Anyone using balling method
- Thread starter JOKER
- Start date
- Tagged users None
Randy Holmes-Farley
Reef Chemist
Staff member
Super Moderator
Excellence Award
Expert Contributor
Article Contributor
R2R Research
My Tank Thread
I'm not sure I see a difference between it and a good two part. 
OP
OP
JOKER
2500 Club Member
I was reading on It and they explain It to be better without the buildup but don't find a lot of people using it. Like a lot of things with reefing what works for some don't work for others.lol
Randy Holmes-Farley
Reef Chemist
Staff member
Super Moderator
Excellence Award
Expert Contributor
Article Contributor
R2R Research
My Tank Thread
You mean the salinity rise that happens with a two part?
For most folks that isn't an issue.
A good two part won't leave any undesirable buildup except an increase in salinity.
For most folks that isn't an issue.
A good two part won't leave any undesirable buildup except an increase in salinity.
Greenstreet.1
5000 Club Member
I add the trace elements to my BRS two part
Randy Holmes-Farley
Reef Chemist
Staff member
Super Moderator
Excellence Award
Expert Contributor
Article Contributor
R2R Research
My Tank Thread
What brand do you add to it?
trout
Active Member
If you are referring to Balling classic, then it is worth contacting Mr. Hans Werner Balling. He contributes to a German forum as a sponsor (Tropic Marin). Pm me if you want further details. If, on the other hand, you are referring to Balling Lite, then contact Claude Schuhmacher of Fauna Marin.
Balling classic utilises chloride free salts as part of its recipe to avoid chloride build up.
Cheers
Greenstreet.1
5000 Club Member
vladandlilith
Active Member
What is balling?
tyler1503
2500 Club Member
I believe it's Ebonics for "cool"
I don't know the reefing definition though haha.
Randy Holmes-Farley
Reef Chemist
Staff member
Super Moderator
Excellence Award
Expert Contributor
Article Contributor
R2R Research
My Tank Thread
Like some proprietary methods, it is not always clear exactly what is being added, but my understanding of it is that it is a method for adding calcium and alkalinity that is very much like a two part system. The main components are calcium chloride and sodium carbonate/bicarbonate, plus some other things.
I discuss it and other methods here:
The Many Methods for Supplementing Calcium and Alkalinity - REEFEDITION
from it:
Balling Method
The balling method seems to be similar to the two/three part methods that are more common in the United States. There are different variations used by different people, and some (Fauna Marin) have three parts just like the DIY recipes, with a calcium part, an alkalinity part, and a magnesium part. One distinguishing feature of these is that they explicitly add a trace element mix to some of them (two additives into the calcium part, one into the alkalinity part, none to the magnesium part).
The ingredients and amounts in these are proprietary and cannot be easily compared to other methods, but one should not assume that they are not present in commercial and even the DIY two/three part systems, either as intentional additives already in the commercial ones, or present as impurities in the main ingredients of the DIY.
It is not trivial to compare costs of the Balling method by Fauna Marin since it has many parts, but it seems that the cost is about the same as commercial two part systems, or $3.60 per thousand meq of alkalinity ($10 per gallon of the alkalinity part, $11.3 per gallon of the calcium part, and $4.75 for the magnesium equivalent amount).
vladandlilith
Active Member
Thank you, Dr. Holmes-Farley. I appreciate your time.
Sean
Sean
vladandlilith
Active Member
I believe it's Ebonics for "cool"
I don't know the reefing definition though haha.
Tyler, I think you have it figured out. :bigsmile:
Oldude
Active Member
Randy I've been using your two part recipe since 2006 I have been running the Fauna Marin balling solutions since Dec 2013. For the past 7 months or so I have also been dosing Fauna Marin "color elements" weekly.
Last edited:
tyler1503
2500 Club Member
Randy Holmes-Farley
Reef Chemist
Staff member
Super Moderator
Excellence Award
Expert Contributor
Article Contributor
R2R Research
My Tank Thread
OK, thanks. Unless it is intended for that purpose, I'd be careful about adding trace elements into a two part as some of the elements may precipitate from solution.
Pny
Active Member
OK, thanks. Unless it is intended for that purpose, I'd be careful about adding trace elements into a two part as some of the elements may precipitate from solution.
I suppose Fauna Marin tried their own recipe and trace solutions according to their recomendations before publishing their method...
Randy Holmes-Farley
Reef Chemist
Staff member
Super Moderator
Excellence Award
Expert Contributor
Article Contributor
R2R Research
My Tank Thread
Probably, and if they recommend adding it into a particular part of a two part system, you are all set. If they do not recommend adding that way, then I wouldn't do it.
Do they make such a recommendation?
Pny
Active Member
Yes, according to their recipe (which I follow using third party balling salt mixed with trace from Fauna marin) you add two trace mixes (strontium/barium complex and heavy metal complex) to the calcium solution and another trace mix (iodine/flour complex) to the alk solution. Nothing else is added to the Magnesium solution. The exact composition of their trace mix solutions is not published.
Here is a link to their Balling light manual:
http://static.faunamarin.de/manuals/manual_balling-methode_eng.pdf
Last edited:
Randy Holmes-Farley
Reef Chemist
Staff member
Super Moderator
Excellence Award
Expert Contributor
Article Contributor
R2R Research
My Tank Thread
Ok, then that seems a reasonable approach, although folks should realize that depending on what trace elements are already in the two part, either by design or as impurities in the main ingredients, you may be adding more than just the intended amounts.
Last edited:
