 ml of water
The third part consists of: 5 g AF Mineral Salt, 6.9 g MgCl2*6H2O, 0.7 g MgCl2*6H2O per 1000 ml of water
The solutions are ten times weaker than the original.
Initially, I set the dosing as follows: KH = 120 ml, Ca = 80 ml, and the third part 96 ml per day, as that's how I calculated it from the previous dosing. The Ca level dropped from 420 ppm three weeks ago to 405 ppm a week ago, so I increased the dosage to 84 ml per day. The KH level dropped from 6.7 dKH to 6.3 within a week, so I increased the dosage to 164 ml, and a week ago it was 6.85 dKH. I did a test today and the result was 6.55 dKH, so I increased the dosage to 182 ml per day. In the meantime, I tested with a completely new kit (I use Salifert tests), topped up the solution twice, the last time using a new NaOH container. My aquarium is a 250-liter LPS-dominated tank with a sump and refugium. Apart from changing the dosing method, I haven't changed anything during this time. I do weekly water changes of 18 liters using a 50/50 ratio of blue and black salt from Red Sea. Since the dosing ratio was supposed to be 1:1:1, I don't quite understand why there's such a discrepancy, and I'd appreciate any advice.

 

[Miami Reef]

Initially, I set the dosing as follows: KH = 120 ml, Ca = 80 ml, and the third part 96 ml per day

Why aren’t you dosing equal parts of each solution? It should be chemically balanced to allow for it.

Nevertheless, if the test kit is accurate, the only answer is to increase the dose. I’m not sure why this tank has a higher demand, but increasing the dose will increase the alk, ca, balling.

Perhaps there’s more consumption or coralline algae growth. I’m not entirely sure, but increasing the dose is the only solution.

 

[chris_ek]

I usually don't pay much attention to dosing both solutions evenly because it only works in theory. However, now I'm adding Tropic Marin Trace Elements to both solutions, so dosing one twice as much could cause problems with trace elements.
I have a lot of Coralline algae in both the tank and the sump.
Are you talking about increasing the dosage of all solutions with the hope that they will eventually balance in the tank, or just the alkalinity solution?

 

[Miami Reef]

I usually don't pay much attention to dosing both solutions evenly because it only works in theory.

It doesn’t just work on theory. It works by matching the exact ratio of biotic (corals, coralline) and abiotic (precipitation on powerheads, etc) calcification.

You can’t deviate from it when it comes to consumption. Of course, the tank’s ratio can get skewed by certain things (sulfur denitrators, for example) but that’s not from a coral-growth standpoint.

If your current tank’s ratio is balanced, then you should match the solutions for convenience and optimal ratio.

In any case, if the alk is too low, increase the alk dose (and preferably the others, too). There’s no other workaround.