Help How To Dose K2SO4 in 10g tank

[Django]

Hi. I just got some dry K2SO4 powder to treat a Potassium deficiency in some of my plants. I read the sticky but got a little confused with the numbers.

I can use a 1-liter soda bottle to mix the Potassium with distilled water (or if you know something better...) I'm just not sure about the rest of the nummbers for my 10g.

I've got roughly 2-3" substrate and 1/2" down surface down from plastic edge.

Thanks lots for the help.

[aznartist34]

Dose however much of the mixture to get to 10-20 ppm of potassium in your 10 gallons of water

[wkndracer]

K2SO4 mixes really well so I dose that one dry.
I believe recommended is a level of about 15ppm.
My 10g fry tank hold about 8.5g when filled to 1/2" from the top bare bottom so I'm guessing with that much substrate the water column is only maybe six or seven gallons.

HTH

[Kudaria]

What test kit to you guys use to check the level of potassium in your tanks?

[Darkblade48]

Originally Posted by Kudaria

What test kit to you guys use to check the level of potassium in your tanks?

I have not found any good (reliable) potassium kits that are cheap. There are some expensive ones out there, but you probably don't want to spend the money.

As long as you are noticing potassium deficiencies, keep up with your dosing; I have not read of any ill effects with heavy potassium overdoses, and I believe Tom Barr has tested concentrations above 100 ppm.

[Zorfox]

To reach a target of 10ppm (on 7 gallons) you add 590mg to the water. One teaspoon of K2SO4 is 6400mg. To mix 250ml solution and use a 5ml dose we need to multiply 50 (doses in 250ml) x 590mg (dose to reach 10ppm) = 29,500mg. How many teaspoons? Divide 6400 into 29,500 = 4.6 teaspoons. Add that into 250ml of water and use 5ml per dose.

I use the API phosphate kit. Seems to work fine.

[Darkblade48]

Originally Posted by Kudaria

What test kit to you guys use to check the level of potassium in your tanks?

Originally Posted by Zorfox

I use the API phosphate kit. Seems to work fine.

[Zorfox]

Originally Posted by Darkblade48

Whoops, Potasium, got it.

Potasium... Phosphate they all look the same

[Django]

Thank you for the help.

[Django]

Ok, I put together the 250 mL. distilled water (thought I should try to do things right) and 14 1/2 tsp. Potassium Sulfate in a measuring cup. I made the dose 15 ppm - came out to 7 teaspoons and I only had a half-teaspoon measuring spoon.<br />
<br />
885&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;590 + 590/2&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<br />
44250&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;885*50&nbsp;&nbsp;&nb sp;&nbsp;<br />
6.91&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;7 tsp. K2SO4&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<br />
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Dose: 5ml (1tsp)&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<br />
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;15 ppm potassium&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<br />
<br />
I put 2.5 ml. in the tank tonight. The fish didn't like it so much. I'm a little surprised because there is still some K2SO4 not dissolved. I put it in the refrigerator.<br />
<br />
Steve

[Darkblade48]

Originally Posted by Django

Ok, I put together the 250 mL. distilled water (thought I should try to do things right) and 14 1/2 tsp. Potassium Sulfate in a measuring cup. I made the dose 15 ppm - came out to 7 teaspoons and I only had a half-teaspoon measuring spoon.

I put 2.5 ml. in the tank tonight. The fish didn't like it so much. I'm a little surprised because there is still some K2SO4 not dissolved. I put it in the refrigerator.

Just a note; you may want to fix your code for your post.

As for your observation, you seem to be trying to dissolve a lot of solute into a small amount of water; that may explain why you are not achieving full solubilization.

You can try using more water (or less solute), and simply dose more volume (i.e. 5 mL or 10 mL instead of 2.5 mL) to achieve the same final result.