bychineva Posted October 7, 2006 Report Share Posted October 7, 2006 Hi...im interested to know how much Potassium does the Salt made by Red Sea have? and is there a test kit/device around to test potassium? thx Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lduncan Posted October 7, 2006 Report Share Posted October 7, 2006 Why the interest in potassium? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cracker Posted October 7, 2006 Report Share Posted October 7, 2006 Nz natural seawater contains around 380ppm which is adequate enough for marine tanks. Potassium doesnt play a huge part in reef tanks as I have done tests on this myself. Testing costs around $60.00 each time through a lab. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bychineva Posted October 7, 2006 Author Report Share Posted October 7, 2006 Why the interest in potassium? just interested how much my tank uses and see if it does actually make a difference adding Potassium in the tank Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bychineva Posted October 7, 2006 Author Report Share Posted October 7, 2006 thanks cracker Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lduncan Posted October 7, 2006 Report Share Posted October 7, 2006 Potassium doesnt play a huge part in reef tanks as I have done tests on this myself. Unless of course you happen sell potassium supplements ;-). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cracker Posted October 7, 2006 Report Share Posted October 7, 2006 It may play a prt in colour, but the expense of testing makes it very difficult as a control. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lduncan Posted October 7, 2006 Report Share Posted October 7, 2006 I haven't seen any evidence of that, and like you've said, it's not exactly limiting, and not used in significant quantities. It's funny that no one in the hobby had bothered with potassium, until recently when a particular company started touting the dire consequences of potassium deficiency in corals, and how a new product from them could come to the rescue. Potassium isn't exactly an obscure element, so there was probably a reason no one had bothered with it previously ;-) Layton Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wasp Posted October 7, 2006 Report Share Posted October 7, 2006 Well you seem to have a lot to say on the subject Layton. Can you answer the question he actually asked? Craig, bear in mind you use NSW, and that was your experience, as you had enough potassium. People using mixes that are severely depleted in potassium can be taking risks. Correct potassium does assist corals to produce nice colours, and has some health benefits also, one of the results of potassium being too low is it leaves sps corals prone to TN when other things are wrong also. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wasp Posted October 7, 2006 Report Share Posted October 7, 2006 On the topic of salt mixes and K+ levels. Here is a graph from http://www.advancedaquarist.com/2005/12/aafeature1 that shows most salt mixes (all?) are indeed low in K+. See. I can post a graph too!!! :lol: :lol: :lol: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cracker Posted October 7, 2006 Report Share Posted October 7, 2006 Nice wasp...Very true, I do use NSW. ASW will be different. If anyone wants to try some, I can get a very pure grade at very good prices per kilo. You will have to watch the amount used as as I said, test controling is very difficult. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chimera Posted October 7, 2006 Report Share Posted October 7, 2006 I will add my 2 cents here since I've recently started dosing potassium. I bought some Pohl's K-Balance (high concentration of multiple potassium salts) from zeovitnz. I started dosing 10ml daily for the first 4 days (which I've just finished dosing) and now I'm about to reduce to 10ml twice weekly. Dosing potassium is supposed to bring out deeper colours, especially in SPS. After 4 days dosing thus far, there are slight improvements in SPS - but not enough to justify a direct correlation to potassium and purple... yet. However, contrary to what the concentrate pamphlet says, what I have observed is quite a dramatic improvement in my LPS. I have a frogspawn of which the green is now insanely flurorescent (compared to what it was before - I have made no other changes to the tank other than normal weekly kH, Ca and Mg "top ups") All other LPS (euphyllia etc) are much more "full" looking. As I say, these are merely changes i've noticed, no scientific evidence but at the end of the day, proof is in the pudding. The only other change I've made is a 20% (NSW) water change as of 5 minutes ago Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lduncan Posted October 7, 2006 Report Share Posted October 7, 2006 Well the fact is, you don't know what you're adding: K-Balance contains multiple potassium salts as well as two additional available elements in highly concentrated form. I don't know how anyone could start to draw conclusion about potassium from using this when you don't even know what you're adding. People using mixes that are severely depleted in potassium can be taking risks. Correct potassium does assist corals to produce nice colours, and has some health benefits also, one of the results of potassium being too low is it leaves sps corals prone to TN when other things are wrong also. First you have to establish at what levels potassium becomes limiting in these processes. Severely depleted, and limiting can be two different things. Do you have any evidence of any of those claims? Something to think about: I keep hoping a change is coming; that aquarists will begin to learn and understand that most aquarium products are based on profit and not science; and that deception abounds without fear of retribution, except the loss of some sales. Our hobby has progressed by leaps and bounds through the tireless sharing of information and aquarists' trials of products, methods and equipment. Sadly, these progressions have also incurred an untold number of animal losses and countless millions of dollars wasted on aquarium snake oils; products that have been around now for over 80 years. Is it not time for all of us to become skeptical aquarists and use the true knowledge we have gained and shared with each other, rather than buying into the product descriptions of marketed products with no proof of their claims? Perhaps it is time to convince appropriate agencies and veterinarians to adopt standards of protocols and quality for the products sold for marine ornamentals. I look forward to the day when we actually begin to learn lessons that could have begun at least as early as 1933. Mostly, I look forward to not being made physically sick by the time consuming, senseless and anecdotal debates that continue to pervade the hobby populace at large, so that we can make real steps forward and contribute to the advancement of husbandry and knowledge of species - for ourselves and others who study them, and to conserve them for a bright future for our hobby. Layton Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bychineva Posted October 7, 2006 Author Report Share Posted October 7, 2006 thanks Wasp..i know some people that after dosing k-balance..potassium that they notice improvements ion colouration like what Chinera has experiences,,,,,so any test kits around? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cracker Posted October 7, 2006 Report Share Posted October 7, 2006 No. But Watercare services in Auckland can test for you at around $70.00 bucks a shot. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lduncan Posted October 7, 2006 Report Share Posted October 7, 2006 Hach do a colormetric potassium test I think. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lduncan Posted October 7, 2006 Report Share Posted October 7, 2006 thanks Wasp..i know some people that after dosing k-balance..potassium that they notice improvements ion colouration like what Chinera has experiences,,,,,so any test kits around? Saying that K-Balance has those effects is different from saying potassium has those effects. There's more in K balance than just potassium. You shouldn't use the two interchangeably. There is no evidence to say that any effects you see from K-Balance are actually due to potassium in it, it could be due to the other constituents. Layton Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wasp Posted October 7, 2006 Report Share Posted October 7, 2006 Nice wasp...Very true, I do use NSW. ASW will be different. If anyone wants to try some, I can get a very pure grade at very good prices per kilo. You will have to watch the amount used as as I said, test controling is very difficult. Yes, Cracker was good enough to give me some of his potassium, it is potassium chloride in powder form. I have used it & it gives exactly the same result as K Balance. Just I'd recommend anyone using it to go SLOW, to much at once can cause burning of the acro tips. Bychineva, there is a test kit available which I have ordered, may be a few weeks away though, I can test your water then if you wish. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cracker Posted October 7, 2006 Report Share Posted October 7, 2006 Hach do a colormetric potassium test I think. Can you get a price? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chimera Posted October 7, 2006 Report Share Posted October 7, 2006 I don't know how anyone could start to draw conclusion about potassium from using this when you don't even know what you're adding Saying that K-Balance has those effects is different from saying potassium has those effects. There's more in K balance than just potassium. You shouldn't use the two interchangeably. There is no evidence to say that any effects you see from K-Balance are actually due to potassium in it, it could be due to the other constituents. Fair point, but if that is the case then it's poor or misguided marketing from Zeovit. The pamphlet reads and I quote: "Potassium is a major element in sea water. K-Balance contains multiple potassium salts in high concentration. Our tests in several tanks have shown the benefits in colour and growth after dosing a few days - Polyp expansion within a short time - Enhances growth and colouration of all corals, especially in SPS like Montipora, Stylophora, Seriatopora, Pocillopora, Acropora - Recommended in any tank system" So, based on the above, it says what perhaps the main ingredient is, but if it contains other ingredients it has not been disclosed. To call a product "K-Balance" which suggests specifically a potassium supplement and not state any other additives in it seems a little far fetched. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cracker Posted October 7, 2006 Report Share Posted October 7, 2006 I agree Chim... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cracker Posted October 8, 2006 Report Share Posted October 8, 2006 I Might try some. How much and what is the dosage please. How much in the bottle? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cracker Posted October 8, 2006 Report Share Posted October 8, 2006 Anyone got brendans number? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bychineva Posted October 8, 2006 Author Report Share Posted October 8, 2006 i think brendan has a kalium test kit... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bychineva Posted October 8, 2006 Author Report Share Posted October 8, 2006 the guy at red sea told me that Red Sea salts has 379mg potassium....i need to test this before i believe it...after viewing Wasps graph Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.