Seeking for potassium test kit
- Thread starter bookey
- Start date
karsseboom
New member
Seachem?
fishflorist
CANNOT SPEAK ENGLISH
Did anybody tested the RC salt potassium concentration ?
I heard somebody tested it using a Hanna at 1.026 salinity, and potassium is only about 200ppm or so.
if it is true, then the posassium concentration is way below the recommend level which is aroud 400ppm .
Recently I boost the potassium by 220ppm (use 50gram KCl anhydrous into 80L new salt water) when I do the water change.
I heard somebody tested it using a Hanna at 1.026 salinity, and potassium is only about 200ppm or so.
if it is true, then the posassium concentration is way below the recommend level which is aroud 400ppm .
Recently I boost the potassium by 220ppm (use 50gram KCl anhydrous into 80L new salt water) when I do the water change.
Do people find Red Sea Potassium test works?? I've purchased 2 and think they're junk.
I test ocean water and all ASW brands I have mixed as well as mt zeovit tank and it's all 440-450ppm. End point is quite cleary blue. I keep adding titrant and it doesn't get any bluer.... not really sure how this can be correct. My corals also indicate low potassium.... sure makes it hard to know what to do....:rolleye1:
I test ocean water and all ASW brands I have mixed as well as mt zeovit tank and it's all 440-450ppm. End point is quite cleary blue. I keep adding titrant and it doesn't get any bluer.... not really sure how this can be correct. My corals also indicate low potassium.... sure makes it hard to know what to do....:rolleye1:
Not sure what is going on with mine too. I have added over 3ml over 12 times trying to get it to turn blue.
Is it that low?!
Monti's look a bit washed out and reds go dull. I'm running zeovit.
Any tips Randy?
Not really. I used the FM kit and it seemed fairly easy to use, if not highly precise. It did seem reasonably accurate the one time I checked it with a standard seawater sample.
So you have found that when you get those changes that they are quickly reversed by potassium addition, and no other changes?
In general, I'm suspicious of many of the claims from supplement makers that specific ion additions impact specific colors.
So you have found that when you get those changes that they are quickly reversed by potassium addition, and no other changes?
In general, I'm suspicious of many of the claims from supplement makers that specific ion additions impact specific colors.
I might try the FM or KZ kits next, thanks Randy for the heads up.
I do notice increased polyp extension and improved colours with certain additions within a week or so. Blue's and greens are probably the easiest to manipulate; but I am no expert.
Zeovit system does indeed work, sometimes too well. The problem though is the tank balances a fine line, so any minor disruption to parameters will have a much more magnified effect, so it requires a bit more time and patience.
According to zeo pros, both zeolites and needlewheel skimmers in carbon driven systems absorb potassium. Not sure how true this is, but potassium always seems to be a hot topic for zeo users and coral colors.
I do notice increased polyp extension and improved colours with certain additions within a week or so. Blue's and greens are probably the easiest to manipulate; but I am no expert.
Zeovit system does indeed work, sometimes too well. The problem though is the tank balances a fine line, so any minor disruption to parameters will have a much more magnified effect, so it requires a bit more time and patience.
According to zeo pros, both zeolites and needlewheel skimmers in carbon driven systems absorb potassium. Not sure how true this is, but potassium always seems to be a hot topic for zeo users and coral colors.
HighlandReefer
Team RC
I have read many posts by hobbyists and the claims of what potassium does to their coral. There are claims it effects reds, blues, greens, yellows, increases intensity.......etc. Claims of overdose also very significantly. Claims of under dosing vary significantly. Many hobbyists post they saw no or little effect from potassium. I personally don't see any common denominator in any effects that potassium has on coral from the many posts I have read. 
Many of the claims come from hobbyists who use Zeo systems where hobbyists add other additives and micro-nutrients that are added at one time. This makes any effects from individual supplements very difficult to determine, plus there can be combination effects of all the supplements that are added at one time.
Personally I can find no scientific data at all regarding the effects of potassium on coral, yet the manufacturers claim that their scientific studies indicate it does have effects. Hobbyists' tanks are not much help as far as determining its effects, since their tanks and conditions can vary so much. Many hobbyists just dose potassium without measuring its level in the tank. How accurate hobby grade test kits may be is yet to be determined in my mind. Perhaps they can detect only 100 ppm differences, perhaps 50 ppm differences. I doubt the kits resolution is much better than say 50 ppm though. IIRC, when Randy tested the kit, he stated he felt confident that kit could detect 100 ppm differences and left it at that.
IMHO, this sounds more like the claims that were made by the old time snake oil salesmen, when there was no scientific basis for one to make proper judgment. Consumers back then, proclaimed these snake oils were the super cure & poured them down their children's throats. I guess I feel very apprehensive as to what I have read about potassium so far.
Many of the claims come from hobbyists who use Zeo systems where hobbyists add other additives and micro-nutrients that are added at one time. This makes any effects from individual supplements very difficult to determine, plus there can be combination effects of all the supplements that are added at one time.
Personally I can find no scientific data at all regarding the effects of potassium on coral, yet the manufacturers claim that their scientific studies indicate it does have effects. Hobbyists' tanks are not much help as far as determining its effects, since their tanks and conditions can vary so much. Many hobbyists just dose potassium without measuring its level in the tank. How accurate hobby grade test kits may be is yet to be determined in my mind. Perhaps they can detect only 100 ppm differences, perhaps 50 ppm differences. I doubt the kits resolution is much better than say 50 ppm though. IIRC, when Randy tested the kit, he stated he felt confident that kit could detect 100 ppm differences and left it at that.
IMHO, this sounds more like the claims that were made by the old time snake oil salesmen, when there was no scientific basis for one to make proper judgment. Consumers back then, proclaimed these snake oils were the super cure & poured them down their children's throats. I guess I feel very apprehensive as to what I have read about potassium so far.
HighlandReefer
Team RC
I might add, that I known some very advanced hobbyists with the most beautiful coral I have seen and they don't add anything but maintain alk, calcium, mag & feed their fish. Most of these hobbyists proclaim that lighting has the most effect on coral color and of course, genetics.
Great insight, thanks mate. Interesting to hear about there being no scientific evidence on Potassium too. Those K turbidity tests definately don't provide a specific answer; more an indication than anything
I suppose potassium is fairly well documented in the zeovit community, but when most KZ products are propietrary, it's hard to draw any scientific conclusions on how it all works.
I'm wondering if it's mostly a zeovit thing also, because I'm sure people doing larger regular water changes and not using zeolites probably have sufficient K levels? If I run zeolites without the supporting nutrients, or have the flow too high on the zeolite rx, my sps definately suffer and bleach out.
Genetics is a good point too. I have also found from experience here in Australia that ~20% of wild collected colonies purchased locally just don't survive or thrive in aquarium conditions. My aquacultured colonies on the other hand do wonderfully
I suppose potassium is fairly well documented in the zeovit community, but when most KZ products are propietrary, it's hard to draw any scientific conclusions on how it all works.
I'm wondering if it's mostly a zeovit thing also, because I'm sure people doing larger regular water changes and not using zeolites probably have sufficient K levels? If I run zeolites without the supporting nutrients, or have the flow too high on the zeolite rx, my sps definately suffer and bleach out.
Genetics is a good point too. I have also found from experience here in Australia that ~20% of wild collected colonies purchased locally just don't survive or thrive in aquarium conditions. My aquacultured colonies on the other hand do wonderfully
HighlandReefer
Team RC
You're welcome.
Randy has commented in the past that Zeolites can absorb potassium, which is perhaps the major concern when using the Zeo system.
Randy has commented in the past that Zeolites can absorb potassium, which is perhaps the major concern when using the Zeo system.
Yes, I agree it seems to be a mostly zeovit thing.
rbsalthobby
New member
I get the same result as you using the new RS Potassium Pro kit (440-450) ...hard to believe it was so high. I recently sent in a water sample for professional evaluation to aquariumwatertesting.com and my results by the lab showed my potassium to be below acceptable range at 266.
karsseboom
New member
I have read many posts by hobbyists and the claims of what potassium does to their coral. There are claims it effects reds, blues, greens, yellows, increases intensity.......etc. Claims of overdose also very significantly. Claims of under dosing vary significantly. Many hobbyists post they saw no or little effect from potassium. I personally don't see any common denominator in any effects that potassium has on coral from the many posts I have read.
Many of the claims come from hobbyists who use Zeo systems where hobbyists add other additives and micro-nutrients that are added at one time. This makes any effects from individual supplements very difficult to determine, plus there can be combination effects of all the supplements that are added at one time.
Personally I can find no scientific data at all regarding the effects of potassium on coral, yet the manufacturers claim that their scientific studies indicate it does have effects. Hobbyists' tanks are not much help as far as determining its effects, since their tanks and conditions can vary so much. Many hobbyists just dose potassium without measuring its level in the tank. How accurate hobby grade test kits may be is yet to be determined in my mind. Perhaps they can detect only 100 ppm differences, perhaps 50 ppm differences. I doubt the kits resolution is much better than say 50 ppm though. IIRC, when Randy tested the kit, he stated he felt confident that kit could detect 100 ppm differences and left it at that.
IMHO, this sounds more like the claims that were made by the old time snake oil salesmen, when there was no scientific basis for one to make proper judgment. Consumers back then, proclaimed these snake oils were the super cure & poured them down their children's throats. I guess I feel very apprehensive as to what I have read about potassium so far.
When your using the zeo method every conventional way kinda goes out the door though as they have there own method of balancing water parameters. It seems to be proven in the zeo world dosing can help benefit an ulns zeovit. This is just from what I read though take it with a grain of salt.
For those of you in a quandary over which test kit to use, there are two new variables to be concerned with. Salifert is introducing two new potassium test kits. The first is apparently accurate within 15ppm and the second apparently within 4ppm. The demo I saw showed the 15ppm to be pretty simple & quick to run. I'd post a link to the story, but I'm afraid RC might delete this post...
Anyone interested in a used Red Sea or a used korallen-zucht test kit?
Anyone interested in a used Red Sea or a used korallen-zucht test kit?
