DIY Balling Method Recipe

[Koty]

Yes, I use their B product (Just bought a 4kg bucket).

 

[Miami Reef]

Yes, I use their B product (Just bought a 4kg bucket).

I think you’d have to test out the trace element part.

 

[Koty]

Yap also waiting with the same question in the TM forum. Hope that HWB will reply.

 

[TodaysTrolling]

Is there mixing instructions for tropic marine a and k to add to any of the solutions?

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

Is there mixing instructions for tropic marine a and k to add to any of the solutions?

When you say instructions, do you mean more than the amount needed? Just add it and give it a quick shake.

In terms of amount, you can either try to match the ratios in AFR, or you can determine your daily dose of the two part (say, 20 mL of each part per day), and then incorporate the A and K based on the per day volume directions (starting dose is 1 mL per day per 100 L aquarium water). Thus, in this example, with a 100 L aquarium, you'd add 1 mL of trace to 20 mL of the two part and then dose 21 ml per day (or something equivalent) .

K+ Elements | Produktinformationen

www.tropic-marin-smartinfo.com

Add 1 ml of trace elements (each solution) to each 100 l of aquarium water daily. The trace element solution must not come into direct contact with the animals.
The dose may be doubled if the corals consume large quantities of trace elements (maximum dosage).

 

[TodaysTrolling]

I guess my question would be if it could be combined with part one or two or both. I mix the parts to a liter instead of a gallon since thats what my dosing containers are. I wasn't sure if A and K could be added into part 1 or two. And if so how much I would weigh to mix and what part I would add it into.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

I guess my question would be if it could be combined with part one or two or both. I mix the parts to a liter instead of a gallon since thats what my dosing containers are. I wasn't sure if A and K could be added into part 1 or two. And if so how much I would weigh to mix and what part I would add it into.

Oh, I thought that was in the thread, but K goes in the calcium part and A in the alk part. Are you using the A and K liquid?

 

[reefingtexas]

Oh I know :)! the 1:1:1 super helpful. I’ve really simplified ongoing tank chores the last few years and it’s a game changer. My dosing container sizes, top off, pre-prepped food cubes, etc are all done for simplicity, repeatability and no intervention for 45 days (I travel for work). This thread fits perfectly with my approach.

I'm curious how you make pre-prepped food cubes? Meaning, what recipe do you use and what do you use to form the food cubes?

 

[Miami Reef]

Oh, I thought that was in the thread, but K goes in the calcium part and A in the alk part. Are you using the A and K liquid?

Just added it.

 

[rishma]

I'm curious how you make pre-prepped food cubes? Meaning, what recipe do you use and what do you use to form the food cubes?

Oh dear, Miami might ban be for sidetracking this thread! I’ll post a reply in my barely active build thread and tag you in it.

 

[rishma]

When you say instructions, do you mean more than the amount needed? Just add it and give it a quick shake.

In terms of amount, you can either try to match the ratios in AFR, or you can determine your daily dose of the two part (say, 20 mL of each part per day), and then incorporate the A and K based on the per day volume directions (starting dose is 1 mL per day per 100 L aquarium water). Thus, in this example, with a 100 L aquarium, you'd add 1 mL of trace to 20 mL of the two part and then dose 21 ml per day (or something equivalent) .

K+ Elements | Produktinformationen

www.tropic-marin-smartinfo.com

Add 1 ml of trace elements (each solution) to each 100 l of aquarium water daily. The trace element solution must not come into direct contact with the animals.
The dose may be doubled if the corals consume large quantities of trace elements (maximum dosage).

Is there any logic that the trace would be consumed proportionately to alkalinity? Or does bacteria, algae, etc consume trace independently so it won’t track with calcification?

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

Is there any logic that the trace would be consumed proportionately to alkalinity?

Any logic? Some.

Not the best idea, IMO.

If the consumption of trace elements is mostly by hard corals, then yes, it is sensible.

If the tank grows macroalgae, soft corals, anemones, ATS, etc., then there will be a large amount of many trace elements consumed independent of alkalinity consumed.

It's a drawback of something like AFR and a plus for something like TM A and K which can be adjusted based on the tank itself.

For example, a soft coral tank that uses a little AFR for a little coralline algae growth, and maybe a hard coral or two, will be getting far less trace elements than an SPS tank using AFR that might actually be consuming smaller amounts of traces such as iron, manganese, iodine, etc.

 

[rishma]

Any logic? Some.

Not the best idea, IMO.

If the consumption of trace elements is mostly by hard corals, then yes, it is sensible.

If the tank grows macroalgae, soft corals, anemones, ATS, etc., then there will be a large amount of many trace elements consumed independent of alkalinity consumed.

It's a drawback of something like AFR and a plus for something like TM A and K which can be adjusted based on the tank itself.

For example, a soft coral tank that uses a little AFR for a little coralline algae growth, and maybe a hard coral or two, will be getting far less trace elements than an SPS tank using AFR that might actually be consuming smaller amounts of traces such as iron, manganese, iodine, etc.

Makes sense. Thanks. AFR works pretty well for me, but I suppose that’s probably because my tank is close to what it was designed for.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

Makes sense. Thanks. AFR works pretty well for me, but I suppose that’s probably because my tank is close to what it was designed for.

Yes, that's the thing. They probably set it up for a typical AFR user system, but it may not be optimal for tanks on either extreme of lots of alk demand or little alk demand relative to trace demand. A number of companies have to make this sort of "averaging" decision when they decide what to put in with alk/calcium .

 

[chris_ek]

Oh, I thought that was in the thread, but K goes in the calcium part and A in the alk part. Are you using the A and K liquid?

Do you think that we can add A to alk part based on NaOH?

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

Do you think that we can add A to alk part based on NaOH?

I think so and I know folks have tried it. I just don’t recall for sure what happened.

 

[oli986]

I've found using calcium chloride anhydrous could work out almost half the cost of dihydrate (here in the UK anyways)

Any are there any pros & cons using anhydrous?

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

I've found using calcium chloride anhydrous could work out almost half the cost of dihydrate (here in the UK anyways)

Any are there any pros & cons using anhydrous?

There's nothing wrong with anhydrous, though it will oven be more expensive for similar purity as I think it is usually made by adding a heating/drying step to the hydrate manufacture.

 

[oli986]

There's nothing wrong with anhydrous, though it will oven be more expensive for similar purity as I think it is usually made by adding a heating/drying step to the hydrate manufacture.

Yeah it does say suitable for aquariums but the data sheet states "technical grade" so questionable.

I know aquaforest calcium is anhydrous and uses 50g per liter but not sure if the concentration is the same.

Perhaps I'll just stuck with dihydrate

There's nothing wrong with anhydrous, though it will oven be more expensive for similar purity as I think it is usually made by adding a heating/drying step to the hydrate manufacture.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

Yeah it does say suitable for aquariums but the data sheet states "technical grade" so questionable.

I know aquaforest calcium is anhydrous and uses 50g per liter but not sure if the concentration is the same.

Perhaps I'll just stuck with dihydrate

The Reef Chemistry calculator has an entry for anhydrous (top most choice under calcium), and my DIY two part recipes have modifications for using anhydrous (use ~20% less).

Reef Chemistry Calculator