raising potassium

[Bilk]

I can't extrapolate anything useful from it for this discussion. I don't have the whole study either. Seems like a pedantic detour.

It's a paleoenvironmental study as best as I can tell,probably trying to figure K levels in the past ocean waters. They suggest some K is adsorbed to places where organic interface with slektal mass occurs and to some odd lattice formations. Adsorbtion isn't surprising on a surface area of an old skelton but it isn't really incorporation or depletion( ie not a change in the element or a sink where it's removed from active interaction) as it can still react with other elements in the water. It's not buried in the crystal, I think. They also note it might be diffiuclt to draw inferences regarding paleoenvironmental reconstruction from the findings.
The other study you cited cites the presence of K in certain phases. I think that means it's moving through cycles .

Anecdotaly,organic carbon dosing systems don't necessarily deplete K. Coloration is complex but has much to do with other variables ( nutrient levels, salinity, temperature, oxygen levels, alkainity, food , lighting, flow and so on). Testimonials aside ,just adding K won't do anything for it as far as I can tell and most tanks shouldn't be deficient in it wether dosing organics or not.

Well I'm just curious as to why when every measurable element, parameter or otherwise in the water column is in flux, either depleting or increasing, why K would remain constant. Seems counterintuitive especially considering it may be considered the key building block to life, according to one of the links I posted.

Ever wonder why we read so many threads on systems with near perfect parameters and usually well stablished systems or pristine looking tanks with no measurable nutrients, not having the ability to sustain certain animals, generally being the sps? In all those threads I don't remember seeing anyone post a reading for K.

I'm not claiming I know the answer or that K or lack thereof is the answer, but it is a major element in seawater and it must have a function, yet many times people are advised to not be concerned with it - well unless they're running Zeovit

 

[navyfishguy]

I wouldn't worry about the potassium either

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[bertoni]

I haven't seen any evidence that a tank that gets regular water changes needs potassium added to it. Certainly, bad things could happen over time to any water parameter in theory. The question would be what might be removing it from the water column permanently. Corals turn calcium and alkalinity into rock, along with some magnesium. That's why we need to dose those parameters. I don't know of any proven way that potassium would dwindle. In theory, bacteria could convert it into a skimmable form, for example, but I don't know of any evidence that they do.