Component 1+2+3+ 3x5L — Aquaforest Complete Balling Kit Reef

Aquaforest Components 1+2+3+ 3×5 L — complete Balling kit for reef SPS tanks

The Aquaforest Components 1+2+3+ 3×5 L is Aquaforest's complete Balling kit, made in Poland to hold calcium, alkalinity, and magnesium at reef target levels while delivering trace elements needed by stony corals. The Balling method relies on equal dosing of all three solutions — Component 1+, 2+, and 3+ — to avoid ionic imbalance and cover daily SPS uptake.

The 3×5 L pack contains 5,000 mL of each component, i.e. 15 L of solution total. Aquaforest modified and enriched H. Balling's original method with the micro-elements needed for a marine aquarium — which sets Components apart from "classical" Balling using three plain salts.

What Components 1+2+3+ is for and when to use it

• Active SPS reef tanks — Ca/KH/Mg draw beyond what a weekly water change can cover.
• Automated dosing setups — the 3 bottles run in parallel on a 3-channel dosing pump.
• Densely stocked mixed reefs — SPS + LPS + softies where Balling stabilizes parameters day to day.
• Alternative to all-in-one Component 3in1 — when precise Ca/KH/Mg control is required (sensitive tanks, advanced SPS).

Aquaforest official composition

• Component 1+: calcium chloride + Sr, Ba, Co, Mn, Cu, Fe, Zn, Ni, Cr
• Component 2+: sodium bicarbonate (NaHCO₃) + F, I
• Component 3+: magnesium chloride + Reef Mineral Salt (NaCl-free) + K, B

Aquaforest confirms the Component 1+2+3+ formula is based on H. Balling's method, modified and enriched with the micro-elements required for a marine aquarium.

Aquaforest official use

• Absolute Balling rule: the 3 components are dosed in strictly equal parts. If you dose 25 mL of Component 1+, also dose 25 mL of Component 2+ and 25 mL of Component 3+.
• Basic dose: 25 mL of each component per 100 L (27 US gal) of aquarium water daily for a moderately stocked hard-coral reef tank.
• Ca effect (Component 1+): 25 mL in 100 L raises calcium by ~4.5 ppm.
• KH effect (Component 2+): 25 mL in 100 L raises alkalinity by ~0.65 dKH.
• Mg effect (Component 3+): 25 mL in 100 L raises magnesium by ~0.38 ppm.
• Aquaforest recommends splitting the daily dose into as many small portions as possible to keep parameters stable.
• Test Ca, Mg, and KH regularly to fine-tune the dose.
• Aquaforest reef targets: Ca 380-460 ppm, Mg 1180-1460 ppm.

Specifications

• Brand: Aquaforest (made in Poland)
• Format: 3×5 L kit (5,000 mL of each component, 15 L total)
• Type: complete Balling kit with macro + micro elements
• Components: 1+ (Ca + traces) / 2+ (KH + F, I) / 3+ (Mg + K, B + Reef Mineral Salt)
• Compatibility: marine reef aquariums with dosing pump or manual dosing

Why choose Aquaforest at ReefSolution

• Aquaforest Components Pro 3×5 L — the twice-as-concentrated version for hungry SPS tanks or multi-tank setups.
• Aquaforest Component 3in1 — the all-in-one version (Ca + KH + Mg in a single bottle) for less demanding tanks or setups without a 3-channel dosing pump.
• Aquaforest Components Strong ABCK 4×250 mL — the 4 concentrated trace elements (Ba, K, Fe, I) to add to Balling on an advanced SPS tank.

Frequently asked questions

How long does a Components 3×5 L kit last on a 200 L tank?

At the Aquaforest basic dose (25 mL per 100 L daily for each component), a 200 L tank uses 50 mL of each component daily, or 150 mL total. A 5 L bottle of each component therefore lasts about 100 days (3.3 months) — the 3×5 L kit covers over 3 months of dosing.

Can I dose all 3 Components at the same injection point?

No — mixing Component 1+ (calcium) and Component 2+ (bicarbonate) directly causes immediate precipitation. Dose at separate injection points, or stagger the doses at the same point (wait at least 1 hour between components).

What if my KH climbs too fast with Component 2+?

Aquaforest recommends never raising KH by more than 0.5 dKH per day. If your KH hits the target too fast, cut the dose of all three components proportionally — never just Component 2+, since that breaks the Balling ratio.

Can I use Components 1+2+3+ with Components Strong?

Yes — Aquaforest recommends the combination for advanced SPS tanks. Components Strong ABCK delivers 4 concentrated trace elements (Ba, K, Fe, I) that standard Balling only partly covers. Dose Components Strong separately, never mixed into Components 1+2+3+.