Potassium Levels when dosing Phosphate and Nitrate

[chomoney]

Hi all,

Working through chronically low nutrient issues, and just had one question of concern...

When dosing nitrates and phosphates in the form of potassium salts (i.e. potassium nitrate and potassium phosphate), should I have any concerns that I will be overdosing potassium?

My assumption is that, since potassium is in seawater at such higher levels than nitrate and phosphate, the results will be negligible to potassium levels. Just wanted to confirm since I’m certainly no chemist though.

Thanks!

 

[reefndude]

Good question. I am wondering myself

 

[chomoney]

I think I answered my own question with a calculator that’s floating around in the forum...

appears increasing phosphate .001ppm also increases potassium .001ppm, so very negligible with potassium being roughly 400ppm overall.

When dosing nitrate, potassium would be .54ppm per 1ppm of nitrate. A bit higher, but still negligible relative to the overall levels.

My concerns seem to be relieved for now, but well see if anybody more knowledgable chimes in [emoji4]

 

[reefndude]

I don't have a test kit so I have no clue what my tank sits at or new salt water for that matter

 

[chomoney]

I don't have a test kit so I have no clue what my tank sits at or new salt water for that matter

Gotcha.

I would definitely avoid adding nitrate or phosphate to your tank in that case. More commonly than not, people are trying to remove them. Not something you would want to add blindly.

My case is a bit of an outlier because I have a lot of water volume compared to a low nutrient load.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

I would not consider the potassium in potassium nitrate to be negligible. It might be OK, it might even be a plus if potassium is low.

But some folks already have too much, and in general, you can easily elect sodium nitrate instead.

 

[reefndude]

Gotcha.

I would definitely avoid adding nitrate or phosphate to your tank in that case. More commonly than not, people are trying to remove them. Not something you would want to add blindly.

My case is a bit of an outlier because I have a lot of water volume compared to a low nutrient load.

I was talking about potassium test kits. I've been using potassium nitrate for a little while now. Just have no clue on potassium levels

 

[chomoney]

I would not consider the potassium in potassium nitrate to be negligible. It might be OK, it might even be a plus if potassium is low.

But some folks already have too much, and in general, you can easily elect sodium nitrate instead.

Thank you! Always nice to have an expert around instead of guessing