DIY Balling Method Recipe

[erophames]

This is my take assuming the web site lists everything in each part.

Component K is potassium and it can go anywhere.

Component C is iodide and fluoride. I’d put it in the alk part.

Component A is strontium and barium. I doubt it is useful at all, but put it in the calcium part.

Component B is less clear what it is, but I’d put it in the calcium part and only worry if any cloudiness forms when mixing them.

Thanks Randy, I was also looking that’s what I landed up with as well. Will get all the materials in the next few weeks and report back if there is any crashing out/precipitation.

 

[Rocks reef]

I am getting ready to mix up a batch of this!!
I just want to be perfectly clear and this should be dosed in same amounts for all three, correct? Hence the 1:1:1 ratio.

 

[KStatefan]

I am getting ready to mix up a batch of this!!
I just want to be perfectly clear and this should be dosed in same amounts for all three, correct? Hence the 1:1:1 ratio.

Yes

 

[Miami Reef]

Correct. Dosage is based on alk demand.

 

[805reeftank]

@Miami Reef

Have you ever tried dosing ash in the day and sodium hydroxide and night (or once ph starts to drop) to combat ph fluctuations? I have an average drop of .35 at night could I use sodium hydroxide to try and lessen that drop?

I was thinking of splitting the dose in half and start the hydroxide once the ph starts to drop.

 

[Miami Reef]

@Miami Reef

Have you ever tried dosing ash in the day and sodium hydroxide and night (or once ph starts to drop) to combat ph fluctuations? I have an average drop of .35 at night could I use sodium hydroxide to try and lessen that drop?

I was thinking of splitting the dose in half and start the hydroxide once the ph starts to drop.

I would only dose sodium hydroxide if I had it. Using soda ash will only be a downgrade to pH.

Set your dosing schedule so it doesn’t add hydroxide when the pH is already high. This way, it stores up doses and releases them when pH levels are at their lowest, maximizing the boost.

I don’t pay much attention to pH swings. It’s natural, even for the real oceans, but you can limit them with dosage timing and night refugiums.

 

[805reeftank]

I would only dose sodium hydroxide if I had it. Using soda ash will only be a downgrade to pH.

Set your dosing schedule so it doesn’t add hydroxide when the pH is already high. This way, it stores up doses and releases them when pH levels are at their lowest, maximizing the boost.

I don’t pay much attention to pH swings. It’s natural, even for the real oceans, but you can limit them with dosage timing and night refugiums.

I’ve actually got my ph pretty high now after switching from all for reef. I would be between 7.8-8.1. I then added a co2 scrubber and it didn’t last long with all for reef before needing to be refilled but since switching to ash there’s a big difference. I’m now 8.2-8.5 but now I’m thinking what if I could minimize the swing

 

[Miami Reef]

I’ve actually got my ph pretty high now after switching from all for reef. I would be between 7.8-8.1. I then added a co2 scrubber and it didn’t last long with all for reef before needing to be refilled but since switching to ash there’s a big difference. I’m now 8.2-8.5 but now I’m thinking what if I could minimize the swing

Ah I see. You never actually tried sodium hydroxide yet. It has double the pH boost of soda ash per unit of alkalinity dosed.

I don’t see much pH instability, but switching to sodium hydroxide at night sounds like a good way to get started. You can also mix sodium hydroxide with soda ash to get a pH somewhere between them.

 

[805reeftank]

Ah I see. You never actually tried sodium hydroxide yet. It has double the pH boost of soda ash per unit of alkalinity dosed.

I don’t see much pH instability, but switching to sodium hydroxide at night sounds like a good way to get started. You can also mix sodium hydroxide with soda ash to get a pH somewhere between them.

I’m actually pretty happy with the soda ash what I would like to try and get away from is the scrubber. I wouldn’t mind dropping to 8.4 but have a minimal swing of ph. That’s why I was thinking of the hydroxide at night. I just got some in the mail going to try it and see what happens. From what I’ve read is a 1:1 to soda ash in terms of Alk. So I’m thinking I’ll split the dose

My logic is, it would be like using kalk at night, but instead in a smaller dosing amount and container

 

[Miami Reef]

I just got some in the mail going to try it and see what happens.

Good luck! If you need advice on mixing it, I do have 2 separate tutorials written. They are caustic and get hot upon dissolving, but it’s nothing bad if using HDPE containers.

 

[805reeftank]

Good luck! If you need advice on mixing it, I do have 2 separate tutorials written. They are caustic and get hot upon dissolving, but it’s nothing bad if using HDPE containers.

I was actually just reading your articles thanks for those by the way. Brs jugs will work correct?

 

[Miami Reef]

I was actually just reading your articles thanks for those by the way. Brs jugs will work correct?

Their website doesn’t directly specify the material, but they seem to be HDPE. The bottom of the container should say.

I am almost positive they are HDPE though.

 

[805reeftank]

Their website doesn’t directly specify the material, but they seem to be HDPE. The bottom of the container should say.

I am almost positive they are HDPE though.

Just checked, they are thanks

 

[805reeftank]

Their website doesn’t directly specify the material, but they seem to be HDPE. The bottom of the container should say.

I am almost positive they are HDPE though.

I edited my response after you responded so I wanted to get your take on my thinking.

I want to essentially use it how people use kalk. I always read and hear people using kalk at night for the ph bump so my reasoning was I’d rather use this then kalk since I don’t have a lot of room for a big kalk jug and I don’t want to use a stirrer or anything like that. In my mind it should have the same effect. Hopefully lol.

 

[Miami Reef]

I want to essentially use it how people use kalk. I always read and hear people using kalk at night for the ph bump so my reasoning was I’d rather use this then kalk since I don’t have a lot of room for a big kalk jug and I don’t want to use a stirrer or anything like that. In my mind it should have the same effect. Hopefully lol.

Kalkwasser and sodium hydroxide have the exact same pH boost when raising/maintaining alkalinity.

Sodium hydroxide is much more soluble, so the solution can be made to match the concentration of regular two parts, but yes, when raising or maintaining alkalinity, they are equivalent when it comes to boosting the pH.

I much prefer sodium hydroxide over kalkwasser because it could be made more potent, reducing the need of dosing gallons of solution per day in large systems.

 

[805reeftank]

Kalkwasser and sodium hydroxide have the exact same pH boost when raising/maintaining alkalinity.

Sodium hydroxide is much more soluble, so the solution can be made to match the concentration of regular two parts, but yes, when raising or maintaining alkalinity, they are equivalent when it comes to boosting the pH.

I much prefer sodium hydroxide over kalkwasser because it could be made more potent, reducing the need of dosing gallons of solution per day in large systems.

Ok cool just making sure my logic makes sense. Going to give it a shot.

 

[Miami Reef]

Ok cool just making sure my logic makes sense. Going to give it a shot.

I have this write up that could be very useful:

Sodium Hydroxide Dos and Don'ts

Sodium hydroxide is the strongest pH-raising alkalinity additive possible for reef tanks. It has the same pH boost as kalkwasser when raising alkalinity, but sodium hydroxide can be made more concentrated for two-part dosing. There are some dos and don'ts that one should know prior to starting...

www.reef2reef.com

 

[soeminpaing]

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: Soda Ash

Add 375 g soda ash to enough RO/DI to make a total volume of a gallon or use the single-use Bulk Reef Supply Soda Ash.

* You can make soda ash at home from baking soda: 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, which will have the same concentration needed..
Source


Option 2: Sodium Hydroxide (Lye)

Add 283 grams of food-grade sodium hydroxide to enough RO/DI to make a total volume of 1 gallon. 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.

Hydroxide is caustic. Be cautious during usage. Keep out of reach of children.
Source

*You can add Tropic Marin A- Trace Elements to the Alkalinity part. 80 mL (low demand), 160 mL (medium demand), or 330 mL (high demand) to the alk part.

Calcium:​

Dissolve 500 grams (about 2 ½ cups) of calcium chloride dihydrate in enough RO/DI to make a total volume of 1 gallon. Bulk Reef Supplies sells single use one gallon calcium chloride mixes. That is the correct concentration for this recipe. The calcium solution contains 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).

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 were meant for their additive system, which is 50% weaker. I’ve appropriately doubled the required amount 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:​

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. You can also purchase the Bulk Reef Supply general adjustment magnesium mix. It has the same ratio.

Add 203 mL of this magnesium mix into the Balling Part to maintain magnesium levels. It can also be added separately, if desired.

*We must supplement the extra magnesium because The Balling Method only has enough to offset ionic imbalance, not consumption. The 10:1 is the chloride-to-sulfate ratio for this recipe.

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

Randy original recipe add 610ml of Magnesium mix for every gallon of calcium and alkalinity but the above recipe add only 203ml. Also it use less MgSo4. Original is 5 cups MgCl to 3 cups MgSo4. Any explanation for this. Did the balling part c account for decrease amount of magnesium added.

 

[KStatefan]

Randy original recipe add 610ml of Magnesium mix for every gallon of calcium and alkalinity but the above recipe add only 203ml. Also it use less MgSo4. Original is 5 cups MgCl to 3 cups MgSo4. Any explanation for this. Did the balling part c account for decrease amount of magnesium added.

FYI
Miami passed away this week


From the first post
“We must supplement the extra magnesium because The Balling Method only has enough to offset ionic imbalance, not consumption. The 10:1 is the chloride-to-sulfate ratio for this recipe.”

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

Randy original recipe add 610ml of Magnesium mix for every gallon of calcium and alkalinity but the above recipe add only 203ml. Also it use less MgSo4. Original is 5 cups MgCl to 3 cups MgSo4. Any explanation for this. Did the balling part c account for decrease amount of magnesium added.

Yes, Balling C changes both the amount and the ratio needed in the mag part.