Potassium in our reefs....

[DaveJ]

Ive been having an issue with a monti cap, non predator, non Mg, non-alk related.... Someone suggested I check my Potassium levels... well I got my results from aquariumwatertesting and here they are..

My question is, how important is it to maintain the proper level of potassium???? Is it really that critical? Also, the high Molybdenum levels. I dose 2-part from twopartsolutions, I run a kalk reactor, I occasionally will put a cap full of salifert amino acids and water changes. So I have no idea where that is coming from, though I will check the salt testing results for the red sea pro that I use.

Ammonia (NH3-4)....Good ... 0.001
Nitrite (NO2)....Good ... 0.004
Nitrate (NO3).....Good ....0.6
Phosphate (PO4) ...Good .... 0.09
Silica (SiO2-3) ...... High.....0.9
Potassium (K) ....Low.... 302
Calcium (Ca)....Good ...... 432
Boron (B) ......Low....2.7
Molybdenum (Mo)..... High.....0.2
Strontium (Sr) ......Good ........8.3
Magnesium (Mg) ...Good ..... 1283
Iodine (I¯)...Good ..... 0.05
Copper (Cu++) ...Good ..... 0.02
Alkalinity (meq/L)...Good ..... 2.65

Potassium (K)
Natural Seawater Value: 390 mg/L
Acceptable Range: 350 to 450 mg/L
Tested: 302 mg/L
(LOW) Your potassium level is too low. We recommend performing a partial water change,
and possibly adding a commercial additive containing potassium. Potassium is rapidly
depleted from aquarium water by several plant and animal metabolic processes.
Maintenance of appropriate levels is critical for cellular respiration, as well as being an
important nutrient for coral zooxanthellae and macro algae.

[James983]

Dave, I just got my results back and have very similar numbers. I use Tropic Marin Pro Reef, what are you using? I have no idea how to lower my Molybdenum level either. Mine is the same as yours.

[DaveJ]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=11626797#post11626797 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by James983
Dave, I just got my results back and have very similar numbers. I use Tropic Marin Pro Reef, what are you using? I have no idea how to lower my Molybdenum level either. Mine is the same as yours.

I use Red Sea Pro and do 40G water changes every 2 weeks for 210G total system (I have two tanks plumbed into a single sump).

[James983]

I have a 150 and change 15 gal per week. I wonder if the majority of salt water tanks have high moly numbers? Never had a chance to check it before. Anybody else w/ some input?

[DaveJ]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=11626969#post11626969 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by James983
I have a 150 and change 15 gal per week. I wonder if the majority of salt water tanks have high moly numbers? Never had a chance to check it before. Anybody else w/ some input?

I've been doing some searched on this and my local forums for results from them and in most cases it has been high. My guess is its the salts, but what we need to know is how is it toxic and what does it hurt, corals? Fish? Inverts? everything?

[Ralph ATL]

me too! tagging along......................

[reef_doug]

My potassium is 280 and I am using NSW, but also ZEOvit.

ZEO tanks usually become Potassium deficient until it is supplemented.

[DaveJ]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=11627580#post11627580 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by reef_doug
My potassium is 280 and I am using NSW, but also ZEOvit.

ZEO tanks usually become Potassium deficient until it is supplemented.

Have you noticed any color issues, or impact to corals at that level??

[reef_doug]

I am still growing out frags but would have to say they are a bit duller than they should be. Also the purple coraline has a dull hue to it aswell.

I will be tagging along for the best supplementation and quantity.

The ZEO K-Strong is expensive!

[DaveJ]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=11627647#post11627647 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by reef_doug
I am still growing out frags but would have to say they are a bit duller than they should be. Also the purple coraline has a dull hue to it aswell.

I will be tagging along for the best supplementation and quantity.

The ZEO K-Strong is expensive!

Seachem makes one, its meant for fresh so I don't know if it would be safe for our tanks.

http://www.marinedepot.com/ps_ViewItem~SearchStr~potassium~action~view~idProduct~SC5195~idCategory~FWPCLF~category~Seachem_Flou rish_Potassium_500_mL_Freshwater_Aquarium_Supplies_Plant_Care__Fertilizers_Liquid~vendor~.html

[James983]

I have seen other threads questioning the reliabilty of AWT results. I really dont know what to do short of a bunch of water changes, but if the salt is the problem whats the point?
Randy, do you have any insight?

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

I wouldn't assume water changes will correct a potassium "problem" since the mix may get the same result (whether it is accurate or not).

[James983]

thats my concern, how con i correct it then?

[DaveJ]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=11628613#post11628613 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by James983
I have seen other threads questioning the reliabilty of AWT results.

Do you have any links, I would like to read those.

[James983]

No Dave, I just remmber reading complaints about other peoples results. If I have time I'll try to track one or two down.

[customcolor]

i found a cacium cloride ice melt that had Potassium cloride in it also. whould that help ?

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

A food grade potassium chloride is the best way. I would not use that mixed product.

[benf]

Not cheap, but here u go:
http://www.zeovitusa.com/mm5/merchant.mvc?Screen=CTGY&Store_Code=ZUSA&Category_Code=K-Balance

[reef_doug]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=11636133#post11636133 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by benf
Not cheap, but here u go:
http://www.zeovitusa.com/mm5/merchant.mvc?Screen=CTGY&Store_Code=ZUSA&Category_Code=K-Balance

For strong corrections, the ZEOvit K-Strong is 3x the strenght of K-Balance.

Either one is to rich for my blood... I'm looking for cheaper measures such as food grade Potassium Chloride powder for $5.00.

[stony_corals]

anecdotal experience from many zeovit users show that lower levels of K result in Montipora 'caps' that are 'dry' looking. I've personally experienced this. Some times its reversible and other times not....

[midas blenny]

would this work randy?

http://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://www.orau.org/PTP/collection/consumer%2520products/kcl3.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.orau.org/PTP/collection/consumer%2520products/kclwatersoftener.htm&h=626&w=400&sz=32&hl=en&start=20&um=1&tbnid=_fT6BJdsqmE7_M:&tbnh=136&tbnw=87&prev=/images%3Fq%3DPotassium%2BChloride%2B%26start%3D18%26ndsp%3D18%26svnum%3D10%26um%3D1%26hl%3Den%26sa%3 DN

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

I do not know if it is adequately pure or not.

[SimilanRocks]

How about this one? It's only $3, looks like pure potassium chloride.
http://www.nowfoods.com/?action=itemdetail&item_id=2979

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

That would seem a reasonable choice, yes. :)

[HowardW]

I dunno, I would not be so quick to supplement potassium based on the AWT results because if you look at their recent salt test results they showed about every salt mix being quite low in potassium including Seachem Reef Salt........yet a few months ago when I sent them a water sample from one of my tanks using Seachem salt their results showed my potassium as being 390PPM which is right around NSW levels, and they also showed my molybdenum as being quite high. Then just recently I sent them another sample from that same tank and this time they showed my potassium as being way less then the previous test, and this time they showed my molybdenum as being normal?

[SimilanRocks]

HowardW, how do you know those elements would stay the same?

[miwoodar]

Did anyone go through with the DIY potassium chloride solution? How strong should you mix it and how much did you dose at a time?

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

The concentration of a stock solution does not matter, as long as it dissolves. Do you have some that you want advice on how to use it? Have you tried to measure potassium in the water?

[miwoodar]

I don't have a kit yet but am trying to plan ahead.

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

OK, when you get a particular supplement and know what you need, we can calculate it for you. There is no on line calculator for it.

[miwoodar]

Can you recommend for or against any particular test kit (if easier, I can receive PM :)). I keep hearing how difficult they are to read...I would rather not waste my money on the wrong one.

[SimilanRocks]

Randy, is potassium gluconate resonable to use? I can't find the Now product in local drug store.

http://www.walgreens.com/store/product.jsp?CATID=100157&navAction=jump&navCount=0&skuid=sku303532&id=prod3532#ingredient

The one I saw at RiteAid has Potassium Gluconate, Dextrose, Stearic Acid, Silicon Dioxide, Magnesium Stearate.

Do you dissolve it and only dose the clear part like you do with the iron pills?

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

It will boost alkalinity and act to drive bacteria. I'd look for potassium chloride. You are dosing a lot more potassium than iron, where the organic par tis important and not an alkalinity concern.