Why you should be aware of Potassium in your reef tank

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Күн бұрын

Why should anyone care about Potassium? I’ll admit that it is a fringe chemical parameter that most hobbyists do not pay close attention to. I can say that several publications attribute blue coloration in corals to Potassium. If you have been in this hobby a while, you will know that blue is one of the most difficult colors to come across, especially if you are looking for blue coloration that also fluoresces.
Video:
Camera information:
Canon C100
Canon EF 100mm f/2.8L IS macro
Canon EF MP-E 65mm f/2.8 macro
Sigma Art 18-35mm f/1.8
Free Fly Movi Pro Stabilizer
Copyright Information:
This video was shot and edited by Tidal Gardens. Tidal Gardens owns all intellectual property rights to this content.

Пікірлер: 42

@CoralEuphoria 6 жыл бұрын

Love the macro shots Than! Good discussion. I personally don't mess with potassium anymore. I do find some of my sticks that are partially blue, temporarily lose some of their blue pop, but it usually comes back when I mess with other supplements. (I don't want to mention them here because I don't want to add any anecdotal information/confusion)

@Sysgen 7 жыл бұрын

I have really enjoyed these videos on water chemistry! Thanks for putting these together.

@akhilennium 7 жыл бұрын

I was just reading about different coral coloration that I was gonna try with red sea and then this video. Thank you Than!

@theamjadjamousable 3 жыл бұрын

Justin Credabel is advocating higher potassium levels like in the 800s even to the 1200 ! especially in higher nutrients systems. gotta get a test and play with it a bit .

@ScottM 7 жыл бұрын

Great video Than and awesome information on a compound that we don't think about but are surprised when we hear what it does.

@deniscolin5869 5 жыл бұрын

The Seachem Vibrant Sea salt is very High in potassium .About 525 .Most of the other salts about 350 mg .Normally about 400mg would be good .Several salts tested with ICP OES vu ATI

@ReefDudes 7 жыл бұрын

Good video Than, I like the educational ones! I have been dosing red sea coral colors and the biggest change I have noticed are more vibrant reds and oranges. I haven't noticed much of a change in the blue corals yet.

@miguelpires5856 7 жыл бұрын

i learned this the hard way... now i keep a eye on it ... if you have green montypora plate... they start to fade... its a sign ... thanks for another amazing video

@delsere7095 7 жыл бұрын

I have a number of corals particularly zoanthids and acans where they initially displayed a variety of colors but over months their coloration develops more muted tones of red, orange and pink at a loss of blue, green and purple. I plan to begin running some of the Red Sea products namely Reef Energy, Coral Colors and salt mix once I return from summer vacation. It will be very interesting to see if there's any change.

@AxcelleratorT 7 жыл бұрын

Great video Than! Looks like you got out that 5x macro. Very cool!

@ldballoon4 6 жыл бұрын

Excellent explanation, Than. Well Done.

@rainingmackenzie 7 жыл бұрын

Another Superb Video !!!!! Thank you MR T :)

@MichaelAlanNYC 7 жыл бұрын

ICP tests include Potassium (K), so a semi-regular Triton test will catch Potassium issues

@TrashPandaFTW 7 жыл бұрын

Great video Than!!! I feel that so many people overlook potassium. Because without the right amount of potassium nothing gets through cell walls.

@TheEColi 6 жыл бұрын

I think you mean cell membranes? Actually this is not true. While potassium can play a role in osmotic balance, potassium is not a requirement for most active and passive transport systems across cell membranes. For those requiring potassium, I think potassium is such an abundant ion that it would never be a limiting factor in any reef tank

@mohamadosman9236 6 жыл бұрын

Ever since I needed to start supplementing for calcium/alk I've been using ice melt that also contains KCl. I added it to either my water changes (monthly) to now as part of my top off water when my Ca drops below 380. Roughly 1000g elevates my Ca to 520 ppm. That being said, my K is off the chart after adding the ice melt. No ill issues that I see, coral wise, but maybe a brown film algae that as unpleasant as it is too see, easy to remove. Must be good for blues, only because I have no issues with blue SPS. Just purchesed an ICP test, so I plan on doing it after a water changel.

@AlUlrich 7 жыл бұрын

Good stuff. Don't see much about potassium out there. Thanks for the cool video

@ThaBiznessReefTank 7 жыл бұрын

Im going to start looking into Potassium. Good video!

@Ellery-USA 7 жыл бұрын

I have been using the Red Sea Coral Colors system for a while and have definitely noticed more intense coloration on my SPS. Though I have dropped dosing the required amounts and testing when I started since the test kits take a very long time to perform some of them. I also dose Potassium Nitrate (Sprectracide Stump Remover) and that also has helped maintaining my Nitrates so they don't drop to 0ppm and starve my corals out.

@Deon0026yickadee 7 жыл бұрын

Keep doing these helpful videos

@Madstyle1 7 жыл бұрын

Than I dose Red Sea colors 1ml each solution during my weekly changes. I myself don't test for potassium but now got me wondering if that was the cause of some brown acros. I do however see some of the browns changing back to its color or greens and blues. I did the triton test recently so I will know for sure what parameters need more attention.

@jeroromouse9699 7 жыл бұрын

another great video! Potassium strontium and iodine should be monitered closely to see small chances in sps blue and red

@Matos007007 4 жыл бұрын

I noticed best results on red and pink dosing potassium.

@bayareareefs8616 7 жыл бұрын

Good info Than I really didn't know to much about it

@garcia7482 3 жыл бұрын

I recently had a triton Icp test done and my potassium levels in my tank were low at 373mg and they recommended dosing for potassium. What do you think

@dmsreeftank242 7 жыл бұрын

I do see a color change I put 2 caps in my 120 every 3 days I use brightwell potassium

@Up-ey6tm 6 жыл бұрын

I used to run ultra low nutrient tanks. Been dosing Red Sea's TRACE COLORS A B C D SUPPLEMENT, and checking figures including Potassium. Never be issues WITHOUT water change.

@csthomas1026 6 жыл бұрын

Than - would love to see a video from you on dinos!

@abh3960 6 жыл бұрын

What is fritz pro level of potasium

@GustavoTokoroRiether 7 жыл бұрын

Is it important to say that macroalgae are a huge consumer of potassium, which may lead to potassium deficiency, reducing the efficiency of a chaeto reactor or macro algae as a nutrient control system. Regards and congrats again on your videos

@TheEColi 6 жыл бұрын

Would macroalgae not have a similar effect on most other macro and trace elements?

@nwyk153 4 жыл бұрын

i have been dosing KZ's K-Balance and notice my blue staghorns gotten more blueish, like neon blue.

@theblindreefer8718 7 жыл бұрын

thanks very interesting I test for potassium every week and my comes in at 390 is that ok

@ldballoon4 6 жыл бұрын

400 ppm is your target -so that number,390, is a warning sign of decline.

@hunter555 7 жыл бұрын

I notice a difference with pink acros mostly

@danielp6629 7 жыл бұрын

I was under the impression that potassium is more noticeable with Red SPS.. never read that it affected blues.. Maybe that's why my blues are so nice =).. It's one of the elements I monitor only monthly along with others that are weekly

@santamonicahelpassistant418 7 жыл бұрын

Any plans for a new algae scrubber here? :) -Paola

@t.regnerus301 7 жыл бұрын

hmm.. algae issues with dosing potassium? Maybe that's been my problem.

@KP-zp3ur 3 жыл бұрын

Actually i do see more blue for my blue digitata. Getting more light blue than brown when i lift potassium from 370ish to 390. And increase my light intensity as well. My red millie that turned brown has tinge of blue. Gosh... Not what i wanted though

@magicstix0r 7 жыл бұрын

Blue is always going to be a difficult color to come across because it's the most efficient wavelength for photosynthesis. This is why there aren't any blue plants; it makes more sense biologically to absorb blue light.