Balling method

[ken77]

I have been reading and thinking of trying this for some time now. Is anyone currently us ing this method? If so could you share your insights?
I also noticed that tropic narin is comming out with a three part version of this by Han s-Werner Balling.
Ken m

 

[MSD60178]

I just started using the TM 3 part balling method for about a week now and so far so good. what I really like about it is it so much easier to keep everything (Mg, dKH, Ca) where I want. I'll post more as time goes on using it. Hope some others post here to I would like more input on it also.

 

[ken77]

Cool that is what I want to know. What are your numbers at?

 

[MSD60178]

Well as of yesterday they were....I have not tested today

Sg 1.025
Mg 1380
Meg/L 3.8
dKH 10.6
Cal 480
PH 8.1

not sure about PO4 and nitrates as my test kits for that are old and I have been out to get new ones yet. also I use RC salt and Red Sea test kits

 

[MSD60178]

The LFS I go to sold me on them and i trust them also did some on line research and its been out across the pond for about ten years and I have yet to read anything negative about it.

 

[ken77]

Are you using the new tropic marin 3 part?

 

[ken77]

I have been reading about it. Not sure if my lfs in baton rouge has it yet. Isn't your dkh supposed to stabilize around 7-8?

 

[MSD60178]

you know tell you the truth I am fairly new to dosing I have kept softies for years and never really tested anything just did water changes every week but about a year ago I wanted to give colored sticks a try so I picked up a frag and it was doing ok for a few weeks then died so I started testing and dose and reading everything I have read says to keep dKH 8-12 but "they" say the key to keep it stable so pick a number a stick with it so I picked 10 and now I think I am ready to pick another frag or 2 but every since getting my numbers to where they are and keeping them there all my softies are growing like mad and even just the last week since using the TM 3 part I have seen some nice growth on what I call mushroom island a large rock at the edge of my tank covered the all different kinds of shrooms even seen a few more then were there the week before. I would hope someone else will chime in here and let me know. I know a lot about this hobby but in no means am I an expert.

 

[MSD60178]

bump I hope some one other than me is using these products would love to bounce ideas around

 

[427HISS]

Can one of you give me a link, as to what this method means ?

 

[MSD60178]

I found this on line somewhere

"So briefly what’s different than what you know now?

Hans-Werner Balling developed a system which he wrote an article on quite a few years back that dosed in 3 parts.

Part A is your Calcium Chloride
Part B is your ALK in the form of Sodium Bicarbonate
PART C Part C is what differentiates what is wrongly marketed today as Balling and what Hans-Werner Balling developed and works with Tropic marin to produce.

Part C is everything you will find in natural sea water all the elements including Magnesium, but without any sodium chloride. So your system is constantly replenished with all the elements in sea water that are depleted by living organisms or precipitates out. This method produces no ionic balance issues"

 

[ken77]

I could not find the tropic marin system at lfs. I got eoc balling system instead. I have a concern however before I start using it. It says replace evaporated water with kalkwasser I have alwayes just used ro water. Is th kalkwasser necessary? What are you replacing evaporated water with?

 

[MSD60178]

I just use fresh RO/DI water the instructions for the TM are all in German and the little that is in English doesn't say anything about top off water

 

[ken77]

I am going to do the same. Have you noticed any ill effects just tapping off with ro water?

 

[MSD60178]

not that I can see but I am still having a hard time keeping sps not sure why everything test fine and all my other softies are growning and looking great maybe its cem warfare not sure. As far topping off with just water I think as long as you are dosing and keep track of all your numbers there should be no need to top off with kalk

 

[ken77]

Got everything mixed and set up in jugs but I need to raise mg 20 pts today before I start

 

[MSD60178]

right on keep us updated.

 

[ken77]

Turned the dosing pumps on at 1:30 pm today. I am dosing 150mls of each solution. Dosers put in ten mls ever hour and twentysix minutes. Starting numbers are as follows:
Alk 8.3 dkh
Ca 425
Mag 1310

 

[ken77]

I am as nerous as a cat on a hot tin roof. Hope I am not making a mistake.

 

[mike007]

Thats alot my friend. Your parameters seem to be right on now. You need to not dose for 3 days and then test to determine what amount of alk. and ca. are being used and then go to the brs calculater and determine how much to dose to maintain desired levels.