adding Potassium a good idea?

[cabin]

I posted this on an old thread and never got an answer, but it was kind of buried, so I thought I'd try starting a new one. My macro algae survives but doesn't thrive. I never need to harvest it, because it stays about the same all the time, or else gradually fails. Meanwhile, nitrates in my tank are climbing (currently about 15 on the test kits) and I'm worried and would like to get the macros doing what they are supposed to do, remove nutrients.

Does anyone think adding potassium is a good idea for a salt water tank? I have a bottle of it from when I kept a freshwater planted tank (seachem Fluorish product that says on the label it is 4% potassium), but I don't know what to do for dosing. I was a little concerned when I looked at my salt mix and realized no potassium is in the salt mix, so I'm hoping someone can provide more specific advice on whether my plan sounds reasonable, and if so, what the dose should be. Thank you

 

[Samala]

While potassium is certainly necessary for traditional vascular plants, I'm not sure its all that necessary for macro algae. Macroalgae does however, show some reaction to iron supplementation.. see these articles for pros and cons:

http://www.advancedaquarist.com/issues/aug2002/chem.htm
http://www.advancedaquarist.com/issues/oct2002/chem.htm

However.. I wonder how much light you've got the macroalgae under? If nitrates are at 15 then they have access to some N, phosphorus is the only other main needed component for growth other than potassium (which, again, I'm not sure macroalgae needs it).

>Sarah

 

[Triterium]

Here is a good link as well.... No mention of potassium, hmmm....
HawaiianAlgae