Tested potassium today to find it down at 320

Discussion in 'Reef Chemistry by Randy Holmes-Farley' started by rock_lobster, Jan 1, 2018.

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  1. Jan 2, 2018
    #21
    rock_lobster

    rock_lobster Valuable Member R2R Supporter

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    yep thats exactly right! and my salinity stays in check from sharing frags and toping off mostly with RODI(occasionally adding a little reefcrystals). So I am losing all those elements over time except NaCL. Im dosing 3dkh per day into my tank according to BRS carbonate calculator.
     
    Last edited: Jan 2, 2018
    rock_lobster, Jan 2, 2018

  2. Jan 2, 2018
    #22
    Randy Holmes-Farley

    Randy Holmes-Farley Reef Chemist Staff Member Team R2R R2R Supporter R2R Excellence Award Article Contributor Expert Contributor

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    OK, so the potassium decline might be from that alone. :)
     
    Randy Holmes-Farley, Jan 2, 2018
  3. Jan 2, 2018
    #23
    rock_lobster

    rock_lobster Valuable Member R2R Supporter

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    Yes I expect so. Maybe not much from utilization at all. Judging by how much I am losing I assume the other trace minerals are probably pretty well depleted but I have never had any ill effects the only thing is from potassium, I notice I start to lose color in my sps. Only other thing I test and dose is iodine.
     
    rock_lobster, Jan 2, 2018
  4. Jan 2, 2018
    #24
    Mattrg02

    Mattrg02 Valuable Member

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    Anyone tried using potassium metal? :)
     
    Mattrg02, Jan 2, 2018
  5. Jan 2, 2018
    #25
    rock_lobster

    rock_lobster Valuable Member R2R Supporter

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    Potassium? Or KOH. I already dose NaOH as well so I’m sure you could use KOH if you calculated it appropriately.
     
    rock_lobster, Jan 2, 2018
  6. Jan 2, 2018
    #26
    Mattrg02

    Mattrg02 Valuable Member

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    No, potassium metal. Ought to give you the biggest bang for you buck. Biggest bang anyways. :)
     
    Mattrg02, Jan 2, 2018
  7. Jan 2, 2018
    #27
    rock_lobster

    rock_lobster Valuable Member R2R Supporter

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    Cost wise? It’s hardly worth bothering. 5$ Of KCl will last about 10 years.
     
    rock_lobster, Jan 2, 2018
  8. Jan 2, 2018
    #28
    Mattrg02

    Mattrg02 Valuable Member

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    Yeah, but pure potassium metal straight into your tank makes dosing much more,
    Interesting.
     
    Mattrg02, Jan 2, 2018
  9. Jan 2, 2018
    #29
    rock_lobster

    rock_lobster Valuable Member R2R Supporter

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    aha my girlfriend may be more interested in trying that experiment lol
     
    rock_lobster, Jan 2, 2018
  10. Jan 3, 2018
    #30
    Randy Holmes-Farley

    Randy Holmes-Farley Reef Chemist Staff Member Team R2R R2R Supporter R2R Excellence Award Article Contributor Expert Contributor

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    To start fires? :D

    It burns in contact with water.

    If you were a pyro, beware it also boosts pH and alk after burning off the hydrogen gas. :D

    2 K + 2  H2O → 2 KOH + H2 → 2K+ + 2OH- + H2
     
    Randy Holmes-Farley, Jan 3, 2018
  11. Jan 3, 2018
    #31
    Randy Holmes-Farley

    Randy Holmes-Farley Reef Chemist Staff Member Team R2R R2R Supporter R2R Excellence Award Article Contributor Expert Contributor

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    That's certainly true. Think Hindenberg. :D
     
    Randy Holmes-Farley, Jan 3, 2018
  12. Jan 26, 2018
    #32
    joeyhatch11

    joeyhatch11 Well-Known Member

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    What is the ratio of Potassium Chloride to be mixed with 16oz of rodi to dose a tank? Looking at roughly 180g total volume.
     
    joeyhatch11, Jan 26, 2018
  13. Jan 27, 2018
    #33
    Randy Holmes-Farley

    Randy Holmes-Farley Reef Chemist Staff Member Team R2R R2R Supporter R2R Excellence Award Article Contributor Expert Contributor

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    You can mix it at almost any ratio you want. It is very soluble. The solubility limit is around 200-300 grams per liter, depending on temp.

    Obviously, if you dissolve more, you dose less. So it depends on what volumes you want to deal with, and what potassium rise you are looking for.

    1 gram of KCl (containing 525 mg of potassium) will boost your tank by about 0.77 ppm potassium.
     
    joeyhatch11 likes this.
    Randy Holmes-Farley, Jan 27, 2018
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