Balling and why

[mrhasan]

Originally Posted by Aqua-Digital

This is from Tropic Marin Directly, in regards to the above.

You are correct in saying that with 2 part additives you are just adding the Sodium Chloride and the Calcium and Carbonates and so the other trace elements become depleted by proportion. Some 3 part additives, sometimes called "Balling Light Plus" also add a third part that is usually Magnesium and sometimes include Potassium. Still ignoring many of the very important other components of sea salt. However, your descriptions of the true Balling parts A, B and C are not totally correct. Part A is ONLY Calcium Chloride, it does not include other trace elements. Part B is ONLY Sodium Bicarbonate and does not include other trace elements. It is the part C that is complete sea salt mixture minus ONLY the Sodium Chloride that add the Magnesium and the other trace elements in the proper proportions so that ALL the components of the sea water in the tank remain in ionic balance. Depending on the tank, it is very often seen that additional Magnesium is need more than this natural sea water level that is being added.

Aha. That makes sense now. So, in laymen's term (correct me if I am wrong):

Part A: 100% pure calcium chloride
Part B: 100% pure sodium bicarbonate
Part C: All the essentials that are in any good quality salt without the salt itself (hence called NaCl free salt). Basically, this is what makes all the difference right? So, if someone (with links to pharma grade stuffs) can get 100% pure calcium chloride and sodium bicarbonate, they basically need just part C for a complete balling system.

[Aqua-Digital]

Edit - as stated before many of the commercial variants add extra sodium Chloride. Tropic Marin does not.