Potassium Dosing: Should I?

mattrmiller · 09-06-2003, 08:41 PM

OK, I have algae problems. I have narrowed it down to high phosphates. I have phos-zorb in my filter, and it has only slowed it but not enough. I am thinking about dosing potassium, because I heard that it will make my plants use up phosphates faster.

What should I do?

Wasserpest · 09-07-2003, 02:06 AM

I would... it's balance that you want to achieve. So if you have high PO4 but no K, IMO thats worse than having high PO4 and sufficient levels of other macros.

A level of 20 ppm is recommended, and you can figure out how much K2SO4 or KCl you need to add with Chuck's calculator http://www.csd.net/~cgadd/aqua/art_p...osage_calc.htm

If you are concerned with overdosing, just half the amounts. A little less than optimum is still much better than zero.

mattrmiller · 09-07-2003, 05:01 AM

Thank you for your wonderful input. How do you recommend dosing potassium? What do you use. I have also read that CO2 will help stimulate plant growth. I notice you have a DIY CO2 setup. How did you achieve this? Sorry for all of the questions, but I really appreciate your knowledge.

m.lemay · 09-07-2003, 07:58 PM

The answer to pottasium dosing is almost always yes. If you're not dosing pottasium there's probably none in your tank. Unlike other nutrients like N and P, potassium doesn't get introduced from food or fish sources.

Marcel

Wasserpest · 09-08-2003, 04:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mattrmiller

How do you recommend dosing potassium? What do you use. I have also read that CO2 will help stimulate plant growth. I notice you have a DIY CO2 setup. How did you achieve this? Sorry for all of the questions, but I really appreciate your knowledge.

Personally I dose 1 tsp of K2SO4 with every weekly 15% water change. But... as it has been said before, what works for one might not work for another, and I might change what I am doing next week

just need to add this disclaimer to not get slapped around too hard.

I got the K2SO4 from someone mixing fertilizers, but do a search on this board to get some other possible sources.

Regarding my CO2, I am using two three liter soda bottles, and dissolving 100% of it leads to good CO2 levels (tapwater ph=7.6, tank water 7.0). Here is a good reference for DIY setups: http://www.corydorasworld.com/jlv.htm

Saluki · 09-08-2003, 06:39 PM

One source of potasium is potasium chloride. This can easily be obtained from the grocery store as "No Salt" brand salt substitute.

09-07-2003, 02:06 AM	#2
Wasserpest Are these real? (View User Tanks) PTrader: (140/100%) Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Monterey, CA Posts: 14,643	I would... it's balance that you want to achieve. So if you have high PO4 but no K, IMO thats worse than having high PO4 and sufficient levels of other macros. A level of 20 ppm is recommended, and you can figure out how much K2SO4 or KCl you need to add with Chuck's calculator http://www.csd.net/~cgadd/aqua/art_p...osage_calc.htm If you are concerned with overdosing, just half the amounts. A little less than optimum is still much better than zero. __________________ All my tanks Autodosing Water Change Temperature Monitoring Cheap Filter The Wasser-Controller

09-07-2003, 07:58 PM	#4
m.lemay Planted Tank Guru (View User Tanks) PTrader: (9/100%) Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Naugatuck, CT. Posts: 2,647	The answer to pottasium dosing is almost always yes. If you're not dosing pottasium there's probably none in your tank. Unlike other nutrients like N and P, potassium doesn't get introduced from food or fish sources. Marcel __________________ FILSTAR Pimp #2 75 gal heavily planted,50/50 Black beauty,Eco-complete substrate, Pressurised CO2 with solenoid, ph controller, AB Reactor 1000, 330 watts 9325K GE PC lighting,Ehiem Liquidoser, 2-Filstar xp3 canisters.

Thread Tools
Show Printable Version Email this Page
Display Modes
Linear Mode Switch to Hybrid Mode Switch to Threaded Mode

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
Dosing Potassium	TeeItUp	Fertilizers and Water Parameters	1	05-17-2004 04:53 PM
Misc Dosing questions	TeeItUp	Fertilizers and Water Parameters	5	04-27-2004 02:22 AM
POTASSIUM DOSING??	scuba415	General Planted Tank Discussion	9	03-23-2004 11:47 AM
Nutrient Dosing	DLeDeaux	Fertilizers and Water Parameters	9	11-13-2003 06:46 PM
Started dosing potassium	Rickster	Fertilizers and Water Parameters	1	04-03-2003 03:25 PM

09-06-2003, 08:41 PM	#1
mattrmiller Planted Member (View User Tanks) PTrader: (0/0%) Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: Indianapolis, IN Posts: 152	OK, I have algae problems. I have narrowed it down to high phosphates. I have phos-zorb in my filter, and it has only slowed it but not enough. I am thinking about dosing potassium, because I heard that it will make my plants use up phosphates faster. What should I do?

09-07-2003, 05:01 AM	#3
mattrmiller Planted Member (View User Tanks) PTrader: (0/0%) Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: Indianapolis, IN Posts: 152	Thank you for your wonderful input. How do you recommend dosing potassium? What do you use. I have also read that CO2 will help stimulate plant growth. I notice you have a DIY CO2 setup. How did you achieve this? Sorry for all of the questions, but I really appreciate your knowledge.

09-08-2003, 06:39 PM	#6
Saluki Algae Grower (View User Tanks) PTrader: (0/0%) Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Springfield, Illinois, USA Posts: 70	One source of potasium is potasium chloride. This can easily be obtained from the grocery store as "No Salt" brand salt substitute.