Developing a potassium test, salifert-style (or alternative)

[David S]

Sending out an ICP test in a little while.
As per usual, I test routine parameters as a means of comparison.
Test for the Salifert Potassium kit came in @ ~ 420 - 430 PPM.

BTW I received a notification from Chewy indicating that they have the Salifert K test as well.

 

[JCOLE]

FYI, I just received three of the new kits. They do have a smaller, clearer bottle compared to the old one. I tested both the old kit and the new kit, and I received the same reading.

 

[David S]

Sending out an ICP test in a little while.
As per usual, I test routine parameters as a means of comparison.
Test for the Salifert Potassium kit came in @ ~ 420 - 430 PPM.

BTW I received a notification from Chewy indicating that they have the Salifert K test as well.

Ok
I received the results of my ICP test.
It was done by Triton.
Overall, the elements were not much different than other recent ICP submissions.
There was one discrepancy, though.
Ironically, it was Potassium!
The ICP test indicated a concentration of 526 PPM. That is about 100 PPM above what the Salifert test showed.
Quite frankly, I am skeptical about Triton's results. Not only does it leave the normally reliable Salifert test in question, it is an historically high ICP result for this element- and I have done many ICP tests (current Salifert reading is 450 PPM).
I intend to do another ICP with Fauna Marin in a few weeks and I'll make another comparison.

 

[Rick Mathew]

Ok
I received the results of my ICP test.
It was done by Triton.
Overall, the elements were not much different than other recent ICP submissions.
There was one discrepancy, though.
Ironically, it was Potassium!
The ICP test indicated a concentration of 526 PPM. That is about 100 PPM above what the Salifert test showed.
Quite frankly, I am skeptical about Triton's results. Not only does it leave the normally reliable Salifert test in question, it is an historically high ICP result for this element- and I have done many ICP tests (current Salifert reading is 450 PPM).
I intend to do another ICP with Fauna Marin in a few weeks and I'll make another comparison.

Remind me again are you dosing potassium regularly?

 

[David S]

Remind me again are you dosing potassium regularly?

Yes
I've been dosing (Potassium Chloride) for years.
However, I have reduced the amount, over the past year, to about 0.2 ml daily, as ICP tests indicated concentrations in the 450 + range.
I do dissolve a large amount of KCL in RODI water.
I just lowered the dose to 0.1
We'll see what happens.

 

[David S]

Yes
I've been dosing (Potassium Chloride) for years.
However, I have reduced the amount, over the past year, to about 0.2 ml daily, as ICP tests indicated concentrations in the 450 + range.
I do dissolve a large amount of KCL in RODI water.
I just lowered the dose to 0.1
We'll see what happens.

Thinking about it, in retrospect, I have increased the concentration of KCL in my solution, considerably, over the years.
Might be better served lowering the concentration, somewhat.

 

[Rick Mathew]

Thinking about it, in retrospect, I have increased the concentration of KCL in my solution, considerably, over the years.
Might be better served lowering the concentration, somewhat.

On the sample comparison you did were the ICP samples and your home test samples taken at the same time? Also are you hand dosing or using a doser?

 

[David S]

On the sample comparison you did were the ICP samples and your home test samples taken at the same time? Also are you hand dosing or using a doser?

Exact same time.
I am using a Kamoer X1, daily, to dose.
BTW, I have always checked my K with Salifert before sending out ICP's - that is until I ran out.
I can't recall ever getting an exact match, but usually the results are within 20 - 40 PPM of each other.
While I'm not that anal to go through all my previous ICP results for Potassium, I'm pretty sure this is the highest reading; which I don't buy.
I'll get a better idea with the next test.
Sure hope I'm right. Otherwise, I may have to chuck the Salifert, or if the discrepancy is consistent, factor in an adjustment.

 

[David S]

Hi All
Received results from latest ICP from Fauna Marin.
Potassium was 448 PPM. The Salifert test indicated a level between 430 - 440 PPM.
BTW most, if not all of the time, my Salifert readings for K, now and in the past l, ran slightly lower than ICP.
I am concluding that the current Salifert test is reasonably accurate (similar to past readings) and the Triton reading of 526 PPM was an outlier.
Having said that I notice that my Potassium is unusually high, considering I have stopped dosing it.
I do about 10% weekly water changes with ESV salt.
I occasionally dose Fuel, which to my knowledge does not have Potassium.
I also dose Seltzer water, during the day, as my PH runs high. While it does contain some sodium, it "is not a significant source of Potassium".
Any ideas?

 

[taricha]

Hi All
Received results from latest ICP from Fauna Marin.
Potassium was 448 PPM. The Salifert test indicated a level between 430 - 440 PPM.

That's about as good as agreement can get across methods like that.
That's also about where mine runs. Were you hoping it was lower?

 

[David S]

That's about as good as agreement can get across methods like that.
That's also about where mine runs. Were you hoping it was lower?

I agree.
I'd like it a bit lower, say 400 - 420 range.
What concerns me is for years, I've been dosing KCL to keep my Potassium up. Been doing it for years.
Suddenly, I have fairly high readings with no dosing.
Wondering what's causing it.
I will ease off on the Fuel to see if that is the cause.