DIY Balling Method Recipe

[Spartan76]

Sounds good Thx again

 

[Freenow54]

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.

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.

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:

Dose at 5.4% of the volume used for the other parts. 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.

I watched a video and now understand the importance of the third part I believe. To keep salinity at the proper specific Gravity ? I still don't know the volume required. The video said every Aquarium is different. I am currently doing K- and A+ So if get Tropic Marin part C I am I correct in thinking dosing those 2 are no longer required ? Also don't know the volume to add to one a 45 gallon with lots of Coraline algae, And second Aquarium with 90 Gallon main display , and 40 gallon sump so say another 20 gallons total 110 US gallons

 

[Miami Reef]

I watched a video and now understand the importance of the third part I believe. To keep salinity at the proper specific Gravity ?

Not quite.

I think a real-world example would help:

By Randy:

“Adding Balling Part C will add cost, but will substantially improve stability of certain major and minor ions, unless the AWC is substantial.

For example, at 1.1 dKH per day, salinity will increase about 32% over a year. Without any water changes, that means that maintaining level salinity will push an ion such as potassium down by 32% (say, 400 to 272 ppm) during that year, necessitating more dosing.”

Can I use AFR with Randy's Part 2 and Kalk?

I went from Randy's 2 part + Kalk to AFR + Randy's Part + Kalk I'm wondering if I can still use Randy's part 2 so I dont have to use so much AFR. I'd also keep Kalk going for pH. The reason why I kept Randy's Part 2 is because I initially wanted to slowly incorporate AFR into the system. But...

www.reef2reef.com

Balling Part C slightly raises salinity (2 parts raises salinity to more extent.)

The purpose of Balling is to prevent the above scenario from happening to potassium and a myriad of other ions in seawater.

 

[Freenow54]

Not quite.

I think a real-world example would help:

By Randy:

“Adding Balling Part C will add cost, but will substantially improve stability of certain major and minor ions, unless the AWC is substantial.

For example, at 1.1 dKH per day, salinity will increase about 32% over a year. Without any water changes, that means that maintaining level salinity will push an ion such as potassium down by 32% (say, 400 to 272 ppm) during that year, necessitating more dosing.”

Can I use AFR with Randy's Part 2 and Kalk?

I went from Randy's 2 part + Kalk to AFR + Randy's Part + Kalk I'm wondering if I can still use Randy's part 2 so I dont have to use so much AFR. I'd also keep Kalk going for pH. The reason why I kept Randy's Part 2 is because I initially wanted to slowly incorporate AFR into the system. But...

www.reef2reef.com

Balling Part C slightly raises salinity (2 parts raises salinity to more extent.)

The purpose of Balling is to prevent the above scenario from happening to potassium and a myriad of other ions in seawater.

First dKH meaning ? Also AWC meaning ? I hate Acronyms second no water changes? I do 30 Gallons once a week with 1.024 SG . Randy suggested that with Coraline growth reduces Magnesium. I currently have noticed some red slime, so a concern don't like chemical attacks. will an increased magnesium have an effect? regardless trying to keep coral growth on the rise so that is My main objective. Thanks for your help please continue

 

[Miami Reef]

First dKH meaning ?

dKH is the common unit for measuring alkalinity.

Adding 1dKH per day is a moderate alkalinity demand.

Also AWC meaning ?

AWC is auto water change. It’s just referring to water changes.

Would an analogy of how Balling works be helpful?

 

[Miami Reef]

I currently have noticed some red slime

That’s likely Cyano.

will an increased magnesium have an effect?

Not really. Cyano has so direct relationship with magnesium.

regardless trying to keep coral growth on the rise so that is My main objective.

Higher growth is good. I don’t believe magnesium is limiting. Increasing it will not make an appreciable impact on growth.

 

[Freenow54]

dKH is the common unit for measuring alkalinity.

Adding 1dKH per day is a moderate alkalinity demand.

AWC is auto water change. It’s just referring to water changes.

Would an analogy of how Balling works be helpful?

Yes please because 1 dkh means nothing to my uneducated mind. 1 Dkh to me should be followed with a measurement, and if it is should be followed by addition eg. per litre gallon etc.. No insult

 

[Miami Reef]

Yes please because 1 dkh means nothing to my uneducated mind. 1 Dkh to me should be followed with a measurement, and if it is should be followed by addition eg. per litre gallon etc.. No insult

Adding 1.1dKH per day is like adding 7.5mL of alkalinity (from 2 part) to a 10 gallon tank.

It’s a moderate dose. It’s not extreme.

It’s just to show how even lower demand tanks can benefit from balling.

 

[rishma]

all units are interchangeable (1 meq/L = 50 ppm = 2.8 dKH

 

[Val Shebeko]

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.

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.

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:

Dose at 5.4% of the volume used for the other parts. 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.

And I thank you very much for the quick response.

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.

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.

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:

Dose at 5.4% of the volume used for the other parts. 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.

I thank you for the quick response. However, the post talks about maintaining alkalinity, I was interested in having a way of not only maintaining alkalinity but also maintaining Ca and Mg in-some sort if balance. Is this three part going to get me on that path or is this strictly for alkalinity?

Thanks in advance.

 

[Miami Reef]

I was interested in having a way of not only maintaining alkalinity but also maintaining Ca and Mg in-some sort if balance. Is this three part going to get me on that path or is this strictly for alkalinity?

Yep. That’s what this is built for.

 

[Luisn17]

Happy I came across this thread.

I was seriously debating and researching making a switch from AFR to 2-part since AFR is giving me issues in the new tank. I can’t keep DKH stable and my corals are responding great to soda ash. I think is the ph boost.

Sorry for the dumb questions. I read thru the thread and I know we can use BRS’ soda ash and calcium mixes. Can I do the same with magnesium 2-part mix? Well, I actually have the 7 pound bags of magnesium sulfate and magnesium chloride.

Do I follow the mixing recipe from BRS and take 203ml from this mix and mix it with TM part C? Is the following correct? add some RODI, add the 7 scoops of part c, add the 203ML of magnesium, and top it off with RODI to make a gallon. If I want to make more than a gallon, then I repeat the steps, I have 3000ml dosing containers.

Since I do AWC, anything special I need to do to the fresh saltwater? I make sure the parameters of the fresh saltwater match the tank.

Thanks

 

[Miami Reef]

Do I follow the mixing recipe from BRS and take 203ml from this mix and mix it with TM part C?

That’s what we are doing. The correct BRS mixing ratio for Balling was outlined in this thread:


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.

If I want to make more than a gallon, then I repeat the steps, I have 3000ml dosing containers.

Yes. If you need help calculating the amounts needed for your container size, I can help you.

Since I do AWC, anything special I need to do to the fresh saltwater? I make sure the parameters of the fresh saltwater match the tank.

Nope. You don’t need to adjust your water mix.

 

[Freenow54]

That’s what we are doing. The correct BRS mixing ratio for Balling was outlined in this thread:


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.


Yes. If you need help calculating the amounts needed for your container size, I can help you.

Nope. You don’t need to adjust your water mix.

Just wondering where you buy Magnesium Chloride Hexahydrate Is there some sort of brand name?

 

[Miami Reef]

Just wondering where you buy Magnesium Chloride Hexahydrate Is there some sort of brand name?

I buy it from Bulk Reef Supply.

 

[Freenow54]

I buy it from Bulk Reef Supply.

Thanks that would cost me huge since they ship to Canada using a broker which doubles the price , and I have to be at home to receive, And pay for it. I guess I will have to find a source. I was hoping to get it at a pharmacy. Funny you can get free pentanal here at a " safe site " but not meds for fish or this . Wacky world

 

[Miami Reef]

Thanks that would cost me huge since they ship to Canada using a broker which doubles the price , and I have to be at home to receive, And pay for it. I guess I will have to find a source. I was hoping to get it at a pharmacy. Funny you can get free pentanal here at a " safe site " but not meds for fish or this . Wacky world

Ah. Canada can make it much harder to source chemicals. I’m not sure what sources are available there, but I agree that buying it from BRS would be overkill.

 

[Freenow54]

Ah. Canada can make it much harder to source chemicals. I’m not sure what sources are available there, but I agree that buying it from BRS would be overkill.

Just for you. I was raising , and breeding african Malawi yellow chilclids. They are vegetarian. What Idid not know was that they cannot digest meat. I was using Omecaa 1 food . It was no longrer available at my LFS and I went with a reps reccomendation. It contained mysis shrimp. The cichvids deleloped what is called Malawi Bloat. I had to nmedicate one fish in the past for it. ( their guts expand , and they bleed internally . Noy nice. But I was able to go to Pet Smart here which is a shall we say a consumer type of store selling dog bones ect. The lady there was totally on the ball. and
d gave me what I needed and since I hade a hospital tank , saved the fish which happened to be my hugely breeding Female. Anyway fast forward 15 years, because of my ignorance and excepting numb numbs recommendations my entire tank was effected. When I went to buy the medication, I was informed that the veterinarians had lobbied the government to remove access to medications for the " safety " of the population. I circumvented them , but by the time I got the meds all my in tank 17 breed fish were dead. All over money by greedy vets. Not just for fish but everything , Try getting a vet to see a fish lol

 

[Miami Reef]

That’s infuriating. I understand your frustration because it’s kind of the same here with certain medicines. It’s almost impossible to get interceptor here unless you have a cat or dog.

However, Canada is a totally different beast; the most basic chemicals are outlawed there. I’ll never understand their logic.

Sorry about your fish loss. You must have felt helpless.

 

[Freenow54]

That’s infuriating. I understand your frustration because it’s kind of the same here with certain medicines. It’s almost impossible to get interceptor here unless you have a cat or dog.

However, Canada is a totally different beast; the most basic chemicals are outlawed there. I’ll never understand their logic.

Sorry about your fish loss. You must have felt helpless.

Found it and ordered it from US but did not arrive in time. Yes helpless is the word. Had a vet after explaining very clearly the situation , and the medication just refused straight up. Its Greed that's it. onwards and hopefully upwards talk soon