What the Heck are we balling about??
 

After various emails and calls about the balling method I thought I would re post this amazing concept.

So to start what the heck is the Balling light method?.

The Balling light method has been used in Europe now for quite some years and has been developed to create a more easy balling system, and 80% of German reefers now employ this method over the calcium reactor.

WHY?? Well it is a heck of a lot cheaper than a calcium reactor and does so much more than the old one trick poney better known as the calcium reactor can ever do - please read on.

The balling system.

So we all (or most of us) have a calcium reactor what does this do? Well not a lot really other than add DKH (carbonate hardness) to your water and of course a level of calcium, but never to the degree a system really needs, its deployment of these crucial elements is also very crude and difficult to balance.

So the Balling method goes a whole lot further and has been said once established a lot easier to use and maintain in terms of cost and efficiency. This method does not just add calcium at an average rate over time but also adds all the mineral trace elements your system could need, once you have calculated your systems draw requirements on the minerals. So you are adding all the mineral nutrients in a controlled manner not just dosing DKH.

This then goes one step further, the minerals used in the balling method are lab pure, so you only get what you require, no hitch hiker minerals not required. This also eliminates the needs for CO2 bottles, regulators, drip feeders etc etc, all you need is a 3-4 buckets and a 3 stage dosing station, and of course the balling salts.

Here is a copied part of the manual that explains a bit more

The classic balling-method is meanwhile one of the most popular methods for providing your reef-tank with calcium. Fauna have adjusted this method to today's needs and have created the balling-lightmethod. Balling-light works without calculating and the need for wasteful gram-precise mixing of chemicals.

For this method, you need four different chemicals. We will not confuse you with exact chemical formulas, but show you a simple but effective way of providing your animals with calcium and other minerals.

Balling-light means adding the needed minerals like calcium, magnesium and
carbonates separately and to the exact requirement of your tank. For that, three different solutions are prepared and added to the tank. As the requirement of each tank is different, it has to be tested in the course
of a week to work out what your system requires.

Instruction:

You need three solutions in three separate 10-liter (2,5 gallons) containers:

1. can:
2 kilogram Calcium Chloride-Dihydrate in 5 liter reverse-osmosis water

2. can:
2 kilogram Magnesium Chloride-Hexahydrate in 5 liter reverse-osmosis water
250 gram Magnesium Sulfate-Heptahydrate

3. can:
500 gram sodium hydrogen carbonate in 5 liter reverse-osmosis water
Now, all three cans can be connected to a GHL ProfiLux dosing station with built in controller or if you have a ProfiLux computer then just the 3 station doser.

Each solution has to be dosed according to the size of the tank. At the beginning, CA, MG and alkalinity have to be checked daily.and the dosing quantity has to be adjusted at the controller. The ProfiLux dosing station controller is very suitable for that, as each channel can be adjusted individually and the solutions can be dosed twice a day at 5 minutes intervals.
You can do this also by hand.

After two weeks, ones personal need will be detected and adjusted. The quantities in each can can now be calculated and varied by you. Through Balling-light a small quantity of sodium chloride will arise in your tank.

To avoid accumulation it should be compensated by periodical water change
(10% each week). Also, always check the salinity of your water and adjust it if necessary. Essential trace elements needed for the growth of corals can be dosed automatically. Therefore we have developed the Ultra Trace B solutions. Add to can 1 (to the Calcium Chloride-Dihydrate) 25ml of the strontiumcomplex and 25ml of the heavy-metall-complex. To can 2 (to the magnesium) you add 25ml of the Iodine-Fluorine Complex.

And that is it.

So if you are interested in taking up the modern method of mineralization for your reef tank and providing your corals with the exact required minerals for growth and colour, all salts, dosers are available at all our dealers, please check out our web site for your closest.

But please support CanReef sponsors progressive reef and and ocean aquatics who carry these lines.

So this is basically Randy's 2-part system from Reef Central where you can use driveway de-icer (CaCl2), Epsom salts (MgSO4), and baked baking soda?

Absolutely not totally different, for starters there are 4 parts to this and the salts used a extremely pure

if you use road way salt expect to get this in your tank.

http://i71.photobucket.com/albums/i1...rect/salts.jpg

Would you risk the bucket on the left in your tank?

With the Fauna Balling salts they are gurarranteed pure, no bromine added, no ammonia no heavy metals, you get exactly what you tank requires, not bad deposits. There are so many stories of browned out tanks when trying to do things cheaply, we all love bargains but at what risk.

Here is faunas own statment

Dear Reefers

Many people ask us about our Balling light System and why we developed it. Also what is the difference to the classical Balling System and the well known 2 Part System with the use of DIY Salts.

Reef tanks need a stable chemical base and in the last years the kind of reef tanks chanced with low grade salts are well lit and strong current tanks with a wide variety of SPS and LPS Corals, this is an expensive chance to try and save on cheap salts.

The Classic Balling Method was developed 20 years ago where the sea salts used were not good quality and the reef tanks were mainly with fish and soft corals, much has changed since then. Fauna Marin therefore searched for new very clean salts and other mixes to increase the growth and stability of the modern reef tanks with SPS and LPS Corals

Reefers ask why our salts are more expensive and why should we pay such prices when we can source cheaper. I hope this demonstration provides the reason why (see above photo). Like you see here impure salts included a lot of industrial trace elements, Ammonia or other chemicals produce brown corals, or at best little colour and worst pests like Cyano bacteria.

FM salts are free from anything that can give such results as shown here and are produced with the exact trace elements required for success with SPS and LPS Corals. The Balling light salts have less Crystal water and a higher purity then other salts on the market so you need less of them to get stable results and a stable PH Level.

Together with the ULTRA TRACE B Elements you will get the best coral growth possible

And that’s without any Calcium reactor

All these new systems,... sounds like a lot of work and space requirements.
Where would i hide 3 buckets?! My wife complains about small 5lb Co2 bottle!
On top of that, if could do 10% weekly water change i don't need any dosing, my small calc reactor does good job maintaining good levels.
My SPS growth rate is good the way it is and if i get more, then i will have to frag and the after fraging colonies look ugly especially when you brake them.
Add to total cost ridiculously priced super expensive controllers
I think I'll stay with my set up

OK so let me see if this is right, buying a pro-flux controller, 3 stage dosing pump, containers, and the different chemicals is cheaper than getting a Ca reactor... Either your getting ripped off on your Ca reactor or your getting stuff for real cheap.

also if you have a very low evaporation setup the balling method might not be able to put enough stuff in to maintain levels, a Ca reactor is a recirculating system so no water is added.

Also how do the trace elements come into play, a Ca reactor will also put trace elements back into the water as they are also bound in the media. I didn't see anything in the balling explanation that covers that.

Steve

Hiya

You dont need a profiLux controller. the dosing pumps systems come with controller built in at $474. If you already have a Profilux then the price drops to $352.00

So what do you need for a calcium reactor

Calcium reactor.
CO2 bottle
Regulator
Means of flow control (often a dosing pump)
pH regulator if you want to get the most out of it

For a good calcium reactor set up that is worth its $$ you will pay more then this for sure.

Balling method -

Salts
Dosing pump unit.

In reagrds to evaporation, minerals do not evaporate, and the system is designed to only put in exactly what the sytem requires, this is the huge difference.

Calcium reactor type mineral supplementation is based on guess work as to what minerals are in the media to be released, further more you then have to add kalk to do the job properly and magnesium and trace elements. it starts to get a bit messy.

Now looking at the balling method.

3 containers (we can show you a fab neat unit that has been developed in the USA) each container already having exactly the right amount of minerals, all you need to do is work out the draw that your system has on these minerals, you can then only if you feel the need add further trace elements to boost colour.

This system is not new, it has been around for years in Europe and is proven to be THE most effect way to supplement a reef system thats why so many people in Europe use it. Simple affordable and extremely accurate in dosing.

To give you an idea how people are seeing this as the way forward, we shipped two weeks ago to the USA 30 dosing pump systems and 300Kg of salt, the supply is now on back order for the USA. This has really caught on now and we hope this side of the border will see the true benefits also ;)

I agree 100% it is hard to shake off tried and widely used concepts, but sometimes it's worth looking at a different angle and wander why something like this is so popular? Is it better? Proof seems to be in its popularity and results that it provides and the actual concept makes sense.

You can do the 2 part or the Balling method as cheaply or as expensively as you like. When I started, I used 3 Aqualifter pumps and 3 timers. Peristaltic pumps offered way more accuracy, and the Profilux controller takes care of my whole tank.

The last time I adjusted my dosing amounts was in May. Since then CA and kH levels have stayed virtually unchanged. I spend 10 minutes of hard labor filling a 20l and a 10l jug with water and chemicals every few weeks.

I've never owned a calcium reactor, so I don't know how 3 peristaltic pumps and 3 plastic jugs (milk jugs for a small tank) would compare to the price of one.

I add less than 300ml to a 180G tank daily.

The only trace element I add is Iodine, but I'm curious to see if the Fauna Marin for the Balling Method trace elements would make any difference, if anyone in the Lower Mainland ever starts carrying them.

Progressive reef has them and so does ocean aquatics.

Your synopsis is great.

It is true as quite rightly put, this method is not about what salts you buy (well it is in regards to purity) but about the method itself. I guess as the distributor this message can easily get lost.

The only thing I would add is make sure you get pure product and that is why we push the fauna salts - purity, you can even use these salts for your chosen two part.

I'll be installing this kind of dosing system on a clients tank in the next few weeks. I will also be switching out my Ca reactor for this kind of system, to me it just makes more sense. Even when my Ca reactor is working flawlessly it does not match my systems requirements perfectly, still always have to correct levels manually, plus I find a Ca reactor always needs constant attention to keep the flow rate of water and CO2 constant. Why not have a system that simply doses exactly what you need everyday automatically and requires less attention and maintenance?

Looking forward to this system, thanks!

Let us know how you get on, feedback always welcome ;)

I agree with what Sphelps said. I also plan on dosing when my 225 is up and running. And space isn't a huge concern. Most dosers can draw from jugs that are in different rooms or hidden a floor below although I have set aside room for 3 jugs.

Yeap, plus Ca reactors take up just as much space if not more with the reactor and CO2 tank.

Thought I'd post a picture of my dosing setup. Note the hi-tech bottle on the right for Mg.
http://excalibur.bc.ca/pics/slides/Dosing.jpg

Ocean Aquatics isn't carrying the trace elements for the Balling Method yet. Next time I'm on the island I'll check out Progressive Reef.

This is truly the superior method to a CA reactor.

Some day I'll switch from my CA Reactor but for now I'm still fighting with CO2

J

Wendell,

Let me know if you want some samples for your store.

And I just boguth a CAl Reactor :cry: oh well may have to run this for a 12 month period and then go to a dosing method.

so how much does every one mix i take it the more they grow the more powerful the fluid or am I out to lunch on this.

i really like the way the dosing works Steve when you were talking to me about it it seems different.

Really? Sorry but this is exactly what was talking about or trying to I guess :biggrin:

Hi

The fluid strength stays the same, as things grow it is the amount dosed that will change, we are not talkign litres a day here only ML's so you can see 5 gallons x 3 will last a heck of a time.

no No Steve that came out wrong the dosing is so easy SO why aren't people doing the Dosing

I think its a miss conception of cost

Up until now dosers were expensive and not very expandable and controllable

Then came the GHL SA doser that can be expanded up to 8 pumps at an attractive price and now people can see the concept of balling is as cheap if not cheaper than running a ca reactor.

hi Michael if you can can you PM me the different controller and dosing pumps with there key features.

thansk to Sphelps for pointing this out to me, i may in fact go with the dosing thing.
thanks Steve:mrgreen:

ok, I just want to make clear that I am not trying to say balling isn't a good way to go, just on the price comparason I am having a hard time understanding how it is cheaper.

you can build a smokin Ca reactor for under 100.00 easy. you can get a used CO2 20lb fire extinguisher for 75 (including the first fill) and a regulator for 75 from a welding supply store. and a neecdle valve is about 5.00. so 255. as for pumps, you need a recirc pump 35.00 and a feed pump about the same. (most of us already have a tone of pumps laying around but if not 325.00) now I can understand if you don't have the tools or know how, or a friend that can do it, the Ca reactor might be more.

I did run a kalk reactor also that was hooked into the top up.. I think I put that togeather for about 100.00

so about 25 bucks cheaper. now the differance is going to be in media.

so how much would balling media cost for a year on a high growth SPS tank with 150 gal of water in the system?


Also for the 355.00 you are talking about above, what exactly are you getting with that?

Steve

for the Ca reactor I spent about 35 bucks a year on media, and it was a set and forget set up.

Hi

I will post here for all to see

There are two options for starting from scratch

GHL stand alone doser with built in controller

GHL ProfiLux Plus II with ProfiLux controlled doser (comes also with temp probe and RS323 cable)

Which one to go for?

A lot comes down to two things, cost and whether you also fancy having a full aquatic controller as well not just a doser.

Starting with the stand alone dosers

These will simply automate your whole dosing control, in auto mode just set how much you want dosed a day and it will do all that for you randomly

In manual mode you can set up events and when you wish the dosings and dosing amounts to happen

The dosers com in 1-2-3 and 4 pump versions, all versions can be easily upgraded to a total of 4 pumps, then you can daisy chain a standard dosing unit from GHL to it making total of up to 8 dosing pumps.

The ProfiLux Plus II pack and doser does all the above but you have the advantage of having a full aquatic controller also to play with an add to as you so wish and budget allows. This also gives you the opportunity to control everything via you pc or notebook

Let me know if I have missed anything

yup, a large tank, but lets say you have a small tank with only .25L a day of evaporation. I am not talking about the lever of the minerals changing but rather how much water do you need to add to maintain your mineral balance? can you adjust the concentration of the chemicals so you are not putting in a lot of water, say less than 25 ml a day?

Steve

Change scars people :lol:
Actually it's pretty new to NA, most don't know about it or quite understand the concept. In a few years this kind of system will be more widely used around here.

$352 is the price for the 3 way GHL doser that works with the profilux if you already have the controller.

If you dont as listed there are other very afordable options.

The cheapest option to buy salts is in the 4Kg buckets and would last you more than a year easily.

it is hard to compare the costs as a calcium reactor needs so many other items added or dosed a varying rates to even come close to matching the ease of balling. I could give you ball park figures, you could then work out what a ca reactor costs in a year, but are you taking into account all the other stuff you have to add to it?

These are two completely different systems and comparsion is hard the only easy one to compare is that balling is simple, effective and pretty much does what it says on the tin.

Yes new concepts really do put the fear into hobbyists that have been doing one thing for so many years, was it not IBM that stated in 1947 they saw a worldwide market for personal computers of no more than 5!!!!!!

Ok so lets say that you want a 4 pump version to replace the Ca reactor and kalk, with a stand alne controler. with a years supply of chemical what are we looking at for cost?

Steve

I would start with 3 pump unless you really have use for a 4th avenue, of course this can be added at any time

GHL SA doser = $474.00
estimated year of salts (3 x 4kg buckets+ 1 x 1kg bucket, total 13kg of salt) but so dependant on what your corals need this could last you a lot longer
=$199.

If you purchased this through one of our dealers you would probably get a kit deal. So estimate set up cost of around $650 if of course you go for so much salt in one go, I pesonally would not. See what you system demands first so in that instance set up cost for salts = $59

Now work out how much you spend on gas, extra supplements, media, kalk etc etc, wont be far off this for sure.

I was actualy thinking a 4th pump could be used for water top up in a small sumpless system.

I am actualy thinking of setting up a smaller tank (15 gal) as I don't want to go big again untill after I move and I am not sure when that will be. Can you buy the chemicals in smaller amounts? as I think the 4kg buckets would be a life time supply on a tank that small :mrgreen:

It seams to be more expensive than a Ca reactor, but there is a little more of a simplicity factor, which I am all for. plus it would probably be a little quieter and I can use my CO2 tank on my freshwater tank.

Steve

When was the last time you priced out a Ca reactor, you can get a new reactor, CO2 tank, regulator and solenoid, pH controller and a years worth of media for less than $650? Maybe a really cheap unit but you can't compare cheap units to Profilux, their stuff is always high quality with the best tech support I've ever seen in this hobby.

Hiya

yes

1Kg for 3 of the salts and we are looking at bringing in for future 550g of the magnesium that you need less of.

BSounds like this 4kg kit (all 4 salts) will last a while for you and be real econimical

As for the 4th doser being used for top off, you cant attach to the stand alones a float valve so in this case if you want to go down this route look at the real cool profiLux deal with doser.

I think the cost will work out very comparible on this basis and as you say the simplicity and of course results are the true benefit.

So where you buy the 3 from CAL ,Alk chemicals Magnesuim that is what you are talking about in Regards to salts right. does it come from you when you buy the dosing pumps.

The salts are

calciumchloride - dihydrate
magnesiumchloride - hexahydrate
magnesiumsulfate - heptahydrate
Sodium-bicarbonate (chemical pure food grade)

These are available a plenty at www.progressivereef.com along with package deals.

They may be a touch short on dosers due to this thread but we have stacks going over to them in 2 weeks ;)

magnesiumchloride - hexahydrate
magnesiumsulfate - heptahydrate

Can you explain the difference between these and which one is preferred?

They both are required its not a preference.

The Hep is used in less quantity and provides (to keep away from a massive complex chemistry lesson) stability to the system.

Some use the system without the Hep but requires a lot more monitoring.

The fauna system was designed fo ease of use so includes the element as standard.

So if am looking for a doser that is a 3 pump and all the chemicals what am Ilooking at then

Hi sphelps

in the older systems a lot of people think it is important
to mix different salts to avoid inbalances between chlorid and sulfates, so the y create an receipt wit the magnesium salt to add this in the tank

greets claude

well alot of people will mix Magnesium to standard RO/Di water forst to allow the magnesuim to bond to the Fresh water. then when they add the salt to the water it doesnt get a imbalance mix and then add thier CAL and ALK Supplements.

price for the GHL SA doser inculding salts is $549.00

www.progressivereef.com and www.oceanaquatics.com