Potasium dosing for Reds

[orthokardia]

I have been doing research on my lack of red in the tank. It looks like a potassium deficiency is a likely culprit. Before I start dosing I need a good test kit to see if I am actually low. All other colors are great and I am running reeflux 10k's and use coralife salt. If you are a K+ doser I would love a test kit recommendation and to know what K+ brand you use.

thx
-bart
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[orthokardia]

http://i757.photobucket.com/albums/xx215/orthokardia/033.jpg

 

[jcom]

I dose and test for K using the Elos kit. According to an email I got from Elos, they spent close to 3 years developing their test before putting it on the market and, at best, it gives a +/- 100ppm range. That's not saying it's a bad kit, it's actually probably the best out there, it's just a very hard element to test accurately.

 

[Pizzapro83]

Have you ever tried a different bulb?

 

[sportzfish]

I notice that you don't have much algae either, could the lack of nutrients be responsible? I thought potassium was for blue?l

 

[bkss709]

Potassium will make your blues and purple colors much brighter and richer in color if you are low in potassium but also the Bactieria will feed on it to and lower your Potassium over time and i always keep my Potassium around 380 to 400 and i test with the KZ test kit and i tried the Fauna test kit but did not like it at all.

 

[Troylee]

I use k for yellows... Iodine for blues.... Never really thought about reds... Hmmm

 

[Oiseau Reefer]

I use iron for reds and potassium for blues and purples and I'm starting to get good results I use brightwells for both I have a 125g tank 40b frag tank and a 40b for a sump so I'd say I dose for about a 150 actual total gallons I dose 5ml of each every other day

 

[Lazys Coral House]

A particular mineral isn't going to enhance a particular color.

 

[Bio-nut]

I agree with the use or Iron for reds but watch the dosage closely as it can lead to excessive algal growth. Potassium is for the blues. I would try using more Actinic 420 nm wavelength.

 

[Oiseau Reefer]

I agree with the use or Iron for reds but watch the dosage closely as it can lead to excessive algal growth. Potassium is for the blues. I would try using more Actinic 420 nm wavelength.

Brightwells suggest your PO4 be below .05 to prevent iron from causing algae blooms

 

[Oiseau Reefer]

A particular mineral isn't going to enhance a particular color.

I agree with you it's a group of variables but enhancing some over others have shown to improve certain colors and it's working for me!

 

[orthokardia]

lighting - I run 2xVHO actinics 12hrs along with the 10k's and have thought about adding a few "red" T-5s like fiji purple the tank is 32" deep

mag vs iron- I will double check as i might have switch them in my head. my blues look good to me esp the stag tips. purple, green, and yellow also do very well. I have heard that K+ is good for caps, but mine grow like mad already so maybee it is iron not K+ i need?

neutrients- I just added three more fish, decorative poop factories i like to call them, for more coral food. I have some bryopsis close to the water line, but have never been able to measure any po4 or no3 on any kit.

What salt is everyone using?? and how do you post a pic to this site??

thanks for all the inputs,
-bart