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..
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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.
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*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.
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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.
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*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
[[edited by Randy on 7/21/2026 to remove this option as it is not really suitable based on AF indicating it is really not a sodium chloride free salt mix]]
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.
