DIY Balling Method Recipe

[Freenow54]

Evap does affect only the h2o, it leaves salts and doc behind. Salt creep is just salt water that splashed up into skemthing and evaporated, leaving salts behind. The two part dosing salinity creep is something else entirely.

I would have to disagree On a whim I tested my water and it was at least 1.028. I only add Rodi when the level gets low

 

[ethipelagic]

Can we use this information to determine how many grams 3/4 cups of magnesium sulfate heptahydrate weighs?

I was thinking of weighing it out for those who prefer grams over cup measurements. Would that be accurate?

Re-reading the first post I think I've realised that I don't need to know the weight of the Epsom Salt.

Since the weight of Magnesium Chloride is given (1285g) and the Epsom salt it supposed to be 10% of that, and that being a little off isn't that important, I can safely go for a weight of 128.5g and call it a day :)

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

Re-reading the first post I think I've realised that I don't need to know the weight of the Epsom Salt.

Since the weight of Magnesium Chloride is given (1285g) and the Epsom salt it supposed to be 10% of that, and that being a little off isn't that important, I can safely go for a weight of 128.5g and call it a day :)

Yes. :)

 

[mikst]

I would have to disagree On a whim I tested my water and it was at least 1.028. I only add Rodi when the level gets low

Do you do two part dosing?

 

[Miami Reef]

The exact weight per volume ratio will depend a bit on the brand since it depends on the particle size distribution. If you weigh it, you may get a better number than I did.

When I first devised the recipe, I bought 64 ounces at the store and measured it to be 8 cups. I do not recall if I weighed it or not. I would have had to have done it at work, but might have.

The thing about magnesium supplements and the chloride to sulfate ratio is that it's not at all critical. If it is off by 10%, no one is going to notice. :)

When I weigh my BRS Magnesium chloride, it weighed a bit higher than what BRS mentioned. There could be variables like measuring cups and how hydrated the product is.

I’m keeping BRS’s weight; I like everything consistent.

 

[Miami Reef]

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.

The first post was updated with the magnesium sulfate weight.

 

[Koty]

Unlike Balling C AF #3 does not contain all the elements as some of them are in 1 and 2

 

[Koty]

Thanks for that thread. Does that mean that I can also double the concentrations of the TM A and B ? And if it’s a yes can I still add A and K elements to it?

 

[Miami Reef]

Unlike Balling C AF #3 does not contain all the elements as some of them are in 1 and 2

Aquaforest’s part 3 contains Reef Mineral Salt. It must contain all the trace elements in seawater.
It looks like they also add trace elements to 1 & 2, which we can also do here.

Thanks for that thread. Does that mean that I can also double the concentrations of the TM A and B ? And if it’s a yes can I still add A and K elements to it?

I never added TM trace elements to mine because I dose by hand; as long as there isn’t precipitation, it’s fine.

I can test it out and report back.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

Thanks for that thread. Does that mean that I can also double the concentrations of the TM A and B ? And if it’s a yes can I still add A and K elements to it?

No. nearly all two parts (except those made using sodium hydroxide for an alk part) are limited by the solubility of sodium bicarbonate and sodium carbonate. One cannot readily make them 2x potent.

 

[Miami Reef]

Oh, I thought you were asking if you can double the concentration of the trace elements for the alk and calcium part.

 

[Koty]

So only TM A (CaCl) and C can be doubled and used with equal volume of NaOH. Good to know after I bought 4Kg of each A and B.
I have a problem with AF: their reps on videos seem many times not to understand what they are talking about...

Aquaforest’s part 3 contains Reef Mineral Salt. It must contain all the trace elements in seawater.
It looks like they also add trace elements to 1 & 2, which we can also do here.

I never added TM trace elements to mine because I dose by hand; as long as there isn’t precipitation, it’s fine.

I can test it out and report back.

Maybe it must but it does not:

 

[KStatefan]

So only TM A (CaCl) and C can be doubled and used with equal volume of NaOH. Good to know after I bought 4Kg of each A and B.
I have a problem with AF: their reps on videos seem many times not to understand what they are talking about...


Maybe it must but it does not:

Reef Mineral salt not component 3

 

[Miami Reef]

It says mineral salt in the part 3 ingredients.

 

[karsa]

Very helpful information I’ve been reading through both threads. Just to be clear if adding TM trace A and K to the part 1 and 2 do those get added after creating the 1 gallon mixture (for slightly over 1 gallon total) or do you mix them in and then fill the container to exactly 1 gallon?

 

[Miami Reef]

or do you mix them in and then fill the container to exactly 1 gallon?

This. Follow this for all the solutions you make for this recipe.

 

[Koty]

So, I can double the concentrations of the A (CaCl) and the C . Question is if I can still add the K-elements to the A without getting precipitation? I posted the same question in the TM forum but got no answer.

 

[Miami Reef]

So, I can double the concentrations of the A (CaCl) and the C . Question is if I can still add the K-elements to the A without getting precipitation? I posted the same question in the TM forum but got no answer.

Are you asking if you can appropriately double the trace elements in the solutions to match the alk and calcium concentrations?

What alk are you using?

 

[Koty]

No, I am asking first if I can double the A (CaCl2) and the C (Balling) concentrations relative to TM's recommendation. The second question is if I can safely add the K elements to the 2X A solution.

 

[Miami Reef]

No, I am asking first if I can double the A (CaCl2) and the C (Balling) concentrations relative to TM's recommendation.

That’s how we have it in the first post. It’s no problem at all.

You’d have to test out the trace part.