The Athena Blended Balance is a concentrated potassium silicate that buffers irrigation water and brings your feed up to a stable pH. Added first, before any nutrients, it gives RO water the structure it lacks so the rest of the feed mixes more evenly and needs less adjusting afterwards. It also supplies silicon, which plants use to build stronger stems.
Why RO water needs a buffer
Pure reverse osmosis water has almost no buffering capacity. Add nutrients to it directly and the pH can swing hard, and the solution is less uniform than it should be. Balance adds just enough to the water to stabilise it first, so when the nutrients go in they mix into a more consistent solution — and you spend less time chasing pH once the feed is made up. Athena notes that commercial growers see the clearest benefit on RO water.
Silicon for structure
Beyond pH, Balance supplies silicon. Plants take it up into their cell walls, where it supports stronger stems, better tolerance of stress and more efficient water and nutrient use. It's a useful extra from a product you'd be adding for pH control anyway.
Full specifications
| Manufacturer | Athena (Los Angeles, USA) |
| Line | Blended Line |
| Type | Liquid potassium silicate pH buffer |
| Function | Raises and stabilises feed pH; adds silicon |
| When to add | First, to water, before any nutrients |
| Dose rate | Per the Athena metric feed schedule (PDF) and your water — dose to target pH |
| Sizes | 0.9 L (32 fl oz) · 3.78 L (1 US gal) · 18.9 L (5 US gal) |
| Dosing compatibility | Mechanical dosers (e.g. Dosatron) — not recommended for electronic dosers (e.g. Netafim) |
| Storage | Sealed in original bottle, 7–29°C (45–85°F) |
FAQ
Why add it first?
Balance works by buffering the water before anything else is dissolved in it. Added after the nutrients, silicate can react with them. Water, then Balance, then everything else.
Do I need it on tap water?
Less often. Balance does the most work on RO or very soft water. On harder tap water, test your pH after mixing and use Balance only if you're regularly adjusting up.
Can I use it with the Pro Line?
The Pro Line has its own dry pH up, Athena Pro Line Balance, designed for commercial fertigation. Blended Balance is intended for the Blended Line.
Can I use it in DWC?
Yes. It's part of the Blended Line, the Athena line for DWC and RDWC. See Athena's RDWC procedure for reservoir use.
