Poll: Do you measure/control potassium in your reef?

[dbl]

Simple question in hopes of generating some conversation regarding potassium. Do you or do you not test for potassium? If so, what are you using to dose for it? I personally have never measured for it so I'm curious to see what folks are doing when it comes to K.

 

[cracker]

I'm curious also

 

[wcharon]

+2. I actually got a test kit and arrived yesterday so I cam measure it this weekend as I have never measured it in the whole life of the tank.

Hope Reef Crystals salt surprises me as I do a 15 gallon water change bi-weekly..

 

[Js.Aqua.Project]

I follow the Red Sea Mixed Reef recipe which calls for dosing each of their trace elements at a 1:10 ratio to calcium consumption. (ex: 1ml of each trace per 10ml of Calcium) The Coral Colors (trace elements) include potassium.

However, I only test for it every month or so to make sure it is still around recommended levels. Plus, the Red Sea K test is a pain...

 

[alton]

I do water changes so I believe Trace elements are covered, if not and I just dosed I would think testing and adding would be a must

 

[andrewkw]

I do not. If I did what test kit would you recommend? I use salifert for everything except phosphate.

 

[bigroost]

I started testing and dosing after an ICP test, apparently my water changes were keeping up with all the other trace elements but Potassium was ~30 ppm low. My reds and pinks had only been showing up on new growth, I've had it up to recommended levels for a couple of weeks now. I haven't seen any real change in those colors still have my fingers crossed though.

 

[cilyjr]

I check it from time to time because I dose KNO3 and I didn't want to see a large boost to K when the dosing focus is on NO3

 

[Scorpius]

I test with Salifert and dose to 400ppm. I have lots of Acro's.

 

[mckinney0171]

Red Sea trace colors - once a week I add it. Test for it about once every three months. Never been a problem. Do I need it? Probably not. But, it is fun.

 

[happyhourhero]

I had a monti cap going grey and saw enough posts saying to check for potassium so I ordered a salifert kit. Was at 380, dosed to 400 and the color came back.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

I tested a few times, and with no dosing, it did not deplete in my reef tank.

Foods apparently offset any consumption. I also did water changes, but the tank was no lower than the new water, so there was no indication that the water changes added any appreciable amount of potassium.

 

[pfoxgrover]

I dose it about every two weeks with enough K to raise levels about 35 ppm. I believe my algae turf scrubber is using it becase it never tests above natural seawater levels. I use the Red sea kit from time to time. It is rather time consuming to use. I have not tried the salifert version.

 

[NY_Caveman]

I had a monti cap going grey and saw enough posts saying to check for potassium so I ordered a salifert kit. Was at 380, dosed to 400 and the color came back.

I have read that before that Montipora like potassium. It was anecdotal, not scientific.

 

[Scorpius]

Salifert potassium test kit is easy to use.

 

[Rakie]

I tested it a couple times, didn't really need to.

 

[rkpetersen]

Yes.

https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/can-reef-fusion-2-cause-elevated-aquarium-potassium.328612/

 

[Robink]

I have tested in the past and was within range. I used the red sea test kit and yes it is a pain. I also dose the red sea coral colors.

 

[rkpetersen]

Salifert potassium test kit is easy to use.

Yes and reasonably accurate with a clear-cut endpoint; 10 ppm measurement interval with a maximum of 470 ppm.

 

[Reef Jeff]

+1 on Salifert Potassium Test kit. Easy to use and accurate compared to ICP Test. I dose to keep it at 400. Water changes test lower than 400 so I dose to maintain it. I did notice deeper coloration on red montiporas when I first found my levels at 340 and bumped it to 400. I dose Potassium chloride.