Potassium

A

Aquafreak

Aquarist
Dec 11, 2002
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Sydney Australia
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I add Seachem Equilibrium after each water change, should I bother at all with Flourish Potassium? I do not and cannot obtain a potassium test kit. Are there signs I should look for in the plants? How do I know if I need to add extra and how much, it's a 33 gal tank with 3 30watt flourescent tubes. The plants do not pearl at all, my co2 is at about 20ppm, I add Duple Plant 24 daily.

Thank you for your attention
 
If it ain't broke, don't fix it. Are you happy with your plant growth and tank in general? If so, why mess with it?
There are K test kits out there, but they are difficult to use and not really very necessary as it is difficult to over-dose on Potassium.
Len
 
I guess I want some pearling action, don't know whats missing tho. But am happy with the plant growth so far, wondering if something is missing because I'm getting some green algae on the glass.
 
Ok, that's a different story. With 3watts/gal. it may not be broke, but it's on it's way.
Not sure what's in 'Duple Plant', but you need to read, in our archives, about balancing your tank by using ALL the nutrients the plants need. N,K,P, and Traces.
I suggest you go to the upper right of the page and click on "search". Type in nutrients and/or fertilization. Read everything that is written by Plantbrain(Tom Barr). You will find what he says becomes very repeditive because the answer to balancing your tank is very simple. And his recipe for growing plants and fighting algae work.
Your CO2 could be just a tad higher....your lighting is excellent. All you need are a few other items and you're good to go.
Len
 
I have actually read quite a few articles that you've mentioned and also posts that was on this forum about balancing nutrients, I've checked most of my nutrient levels, and most seems to be in check except phosphate, and potassium, potassium I do not have a test for, but phosphate I have not been dosing that and the tests keeps coming up zero, deciding now whether I should buy flourish potassium and phosphate. For phosphate I would be able to handle, but potassium I'd be working in the dark without a test kit.
 
Few, if anyone uses a K+ test kit FWIW.
I used one a few years ago.

Not much use except for a ball park figure.

Do regular water changes and dose with K2SO4 for K. Or you can use the KCL based SeaChem solution.

Regards,
Tom Barr
 
You don't need to test for K. It's very hard to over dose K.
My Hagen's PO4 test kit works fine for me. Keeps me in the area. And I do believe in regular testing for PO4 as well as nitrates which many of us dose regularly.
I use Equilibrium........is that enough?
Click to expand...
Enough what?
Len
 
If your water is deficient in mineral, use Equilibrium. If you want K, dose K2SO4 or KCl.
Flourish Potassium can be used, but it's more expensive to dose SeaChem products. For example, you can pick up KCl at the supermarket by buying NuSalt(salt substitute's aisle) dirt cheap.
Fleet Enema, at your pharmacy for phosphates. $1.50 will buy the average aquarist 4 - 6 months worth of PO4.
Len
 
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