Potassium permanganate question

[JeremyKnight]

Does anyone smarter than me know this answer. Can dosing potassium permanganate to a reef tank have multiple positive side effects. Increased K and Mn, an in tank oxidizer utilized by the byproduct of super unstable o4. It also has astringent properties that would be unknown in the reef tank.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

IMO, it has more negatives than positives and I recommend against it.

The amount of potassium added is trivially small and not all tanks need any potassium (mine never did).

It is not the main form of manganese that a coral would use, and DIY manganese is inexpensive and easy using other things (we have several different recipes).

Most importantly, the permanganate is highly oxidizing and will potentially oxidize (and irritate) the surfaces of organisms tissues it encounters.

 

[JeremyKnight]

IMO, it has more negatives than positives and I recommend against it.

The amount of potassium added is trivially small and not all tanks need any potassium (mine never did).

It is not the main form of manganese that a coral would use, and DIY manganese is inexpensive and easy using other things (we have several different recipes).

Most importantly, the permanganate is highly oxidizing and will potentially oxidize (and irritate) the surfaces of organisms tissues it encounters.

That’s a perfect answer, thank you

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

You’re welcome.

Happy reefing. :)