ReeferMadness99
Advanced Reefer
- Location
- Eastern Long island
So I've been doing some research about different Balling and Balling Light methods. I've come across some pretty interesting stuff. Particularly, the information that Hans Werner Balling talks about ionic imbalance in our systems.
Basically, most of us dose 2 part + Mg into our systems. Then we rely on weekly 10% water changes to help replenish trace elements. What I've read has enlightened me a bit. So we dose Calcium Chloride into our systems and then Sodium Carbonate. We also dose on the side, Magnesium Chloride. Essentially, our corals synthesize the Calcium and leave the Chloride as well as the Carbonate and leaving the Sodium. This creates a buildup of unbalanced Sodium Chloride in our systems which according to Hans Werner, starts to give us a false specific gravity of balanced seawater.
I understand this, as over time we are building up more and more NaCl in our systems, and as we do water changes measured to the same specific gravity, we are not addressing the imbalance at all. As a result, this imbalance magnifies over time.
My questions to anyone out there using the Tropic Marin 3 part Balling Method are:
1. Do you see any specific benefits from the 3rd part NaCl Free Salt Mix?
2. If this is chemically sound and true, then is this truly a way to eliminate water changes?
3. The logic of this seems to point to the fact that you will ultimately need to remove tank water and replace with RO/DI as it seems over time, the specific gravity will inevitably increase if you are dosing part 3(NaCl Free Salt Mix) as a ionic balance to the NaCl buildup. Is this correct?
I think I answered this myself. When dosing NaCl Free Salt mix, you are dosing it MIXED with RO/DI and therefore not changing the gravity over time. Perhaps this mixture needs to be mixed at a lower specific gravity? Maybe we need to know what the SG of saltwater would be without the NaCl in it and mix this to that gravity?
I don't know if Boomer is still around, but this sounds like chemistry question for him! Hope to hear from many of you!
Basically, most of us dose 2 part + Mg into our systems. Then we rely on weekly 10% water changes to help replenish trace elements. What I've read has enlightened me a bit. So we dose Calcium Chloride into our systems and then Sodium Carbonate. We also dose on the side, Magnesium Chloride. Essentially, our corals synthesize the Calcium and leave the Chloride as well as the Carbonate and leaving the Sodium. This creates a buildup of unbalanced Sodium Chloride in our systems which according to Hans Werner, starts to give us a false specific gravity of balanced seawater.
I understand this, as over time we are building up more and more NaCl in our systems, and as we do water changes measured to the same specific gravity, we are not addressing the imbalance at all. As a result, this imbalance magnifies over time.
My questions to anyone out there using the Tropic Marin 3 part Balling Method are:
1. Do you see any specific benefits from the 3rd part NaCl Free Salt Mix?
2. If this is chemically sound and true, then is this truly a way to eliminate water changes?
3. The logic of this seems to point to the fact that you will ultimately need to remove tank water and replace with RO/DI as it seems over time, the specific gravity will inevitably increase if you are dosing part 3(NaCl Free Salt Mix) as a ionic balance to the NaCl buildup. Is this correct?
I think I answered this myself. When dosing NaCl Free Salt mix, you are dosing it MIXED with RO/DI and therefore not changing the gravity over time. Perhaps this mixture needs to be mixed at a lower specific gravity? Maybe we need to know what the SG of saltwater would be without the NaCl in it and mix this to that gravity?
I don't know if Boomer is still around, but this sounds like chemistry question for him! Hope to hear from many of you!
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