Who doses potassium?

Daniel@R2R · Aug 21, 2019

How many of you guys dose potassium? What's your target level? What are your preferred supplements for maintaining levels?

ndrwater · Aug 21, 2019

I used RedSea Colors (part B if I remember correctly) for potassium. Not having a snazzy new Mindstream, testing for potassium was difficult at best with common potassium test kits. Like a 30+ minute wait time to find out if I did it correctly. Don't remember the exact ppm, but it seemed to work well. Pinks and blues were more pronounced.
Since switching to a calcium reactor using TLF Reborn, I haven't bothered testing.
Now if you wanted me to use your Mindstream to get better results.....

Daniel@R2R · Aug 21, 2019

ndrwater said:
I used RedSea Colors (part B if I remember correctly) for potassium. Not having a snazzy new Mindstream, testing for potassium was difficult at best with common potassium test kits. Like a 30+ minute wait time to find out if I did it correctly. Don't remember the exact ppm, but it seemed to work well. Pinks and blues were more pronounced.
Since switching to a calcium reactor using TLF Reborn, I haven't bothered testing.
Now if you wanted me to use your Mindstream to get better results.....

Haha! Yep. I've never paid attention to it until now that I have the Mindstream. Now, I'd like to keep it in range.

kwirky · Aug 21, 2019

Potassium takes a long time to test (red sea kit) so I test it once per month. I've been sitting at 410-420 for a couple months now but with very little calcification load. If it's useful info, I'm dosing 5g of potassium nitrate to 50g of system water per week (to maintain 0.2-0.5ppm nitrate). I'm curious to see where the potassium sits after a month or two since I have very little coralline & coral growth in the new tank (starting from frags). If it's high I'll have to find a second nitrate chemical to dose.

Scorpius · Aug 21, 2019

When I was heavier into sps I tested weekly, salifert, and shot for 400

vetteguy53081 · Aug 21, 2019

I add 4ml every 3 days to my tank. I use Brightwell brand

motortrendz · Aug 21, 2019

I try to keep it around 390-400. Especially on my old system that had alot more sps. The test is such a pain though. Half the time it doesnt read right. Now I just make sure my water changes are done on time. And hope it's good enough. I use the red sea pro salt.

JPergamo · Aug 21, 2019

When my red monti cap fades a tad I know mine is lower. Usually happens if I let my fuge chaeto grow out too much. I'll test then and bring it back up to 400. It's been as low as 340

Hemmdog · Aug 21, 2019

I use the potassium in Red Sea colors.

rkpetersen · Aug 21, 2019

I measure potassium with Salifert and dose to around 430 with Potassion.

EmdeReef · Aug 21, 2019

rkpetersen said:
I measure potassium with Salifert and dose to around 430 with Potassion.

I also try to maintain it above 400 by dosing two little fishies.

@rkpetersen what are your thoughts on the Salifert test? I have 3 of their kits (accidentally added multiple in my shopping cart) and all 3 give me wildly different results. Not sure which one to believe...

rkpetersen · Aug 21, 2019

EmdeReef said:
I also try to maintain it above 400 by dosing two little fishies.

@rkpetersen what are your thoughts on the Salifert test? I have 3 of their kits (accidentally added multiple in my shopping cart) and all 3 give me wildly different results. Not sure which one to believe...

I've been quite happy with it.
It's true that its precision is only 10 ppm.
My ICP-OES potassium readings are always very close to my Salifert readings taken at the time the ICP tests were sent.
For example my most recent ones from just a couple weeks ago were Salifert 410, ATI 399, and Triton 408.

The tip of the reagent 3 bottle has to be dry and completely vertical; that's the only tip I can offer.

And I don't do any of the cleaning they recommend.
I just clean out the precipitate with a wet paper towel under running water and rinse with RODI.

EmdeReef · Aug 21, 2019

rkpetersen said:
I've been quite happy with it.
It's true that its precision is only 10 ppm.
My ICP-OES potassium readings are always very close to my Salifert readings taken at the time the ICP tests were sent.
For example my most recent ones from just a couple weeks ago were Salifert 410, ATI 399, and Triton 408.

The tip of the reagent 3 bottle has to be dry and completely vertical; that's the only tip I can offer.

And I don't do any of the cleaning they recommend.
I just clean out the precipitate with a wet paper towel under running water and rinse with RODI.

Thanks!
I literally get between 370 and 430 with the 3.

j0359m · Aug 21, 2019

I was using Zeo Potassium Strong but could never get it up in the 400 range so I switched to Red Sea Trace Colors ABCD dosed in equal amounts 2 weeks ago & now it is in the 390-400 range with Red Sea test kit. Along with Reef Energy AB coral is looking much better

Whasmack · Aug 21, 2019

I aim to keep potassium around 400. I've had it as low as 350 & seen negative effects on montipora, & I've also seen new frags lose tissue when added - when I saw this I dosed a lot of potassium & the RTN stopped. I use Salifert K test kit but find it to be off - when it reads 390, my ICP says it's 350.
I use Brightwell potassium. Current level is about 440 ppm with no issues.

j0359m · Aug 22, 2019

whasmack said:
I aim to keep potassium around 400. I've had it as low as 350 & seen negative effects on montipora, & I've also seen new frags lose tissue when added - when I saw this I dosed a lot of potassium & the RTN stopped. I use Salifert K test kit but find it to be off - when it reads 390, my ICP says it's 350.
I use Brightwell potassium. Current level is about 440 ppm with no issues.

I use the Red Sea Potassium kit & find it to be very consistent

Daniel@R2R · Aug 22, 2019

Thanks everyone! I just found I have a Red Sea Colors kit that's unopened. Got K back in the safe zone. Now I'll dose the others based on calcium/potassium uptake until I can get the test kits to bring those things in line.

MARK M. DAVIS · Aug 22, 2019

400 I use Brightwell product. I ICP/Triton every 3 months to be sure on the dosage. 300g system and 20ml/dose on Monday and Thursday's.

bubblemytip · Aug 22, 2019

I use a DIY recipe of potassium chloride and aim to keep my potassium at the same level as my calcium, about 450ppm. If I do not dose, it usually will drop to about 360-380ppm in 4-6 weeks. I think carbon dosing and the associated bacterial growth reduces the levels a little.