Potassium.

Diesel · Aug 6, 2015

Randy, I know Potassium can be a important factor to reefing, most tanks are within range when they test.
That is when they test as it is a aspect that many leave out.
I have used several test kits for doing that and I like the Redsea so far the best, still a hassle but oh well.
I found this Photometer from hanna to test for potassium but mu question is.....
A) does it work with saltwater testing?
B) if so it test in the low range from 0.0 to 10 mg/L (ppm), what's my perfect # to be compared as Redsea just give you and guide line between 380 and 410?

Thanks in advance.

http://hannainst.com/usa/prods2.cfm?id=009001&ProdCode=HI 96750

Stigigemla · Aug 6, 2015

As far as I know both Red Sea and Salifert are using tetraphenylborat in there tests.
I would give it a try. Just dilute 1/100 with osmosis water to get a good range.
And shake well to get an even turbidity.

Randy Holmes-Farley · Aug 7, 2015

I'd ask Hanna before buying it.

It won't work in straight seawater due to the range and interference of at least sodium and chloride.

But diluting the seawater by a factor of 10 with RO/DI would seem to eliminate these concerns (test on the 0-100 ppm range scale). Not sure if there are any other issues or not.

Diesel · Aug 8, 2015

Thanks all.
Maybe it's just safe side to stick with the existing test kits out there.

But I got another question for you Randy!
Most hobbyist test the water cause other ppl telling them that you have to as other wise if you don't your tank will crash!!
Yeah, that statement is like if you never jumped of the bridge you're not a man.
No kidding............ but we do understand that some factors are important to know in this hobby as you stressed that many times in your articles that you write or have written.
To name a few ALK, CAL, MAG, PO4, K, No3 etc..... etc, but just the first four are the test to go by to have a basic reef aquarium.
Now my question is............ as a positive hobbyist I call myself to hand out a helping hand to other as many of us and sometimes it rattle my mind why is the tank in question going bad on the corals but the basic numbers are within line.
Should we also test for oxygen and carbon dioxide as this can be a next important factor to have a successful reef aquarium?
Triton can be a answer or in a few months Mindstream, but for everyday a ORP can be useful if you have a advanced reef.
What are you thoughts about this?

Randy Holmes-Farley · Aug 8, 2015

Carbon dioxide is not a very useful test because pH and alkalinity together give you an understanding of the CO2. If the pH and alkalinity are normal, CO2 will also be normal.

Oxygen might be a useful thing to know, especially when playing around with skimmers, refugia, etc. Expensive, however. Eric discusses O2 here. It is a generally good article, but I think he has some sort of systematic error which makes all of his O2 readings a bit lower than they should be.

http://www.reefkeeping.com/issues/2005-08/eb/index.php