Potassium dosing...before and after?

[Science/G]

A recent ICP test showed I was pretty low in potassium at 343 PPM, so I'm starting to dose to get my level up to at least 400. My question is, has anyone seen a noticeable difference in coral coloration or polyp extension after handling a potassium deficiency. Obviously as a major element it's vitally important, I'm just curious what if any observations people have made.

 

[CHSUB]

Not really sure, but here is my journey with K. I dose it weekly and buffer RC Salt to maintain ~410 ppm.

https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/icp-results-potassium-low.1129902/page-2

 

[Science/G]

Thank you. After my last ICP test it seems like I'm going to have to up my weekly dose of potassium to maintain at least 400 ppm

 

[Science/G]

I'm answering my own thread here, but I'll offer an observation after dosing about two mls Red Sea Trace colors part B for potassium daily for the last week. Potassium is finally tested at 410 on my salifert test kit. I'm going to push it up to about 420 to give me some wiggle room. Just paying attention to my vivids confetti acropora, I can see a little bit deeper color has developed. It's only been a week but I'm optimistic and certainly from now on going to be testing potassium on the regular.

 

[jaypladook]

I'm answering my own thread here, but I'll offer an observation after dosing about two mls Red Sea Trace colors part B for potassium daily for the last week. Potassium is finally tested at 410 on my salifert test kit. I'm going to push it up to about 420 to give me some wiggle room. Just paying attention to my vivids confetti acropora, I can see a little bit deeper color has developed. It's only been a week but I'm optimistic and certainly from now on going to be testing potassium on the regular.

Yes, please try to dose very slowly. I have found that if we overdose potassium, it could take such a long time until it goes down. Regarding the coloration, I felt some change it a positive way but not much of noticeable difference. If your corals are currently happy then the adjustment is not necessary ;)

 

[Tahoe61]

Thank you. After my last ICP test it seems like I'm going to have to up my weekly dose of potassium to maintain at least 400 ppm

How much are you dosing and on what size of tank?

 

[Science/G]

I added 2 ml a day of Red Sea Trace colors part B which added +/- 10 ppm of potassium to my 30 gallon mixed reef. I reached 420ppm last Friday. I am now trying to determine my weekly maintenance dose. I added 1 ml this past Monday. Based on my last 2 ICP tests, I'm thinking that 1 ml weekly should be good to maintain 420 ppm. I will test this weekend.

 

[Project1004]

I add Chaetogro daily. It’s main source is potassium and iron. I dose 1-2mls daily without having Chaeto alage or turf algae atm. (I’ll probably put the ats back one day).

I believe potassium is missing link to our coral growth. (N+P+K)…...

I dont test (maybe I should) and I am also using isol8 mt as well as mono potassium phosphate. It’s a lot of potassium -.-;

I started dosing potassium not too long ago. But I believe in it.

 

[Science/G]

I tested 410 this morning which is still solid, but 1 ml weekly is not enough. I will try 1.5 mls weekly as maintenance dose.

 

[Project1004]

I tested 410 this morning which is still solid, but 1 ml weekly is not enough. I will try 1.5 mls weekly as maintenance dose.

I going to get a salifert potassium test kit and see where my level is at with 2ml+chaetogro daily since August of last year. (7month).

I don’t have algae scrubber and I don’t do ICP, probably good to test in case.

Idk how “1ml Per Week” is all you need. My limited understanding from gardening and not from reefing is that Nitrogen/phosphate and potassium gets used together. Not sure the ratio but my idea is to continue to supply it like I do for nitrate and phosphate (via feeding and dosing).

 

[Science/G]

I going to get a salifert potassium test kit and see where my level is at with 2ml+chaetogro daily since August of last year. (7month).

I don’t have algae scrubber and I don’t do ICP, probably good to test in case.

Idk how “1ml Per Week” is all you need. My limited understanding from gardening and not from reefing is that Nitrogen/phosphate and potassium gets used together. Not sure the ratio but my idea is to continue to supply it like I do for nitrate and phosphate (via feeding and dosing).

Well after my ICP test I worked to try to get the potassium level up to 420 parts per million. Now that I'm there, it seems that I need about 1.5 mls of Red Sea Trace colors part B to maintain my potassium at 420.

 

[Science/G]

Well after my ICP test I worked to try to get the potassium level up to 420 parts per million. Now that I'm there, it seems that I need about 1.5 mls of Red Sea Trace colors part B to maintain my potassium at 420.

 

[IPT]

Pirates Reef mentioned in a video he crashed (or at the least messed up his system) pushing high levels of K. His colors are outstanding so I would surmise that he was chasing that because he felt it was important, and just over shot it.

 

[Project1004]

Called around all the LFS and none had Salifert's pottasium test kit for sale. Two of them had redsea test but those are not fun to use. So, i need to order it thru internet with my next purchases. I will come bak here and inform you then ^^;

 

[Science/G]

Salifert test kit is a good kit.

 

[Project1004]

Salifert test kit is a good kit.

I was looking for my gallon jug of esv magnisium when I came across my test kit box. And find the potassium test kit. Clearly, I’ve tested before. I’m sure it may been before I started dosing the potassium.

I didn’t have anything to buy online so I was holding it off.

Test result is.

According to the chart… 11 drops.. 390…
With daily dosing as mentioned above. X.X

My nitrate was 10.4 and phosphate at 0.16 two days ago…. Hair alage is pretty limited. I will continue to dose Potassium in many of solutions as I’ve been. <><

FTS….

 

[rtparty]

I’ve watched numerous people crash their tanks trusting the Salifert potassium kit. I tried adding it to my home testing for my Ultimate Salt test but it was so unreliable and inaccurate against ICP, it was pointless to even try IME

 

[Science/G]

I am comparing the results of my salifert tests against a recent ICP. The salifert test was about 30 ppm lower than the ICP.

 

[spsick]

I’ve watched numerous people crash their tanks trusting the Salifert potassium kit. I tried adding it to my home testing for my Ultimate Salt test but it was so unreliable and inaccurate against ICP, it was pointless to even try IME

Interesting. I’ve always had decent luck and I just against some new saltwater if I question the result. Any time I ended up with 370 or something I do the test again and the result is an expected number.

 

[Science/G]

I was 390 last night.