{"id":7877,"date":"2024-05-10T01:26:00","date_gmt":"2024-05-09T23:26:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/aquaforest.eu\/?post_type=docs&p=7877"},"modified":"2025-04-04T10:10:32","modified_gmt":"2025-04-04T08:10:32","password":"","slug":"how-does-reef-mineral-salt-work","status":"publish","type":"docs","link":"https:\/\/aquaforest.eu\/en\/knowledge-base\/how-does-reef-mineral-salt-work\/","title":{"rendered":"How does Reef Mineral Salt work? | Blog about aquariums | Resources | Aquaforest"},"content":{"rendered":"

What is NaCl free sea salt? What is its composition and what is its role?<\/span><\/h2>\n

Aquaforest Reef Mineral Salt<\/span><\/a> is a Sodium Chloride (NaCl) free sea salt<\/strong>. It contains all the other basic components found in natural seawater. Such as Magnesium, Calcium, Potassium, Bromine, Fluorine, Barium, Iodine, and trace elements.<\/p>\n

NaCl free salt is one of the most important components of the Balling method. It plays a significant role when Calcium Chloride and Sodium Bicarbonate supplementation are in place.\u00a0It is a common misconception among reefers that administering NaCl free salt is primarily supposed to replenish trace elements. The main task of Sodium Chloride free salt is to maintain ionic balance of aquarium water. This practice is based on an essential discovery made by Prof. William Dittmar, a chemical analyst. The creator of the \u201crule of constant proportions\u201d. He analysed water samples from oceans and seas around the globe. He documented that the composition of natural seawater remains constant, even though the salinity varies.<\/p>\n

\"Reef<\/a><\/p>\n

So what is the significance of adding NaCl free salt when administering Calcium Chloride and Sodium Bicarbonate?<\/span><\/h4>\n

Many marine organisms (e.g. hard corals) require Calcium Carbonate (CaCO3) to grow their calcareous structures. This crucial substance is insoluble in natural seawater. One way to work around this problem is the administration of Ca++ and HCO3 in the form of water-soluble Calcium Chloride (CaCl2) and Sodium Bicarbonate (NaHCO3).<\/p>\n

This method has a drawback, though, in the form of unwanted NaCl: CaCl2 + 2NaHCO3 = > CaCO3 + 2NaCl + H2O + CO2.<\/h6>\n

A lot of people assume that additional presence of Sodium Chloride is harmless, as long as salinity is maintained at the desired level. Salinity, however, is not just a measure of table salt in H2O. Magnesium sulfate, Calcium sulfate, Potassium sulfate, Magnesium chloride, Calcium chloride and Potassium chloride are actually salts too. When Sodium and Chloride levels rise, the natural balance of major elements is shifted. Incidentally, the salinity might remain stable, but only due to excessive presence of Sodium Chloride.<\/p>\n

In a closed aquarium ecosystem, the impact of NaCl build-up might be significant.\u00a0Many aquarists mistakenly assume that this issue can be easily corrected by regular water changes. Keep in mind, however, that the only way to revert to the original water parameters would be with a 100% water change. Hardly anyone is replacing more than 10% weekly.\u00a0The use of NaCl free salt is not so common anymore. The application of the Balling method is often limited to 2 or sometimes 3 of its main components.<\/p>\n

This approach will probably not cause any problems for several weeks or even months. Meanwhile, the chemical reactions that take place in the marine aquarium will lead to a deficit of trace elements.\u00a0Balling \u201ctwo parts\u201d or \u201clight\u201d is gaining in popularity. The truth is that the old, but revolutionary, original method is much more effective when it comes to maintaining stable water parameters. Regular use of NaCl free salt is highly recommended to help address ionic imbalance issues eventually.

Learn more from this video<\/span><\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n

<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Aquaforest Reef Mineral Salt is a Sodium Chloride (NaCl) free sea salt. It contains all the other basic components found in natural seawater.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":7,"featured_media":22220,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"content-type":"","footnotes":""},"doc_category":[1327,1348,1347,1357],"doc_tag":[1602,1316,1603],"class_list":["post-7877","docs","type-docs","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","doc_category-balling-method","doc_category-macroelements","doc_category-microelements","doc_category-salinity","doc_tag-aquaforest","doc_tag-blog","doc_tag-seawater"],"acf":[],"year_month":"2026-03","word_count":501,"total_views":"2174","reactions":{"happy":"0","normal":"0","sad":"0"},"author_info":{"name":"krzysztof.mandecki@aquaforest.pl","author_nicename":"krzysztof-mandeckiaquaforest-pl","author_url":"https:\/\/aquaforest.eu\/en\/author\/krzysztof-mandeckiaquaforest-pl\/"},"doc_category_info":[{"term_name":"Balling method","term_url":"https:\/\/aquaforest.eu\/en\/knowledge-base-category\/balling-method\/"},{"term_name":"Macroelements","term_url":"https:\/\/aquaforest.eu\/en\/knowledge-base-category\/macroelements\/"},{"term_name":"Microelements","term_url":"https:\/\/aquaforest.eu\/en\/knowledge-base-category\/microelements\/"},{"term_name":"Salinity","term_url":"https:\/\/aquaforest.eu\/en\/knowledge-base-category\/salinity\/"}],"doc_tag_info":[{"term_name":"Aquaforest","term_url":"https:\/\/aquaforest.eu\/en\/knowledge-base-tag\/aquaforest\/"},{"term_name":"Blog posts","term_url":"https:\/\/aquaforest.eu\/en\/knowledge-base-tag\/blog\/"},{"term_name":"Seawater","term_url":"https:\/\/aquaforest.eu\/en\/knowledge-base-tag\/seawater\/"}],"yoast_head":"\nNaCl free sea salt - How does Reef Mineral Salt work? | Aquaforest<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Discover the role of NaCl free sea salt in reef aquariums. 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