potassium effect??

**budak** · 20th Oct 2002, 01:22

to lazy to do research now, but can anyone briefly explain the role of potassium in plant health? I tried dosing a teaspoon of potassium chloride this morning and in the afternoon, i notice bubbling is much more intense than usual, with even java ferns, mosses and crypts bubbling. Does K act as a catalyst for photosynthesis? Any experience about using K to boost plant growth in order to control algae?

**budak** · 20th Oct 2002, 01:22

to lazy to do research now, but can anyone briefly explain the role of potassium in plant health? I tried dosing a teaspoon of potassium chloride this morning and in the afternoon, i notice bubbling is much more intense than usual, with even java ferns, mosses and crypts bubbling. Does K act as a catalyst for photosynthesis? Any experience about using K to boost plant growth in order to control algae?

**budak** · 20th Oct 2002, 01:22

to lazy to do research now, but can anyone briefly explain the role of potassium in plant health? I tried dosing a teaspoon of potassium chloride this morning and in the afternoon, i notice bubbling is much more intense than usual, with even java ferns, mosses and crypts bubbling. Does K act as a catalyst for photosynthesis? Any experience about using K to boost plant growth in order to control algae?

**budak** · 20th Oct 2002, 01:22

to lazy to do research now, but can anyone briefly explain the role of potassium in plant health? I tried dosing a teaspoon of potassium chloride this morning and in the afternoon, i notice bubbling is much more intense than usual, with even java ferns, mosses and crypts bubbling. Does K act as a catalyst for photosynthesis? Any experience about using K to boost plant growth in order to control algae?

**vinz** · 20th Oct 2002, 01:26

Marcus,

I posted a thread on that a few weeks ago. K, N and Plant Growth. Hope it helps.

Oh, Peter Chua tried it on his tank too. His moss started to bubble.

**budak** · 20th Oct 2002, 01:36

sound like i should start a regular K dosing. But using the lo-Salt KCL, any idea how much and how often to put in?

**vinz** · 20th Oct 2002, 01:48

Dose 20-30ppm once every week. Use Chuck Gadd's Dosage Calculator.

**kingpin** · 20th Oct 2002, 02:08

Use K2SO4 instead of KCL. I dosed my tank too much of KCL(Lo-salt) and next thing I see all the shrimps turned red and died.

**bennyp** · 21st Oct 2002, 00:21

I am not sure if my yamatoes died for the same reasons.
When I added Seachem Potassium Flourish (just 2 ml) in my 2 ft on Sat afternoon, my prawns died the next day.

Is Seachem Potassium a KCL?

**vinz** · 21st Oct 2002, 11:04

Never had problems with my shrimp and Flourish K.

Wild guessing on my part only - K will increase photosynthesis (provided other necessary nutrients and enough light are available), which in turn will increase CO2 uptake by plants, causing a pH swing? How's KH?

**kingpin** · 21st Oct 2002, 15:49

My KH always maintained at 4-5. I have switched to K2SO4 and Seachem K since that incident. Issit because of the Cl(overdose of lo-salt) that the shrimps died?

**eggz** · 22nd Oct 2002, 14:07

Sounds like dosing K is a good idea. Someone posted that Dennerle E15 has K also. Any idea if its in sufficient quantities.

Also, with regard to dosing nitrate, my tank is quite heavily planted, and the NO3 is always close to zero. I think it's coz I don't have a lot of fish.

Do you think it's possible to just have more fish so that there is sufficient Nitrate produced for the plants, and therefore no need to dose extra nitrate. i.e. finding some kind of balance...

eggz

**vinz** · 22nd Oct 2002, 15:06

Another way to look at it, is to reduce N hungry plants... that is if you're willing to live without those beatiful plants.

**wahboy** · 22nd Oct 2002, 22:05

hello everyone,

from my experience,
the effect of K on plant growth is most observable in slow growing plants like moss, java ferns, anubias. with more K they bubble more. their growth is also faster(more observable). my moss grew faster and java fern didn't turn yellow.

whatever the case, keep your K at around 20-30ppm.(estimative index again) plant health will improve.

hope this helps.

Wahboy.

**wks** · 22nd Oct 2002, 23:00

Hi wahboy, what do u use for dosing K?

**PeterGwee** · 22nd Oct 2002, 23:07

I think its K2SO4 powder... [

] ...To me its too far to get though...now just have to keep to JBL...[

]

**bennyp** · 23rd Oct 2002, 17:04

Guys

I bought Seacham Potassium from Petmart, and to my surprise, it is greenish brown instead of transparent.
Some told me the mixture maybe bad. Anyone used Seacham Potassium Flourish?

**AnA** · 23rd Oct 2002, 17:11

----------------
On 10/23/2002 5:04:11 PM

Guys

I bought Seacham Potassium from Petmart, and to my surprise, it is greenish brown instead of transparent.
Some told me the mixture maybe bad. Anyone used Seacham Potassium Flourish?
----------------

I used it before and if I remember correctly, it should be transparent. Anyway, I will confirm once I reach home.

**bclee** · 23rd Oct 2002, 17:12

If I don't remember wrong, it was transparent.

I have quit using Seachem Flourish Potassium. Too expensive. You can buy 1kg of K2SO4 at S$7.60 which can make almost 45 bottles of equivalent solution(4% K).

BC

**AnA** · 23rd Oct 2002, 17:14

----------------
On 10/23/2002 5:12:25 PM

If I don't remember wrong, it was transparent.

I have quit using Seachem Flourish Potassium. Too expensive. You can buy 1kg of K2SO4 at S$7.60 which can make almost 45 bottles of equivalent solution(4% K).

BC
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Sound interesting! BTW, may I know what is K2SO4 and where could I get it? Thanks.

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