Plantbrain
Active member
I use a colorimeter for K+ measurements.
Lamotte makes one for about 30$ or so(?).
I had one years ago, but no one found any issues with variation from 10ppm to 100ppm of K+ in Fw macrophytes.
My gut suggest that marine systems can handle a lot more K+ and has the ability to exclude or taken in other osmolytica.
Just like a mangrove or most plants, they have very good gate keeping across the membranes/roots/etc.
This difference in gate keeping allow them to survive in the high salt envirionment.
I think you will have a high range of variation with K+. I'd be very surprised to see a low range of variation before both critters and weeds are affected.
I could be wrong with a few species of critters, but I doubt it.
Shallow seas, tide pools, disturbed substrates in grass beds etc etc.........seems that these are pretty common events/things.
Water changes can address the issue easily.
So could CaNO3 though..........
www.gregwatson carries the CaBNO3 cheaper and with better shipping service than any.
At the lab, I use 1/3 KNO3/Ca(NO3)2 mix.
But I also change 1/2 the water weekly.
I add the Ca++ mainly for well, the Ca++.
If you look at the elemental ratios of Ca:N of a large no# of marine macrophyths, you'll find the addition of Ca(NO3)2 may suit your needs quite well
There are other sources of Ca, such as CaSO4, and CaCl2 which no one whines or worries about the SO4 nor Cl, so why K+?
I know there might be an effect, but I've never seen it and folks in general do not possess enough nutrient control as hobbyists to show an isolated effect from one such nutrient over a wide range of concentrations.
Like most hobbyists, they are happy just to have better growth and nice tanks. Few want to monkey with a good thing. My goal is monkeying with good things to learn more about them.
That's why I add lots of Traces to see, or lots of NO3, or PO4 etc and why folks are playign with CO2 etc.
Regards,
Tom Barr
Lamotte makes one for about 30$ or so(?).
I had one years ago, but no one found any issues with variation from 10ppm to 100ppm of K+ in Fw macrophytes.
My gut suggest that marine systems can handle a lot more K+ and has the ability to exclude or taken in other osmolytica.
Just like a mangrove or most plants, they have very good gate keeping across the membranes/roots/etc.
This difference in gate keeping allow them to survive in the high salt envirionment.
I think you will have a high range of variation with K+. I'd be very surprised to see a low range of variation before both critters and weeds are affected.
I could be wrong with a few species of critters, but I doubt it.
Shallow seas, tide pools, disturbed substrates in grass beds etc etc.........seems that these are pretty common events/things.
Water changes can address the issue easily.
So could CaNO3 though..........
www.gregwatson carries the CaBNO3 cheaper and with better shipping service than any.
At the lab, I use 1/3 KNO3/Ca(NO3)2 mix.
But I also change 1/2 the water weekly.
I add the Ca++ mainly for well, the Ca++.
If you look at the elemental ratios of Ca:N of a large no# of marine macrophyths, you'll find the addition of Ca(NO3)2 may suit your needs quite well
There are other sources of Ca, such as CaSO4, and CaCl2 which no one whines or worries about the SO4 nor Cl, so why K+?
I know there might be an effect, but I've never seen it and folks in general do not possess enough nutrient control as hobbyists to show an isolated effect from one such nutrient over a wide range of concentrations.
Like most hobbyists, they are happy just to have better growth and nice tanks. Few want to monkey with a good thing. My goal is monkeying with good things to learn more about them.
That's why I add lots of Traces to see, or lots of NO3, or PO4 etc and why folks are playign with CO2 etc.
Regards,
Tom Barr
