Please help with switching from AFR to balling.

[tırıvırıı]

Hi, I'm switching from AFR to this additive because it's cheaper where I live.
My tank is 300 liters, my daily consumption is around 1 dKH, and I'm dosing 45 ml of AFR.
I'm going to buy a 3-liter ready-to-use solution from Reeflowers. I'm only planning to buy KH and CA because this brand's balling system consists of 4 parts and I don't want to go through all that trouble.
As a third solution, I am considering using Tropic Marine Balling C to maintain ionic balance.
Reeflowers KH 10ml provides a 1 dkh increase in 100 liters.
:Reeflowers calcium 1ml provides a 1.5 ppm increase in 100 liters.
Based on these values, how many ml of TM Balling C should I use?
My other question is, if I use only KH and CA without using TM part C, and I do 10% water changes every two weeks, will I encounter any problems in the long run?
I'm sharing the link to the brand and product I want to use below. I would appreciate your help.
https://www.reeflowers.com/urunler/tuzlu-su/balling-set?lang=tr

 

[tırıvırıı]

@Randy Holmes-Farley

 

[tırıvırıı]

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[MICHIGANRV]

Removed sorry I should have read your post better

 

[MICHIGANRV]

This video with Lou Ekus from TM is very good. Hope it helps.

 

[tırıvırıı]

This video with Lou Ekus from TM is very good. Hope it helps.

Thanks, but that's not the answer I was looking for.

 

[tırıvırıı]

@Randy Holmes-Farley

 

[143MPCo]

Never used either, but maybe these guys can help #reefsquad

 

[tırıvırıı]

Never used either, but maybe these guys can help #reefsquad

thank you

 

[Red_Beard]

If you consume 1dkh per day, 300 liters, and your desired solution adds 1dkh per 100 liters wirh 10ml, you would need 30ml/day of it for kh. For ca you can measure the drop and use the calculator for the product. If you do want a true balling type solution though you would need to use the whole system to keep the ionic balance. I am not sure how well a 10% regular water change would keep up with that though and can only make inferences.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

Water changes are helpful, but do not eliminate the issue of avoiding Balling Part C.

I don't think that 10% biweekly changes will adequately mitigate the decline of things like potassium if you do not use Balling Part C. In a few months of dosing 1.1 dKH per day, potassium will drop from 400 ppm to the 370's.

 

[tırıvırıı]

Water changes are helpful, but do not eliminate the issue of avoiding Balling Part C.

I don't think that 10% biweekly changes will adequately mitigate the decline of things like potassium if you do not use Balling Part C. In a few months of dosing 1.1 dKH per day, potassium will drop from 400 ppm to the 370's.

So, according to the calculations above, how many ml of Part C do I need to add?

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

So, according to the calculations above, how many ml of Part C do I need to add?

The original TM recipe is 1:1:1.

There are numerous variations on DIY Balling recipes detailed here, and all are fine choices:

https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/diy-balling-method-recipe.1098905/

 

[tırıvırıı]

The original TM recipe is 1:1:1.

There are numerous variations on DIY Balling recipes detailed here, and all are fine choices:

https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/diy-balling-method-recipe.1098905/

Instead of the original product, I want to use the Ca and Kh Reeflowers brand product mentioned above. How much should I dose from TM Part C?

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

Instead of the original product, I want to use the Ca and Kh Reeflowers brand product mentioned above. How much should I dose from TM Part C?

Lots to work through for that question...

Alk part claim: 10 ml of solution provides a 1 dkH increase in 100 liters.
Calcium part claim: 1 ml of solution provides a 1.5 ppm increase in 100 liters.

Randy conclusion: NOT DESIGNED FOR 1:1 dosing.

I would dose both based on alkalinity, not calcium testing since its too variable.

When you determine the alk amount you want to dose, I would dose 0.45 times as much calcium solution as you dosed of the alk solution

For example, if you dose 10 mL of the alk part ( giving a boost of 1 dKH per 100 L), then I would dose 4.5 mL of the calcium part (giving a boost of 6.8 ppm calcium)

So, how much Balling Part C to use?

TM Balling says:
The addition of 1 fl.oz./30 ml of each solution will raise the calcium level of 10 US-gal./35 l by approx. 15 ppm and the alkalinity by 2.2 °dH.

Thus, the TM Balling alk part boosts alk by
30 mL gives 2.2 dKH per 35 L
30 ml gives 0.77 dKH per 100 L
10 mL gives 0.26 dKH per 100 L

The TM balling alk part is thus 4x less potent.

Based on these calculations, I would add 4 mL of Balling Part C for each ml of the Reef Flowers alk part used.

 

[tırıvırıı]

Lots to work through for that question...

Alk part claim: 10 ml of solution provides a 1 dkH increase in 100 liters.
Calcium part claim: 1 ml of solution provides a 1.5 ppm increase in 100 liters.

Randy conclusion: NOT DESIGNED FOR 1:1 dosing.

I would dose both based on alkalinity, not calcium testing since its too variable.

When you determine the alk amount you want to dose, I would dose 0.45 times as much calcium solution as you dosed of the alk solution

For example, if you dose 10 mL of the alk part ( giving a boost of 1 dKH per 100 L), then I would dose 4.5 mL of the calcium part (giving a boost of 6.8 ppm calcium)

So, how much Balling Part C to use?

TM Balling says:
The addition of 1 fl.oz./30 ml of each solution will raise the calcium level of 10 US-gal./35 l by approx. 15 ppm and the alkalinity by 2.2 °dH.

Thus, the TM Balling alk part boosts alk by
30 mL gives 2.2 dKH per 35 L
30 ml gives 0.77 dKH per 100 L
10 mL gives 0.26 dKH per 100 L

The TM balling alk part is thus 4x less potent.

Based on these calculations, I would add 4 mL of Balling Part C for each ml of the Reef Flowers alk part used.

Thank you so much for your help.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

You're welcome.

Happy Reefing. :)

 

[tırıvırıı]

You're welcome.

Happy Reefing. :)

I have one more question.
1. Given a daily consumption of 2 or 3 dKH in a 300-liter tank, would there be any problems using AFR?
2.In a tank consuming this much dKH, would switching to a 3-part component make more sense?
3.For example, if I switch to a 3-part system and add 300 ml of TM Part B to a tank where I'm currently dosing 150 ml of AFR, will I experience the same pH drop, or will the drop be greater?
Cost is not the issue; convenience is what matters to me

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

I have one more question.
1. Given a daily consumption of 2 or 3 dKH in a 300-liter tank, would there be any problems using AFR?
2.In a tank consuming this much dKH, would switching to a 3-part component make more sense?
3.For example, if I switch to a 3-part system and add 300 ml of TM Part B to a tank where I'm currently dosing 150 ml of AFR, will I experience the same pH drop, or will the drop be greater?
Cost is not the issue; convenience is what matters to me

There is no problem (except cost) using AFR in any tank at any dose, as long as you keep it well aerated (as most reef tanks are).

A three part has a cost and possible pH advantage. It does not consume any O2, like AFR does, but in most reef tanks the aeration is adequate.

If you use sodium carbonate or sodium hydroxide, or any mixture of these with sodium bicarbonate, the pH effect is toward higher pH than AFR or bicarboante alone.

 

[tırıvırıı]

There is no problem (except cost) using AFR in any tank at any dose, as long as you keep it well aerated (as most reef tanks are).

A three part has a cost and possible pH advantage. It does not consume any O2, like AFR does, but in most reef tanks the aeration is adequate.

If you use sodium carbonate or sodium hydroxide, or any mixture of these with sodium bicarbonate, the pH effect is toward higher pH than AFR or bicarboante alone.

Randy, I decided to use the Aquaforest CA and KH powder versions because the 5kg packages are more affordable.Thirdly, would it be appropriate to add the Tropic Marin C component for ion balance? Should I dose all three components in equal amounts? The KH and Ca values of AF and TM seem to be the same.

tropic marin 30 ml / 1 fl.oz of each solution, 10 US-gal./38 liters, increases calcium concentration by 15 mg/l (ppm) calcium and 2.2 °dH.

Aquaforrest 100ml 2.60 dkh per 100lt
17.5ppm CA in 100ml 100lt

I'm also thinking of adding trace elements to the balling set. Can I add Strong K to Part C? I think that's potassium.