| There are three methods of keeping Magnesium, | | | | justified. |
| Alkalinity, and Calcium supplements to the correct | | | | "Balling lite" is becoming the most popular method |
| levels in a reef aquarium. These are: Manual | | | | of supplement addition for small and medium sized |
| addition of off the shelf additives, The use of a | | | | reef aquarium. Simply using balling salts of |
| Calcium reactor and kalk stirrer, or the "balling lite" | | | | chemicals used to increase/stabilize each |
| Method. But whats the best method for you? | | | | parameter. After working out the daily |
| The first method is probably the best method to | | | | consumption of each supplement. You simply dose |
| start with. It will familiarize you with supplement | | | | that amount daily, either with the use of dosing |
| addition to a lightly stocked reef aquarium with a | | | | pumps, or manual dosing from a syringe. These |
| few LPS and SPS corals and wont cost you a | | | | "Balling salts" are mixed with Reverse Osmosis |
| small fortune to maintain good water parameters. | | | | water to instructed ratios. This is then stored in |
| After some time with growth and increased | | | | water tight containers and used as required. Really |
| stocking you will notice the increased consumption | | | | simple and inexpensive start up and running costs |
| of these important supplements with increasing | | | | even with highly stocked reef aquariums. |
| cost. | | | | To conclude, if you are new to reef keeping. |
| The use of a calcium reactor and kalk stirrer is a | | | | Learn and get used to manually maintaining |
| very effective way of maintaining calcium and | | | | parameters by using off the shelf additives, then |
| alkalinity. The problem with this method is the | | | | as you progress and start stocking many SPS |
| outlay of the equipment, and unless you have a | | | | and LPS corals move on to the "balling lite" |
| large aquarium (500 litre plus) highly stocked with | | | | method. If you then decide to keep a large reef |
| LPS and SPS corals demanding high consumption | | | | aquarium of 500 litres or more, you might |
| of supplements. I just think the outlay is not | | | | consider the use of a reactor and stirrer. |