Why you should be aware of Potassium in your reef tank 223 5

Reef tank 7 years ago 9,054 views

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.

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Dancin' Polyps - 6 years ago

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)

Aqua Cyber - 6 years ago

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.

Alex Kingcole - 7 years ago

Excellent explanation, Than. Well Done.

IronChefItaly - 7 years ago

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.

Don Lidtke - 7 years ago

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

Al Ulrich - 7 years ago

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

jerrimy seavers - 7 years ago

Seachem came out with a salt called vibrant sea and has higher then average potassium in the mix and claims improved colors

ReefDudes - 7 years ago

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.

Rosco's Reef with Scott - 7 years ago

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

10. comment for Why you should be aware of Potassium in your reef tank

Tha Bizness Reef Tank - 7 years ago

Im going to start looking into Potassium. Good video!

Gustavo Tokoro Riether - 7 years ago

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

Steven Hussey - 6 years ago

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

Michael Marks - 7 years ago

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

SantaMonicaHelp Assistant - 7 years ago

Any plans for a new algae scrubber here? :)

-Paola

Dave Green - 7 years ago

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

Alex Kingcole - 7 years ago

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

Bay Area Reefs - 7 years ago

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

Ted R. - 7 years ago

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

reyji deguzman - 7 years ago

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.

Daniel P - 7 years ago

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

Matthew Pinkston - 7 years ago

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

20. comment for Why you should be aware of Potassium in your reef tank

Mark Andrews - 7 years ago

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

Jeroro Mouse - 7 years ago

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

Deon 0026 - 7 years ago

Keep doing these helpful videos

Ellery Wong - 7 years ago

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.

#Rossy's Reeftank - 7 years ago

Hi Than!! I named all my Tangs after you! Meet Tomini Thein, Yellow Thein, and Naso Thein!!!! ;) bye kyootie

magicstix0r - 7 years ago

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.

Hunter Wall - 7 years ago

I notice a difference with pink acros mostly

Miguel Pires - 7 years ago

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

RealWorldReefing - 7 years ago

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

Steven Hussey - 6 years ago

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

akhilennium - 7 years ago

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

30. comment for Why you should be aware of Potassium in your reef tank

DM’s Reef Tank - 7 years ago

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

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