Rising Potassium Levels with Reef Moonshiners

liudachris · Jun 27, 2025

Scratching my head here on this one and hoping the forum can figure this out.
I have a 120 Gallon Cade setup using TMP salt. I started the reef moonshiners method 3 months ago and things are going well. However, my Potassium has been rising since I started. It is now 470 on the ATI ICP test.

Below are the current "ins" for the tank:

TMP salt but I will be switching to AF Pro salt this week for the higher alkalinity.
Additives: CaNO3, NaPO4, Seachem Iodine, RM Manganese, RM Vanadium, RM Iron, RM Zinc.
Feed: Frozen PE mysis, Brine shrimp, Prime Formula One Flakes, TDO Pellets

My suspicion is the RM or Seachem additives. I think the Iodine has potassium, but would it affect my potassium that much? Any thoughts or hypotheses welcome!

Randy Holmes-Farley · Jun 27, 2025

Potassium iodide is not going to noticeably raise potassium.

Potassium is typically balance between foods and consumption. I'm actually surprised that more people do not see rises, but I think that must be due to low potassium in common foods.

Are you doing water changes?

liudachris · Jun 27, 2025

Yes I change about 10% on a weekly basis with with TMP salt (soon to be AF pro).
I haven't made any changes to my feeding regimen when the potassium levels started to rise. Could it be from the Nori I feed my tangs, I use only a small amount maybe 1/8 of a sheet every couple of days?

Randy Holmes-Farley · Jun 27, 2025

liudachris said:
Yes I change about 10% on a weekly basis with with TMP salt (soon to be AF pro).
I haven't made any changes to my feeding regimen when the potassium levels started to rise. Could it be from the Nori I feed my tangs, I use only a small amount maybe 1/8 of a sheet every couple of days?

I am surprised with that much changed, potassium could still be high. Maybe the salt mix is high?

liudachris · Jul 3, 2025

Randy Holmes-Farley said:
I am surprised with that much changed, potassium could still be high. Maybe the salt mix is high?

Maybe, I never tested the TMP mix, I just switched to FM Pro Salt where their ICP of the batch shows a K of 420. I just got back my ICP right before the switch and it was showing 470 (ATI test). When I test at home with salifert, I get 420-430.