Instructions on the Balling method - Matuta

<str<strong>on</strong>g>Instructi<strong>on</strong>s</str<strong>on</strong>g> <strong>on</strong> <strong>the</strong> <strong>Balling</strong> <strong>method</strong>The <strong>Balling</strong> <strong>method</strong> is a technically mature procedure, tested and proven a thousand times, to resupply your sea water aquarium with <strong>the</strong> used-upcalcium and hydrogen carb<strong>on</strong>ate i<strong>on</strong>s at a low cost!This elegant and easy-to-use procedure was published by Hans-Werner <strong>Balling</strong> in 1994 in <strong>the</strong> technical journal <strong>on</strong> aquaristics, DATZ (Die Aquarien undTerrarien Zeitung): <strong>Balling</strong>, H.-W. (1994), Kalkwasser für das Riffaquarium. DATZ 08: 523-525To use <strong>the</strong> <strong>Balling</strong> <strong>method</strong>, you require <strong>the</strong> following comp<strong>on</strong>ents:1. Test kit for calcium and magnesium, as well as a KH test kit2. A refractometer or a spindle to determine density and/or salinity3. A scale with 1-2 gramme precisi<strong>on</strong>4. Food-safe canister for <strong>the</strong> soluti<strong>on</strong>s. 5-litre cans have proven to be useful.5. A calculator that can determine <strong>the</strong> necessary quantity of <strong>the</strong> salts. You can download it at www.matuta.de under <strong>Balling</strong>.To increase <strong>the</strong> calcium c<strong>on</strong>tent you require:• TIMO Calcium: calcium chloride dihydrate• TIMO Carb<strong>on</strong>ate: sodium hydrogen carb<strong>on</strong>ate• TIMO Salt pure: sea salt without sodium chlorideTo increase <strong>the</strong> magnesium c<strong>on</strong>tent you require:• TIMO Magnesium 1: magnesium chloride hexahydrate• TIMO Magnesium 2: magnesium sulphate heptahydrateAll <strong>the</strong>se salts are available at www.matuta.de under <strong>the</strong> heading <strong>Balling</strong>.Measure <strong>the</strong> carb<strong>on</strong>ate hardness (KH) as well as <strong>the</strong> magnesium and calcium c<strong>on</strong>tents of <strong>the</strong> tank water. If <strong>the</strong> carb<strong>on</strong>ate hardness is over 10, <strong>on</strong>e shouldnot add any TIMO Carb<strong>on</strong>ate until <strong>the</strong> balance is restored and <strong>the</strong> KH is at 6 - 8.Magnesium and calcium values are entered into <strong>the</strong> calculator – toge<strong>the</strong>r with <strong>the</strong> net c<strong>on</strong>tent of <strong>the</strong> aquarium in litres and <strong>the</strong> values to be achieved(optimal Mg c<strong>on</strong>tent approximately 1330 mg, optimal Ca c<strong>on</strong>tent approximately 420 mg).The required quantities of TIMO Magnesium 1, magnesium chloride hexahydrate, and TIMO Magnesium 2, magnesium sulphate heptahydrate, toincrease <strong>the</strong> Mg c<strong>on</strong>tent are now weighed and can now be dissolved in water in <strong>on</strong>e c<strong>on</strong>tainer – ideally osmosis water, or also desalinated water.On <strong>the</strong> c<strong>on</strong>trary, TIMO Calcium, calcium chloride dihydrate, and TIMO Carb<strong>on</strong>ate, sodium hydrogen carb<strong>on</strong>ate, have to be dissolved und stored inseparate c<strong>on</strong>tainers.TIMO Calcium, calcium chloride dihydrate, is an irritant and care should be taken to prevent it from getting into your eyes or respiratory tract.Keep this chemical out of reach of children.