my experience with KCL

[CamelMD]

So for the past few months I've been battling low KCL levels, under 300 and at one point around 179. I have been sending water samples twice a month to AWT and the highest its been is 289. I thought my levels were okay using sailfert and red sea kcl tests ( greater than 350) . There have been numerous threads on RC about the inaccuracy of AWT testing but I think there current testing method is sound. I dont trust the test kits I've been using so far.

Why test KCL? There seems to be a lot debate about it and most say water changes can make up for it but I'm convinced that 1. its important and 2. that dosing it can help reach natural sea water levels of 400ppm. I've noticed better growth and less burnt tips while dosing it. I mean there are a lot of variables that could be helping too but I'm sure keeping my levels of KCL up is one of them.

I'm currently using NOW brank KCL from iherb.com, its fairly cheap, at $4.50 a bottle and 7.2 grams of can raise 100gallons around 10ppm. I'm going to be sending more frequent samples to AWT over the next few weeks to make sure I'm getting my levels raised and also to see what I'm using up. Steve garret suggested that I shouldn't worry so much about overshooting and that he keeps is KCL around 500 but I'll take it slow and post my results.

Please let me know if anyone has experience with dosing and testing KCL.

thanks

 

[SchnitzelReef]

I never measure. Just dump some in once or twice a week.


Hot Dogs are GOOD!

 

[AddictedtoSalt]

Ok either I'm just tired or confused, or both, but what is KCL?

 

[mark.a.smith405]

Potassium?


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[SchnitzelReef]

I think it's Potassium...Steve Garret is all about potassium. Or so I've heard


Hot Dogs are GOOD!

 

[pgr11]

Yes kcl is potassium

 

[jn92683]

Stick a banana in your sump

 

[lowbudget]

do you do frequent water changes?

 

[CamelMD]

potassium chloride , most common way to dose it. I change 50g every 2 weeks.

 

[SchnitzelReef]

potassium chloride , most common way to dose it. I change 50g every 2 weeks.

Jesus. 50g every two weeks. That's cray.

U have a simple way to do water changes? Or wait, do u have a maintenance company?


Hot Dogs are GOOD!

 

[CamelMD]

Really? 50 gallons for 600 gallons of water volume doesnt seem like a lot. I've got a water change system, takes me less than 10 minutes to do the change.

 

[SchnitzelReef]

Really? 50 gallons for 600 gallons of water volume doesnt seem like a lot. I've got a water change system, takes me less than 10 minutes to do the change.

600g is HUGE. Didn't know u had such a big system. Thought u had like a 300g tank.

Let's see pics of ur water change system. I'm building one right now for my new tank. I'll be doing smaller water changes, only like 20g at a time.


Hot Dogs are GOOD!

 

[OCReefMadness]

Check out my thread about the Klor-Con.

http://www.socalireefs.com/forums/showthread.php?51406-Potassium-Supplement-Dosing&highlight=

 

[lowbudget]

I think the doc likes to operate so I think he does his own. 50 gallon every two weeks is normal for a tank his size. That's how I use to do it

Jesus. 50g every two weeks. That's cray.

U have a simple way to do water changes? Or wait, do u have a maintenance company?

Doc. Do you test the new water potassium?
Hot Dogs are GOOD!

 

[CamelMD]

I had service for the tank at my clinic but with this new one I wanted something easy that I could maintain myself. I have two large sumps outside so it much easier. Nothing really complicated just a gate valve that come off the return, I just open it and it dumps in a large storage container thats fills up to 100 gallons. then I just turn a separate pump on from a 50 gallon brute can and it flows right into the sump. the only thing i do is shut the ato off.

I want to get down to doing less water changes. it started as once a month but I've increased it to two to bump the potassium up. I wish I there was a Dolomite type material for added potassium that I could put in the ca reactor. I've been using zeomag and thats been great for added mag and ALK

I haven't tested newly made water, I suppose I should but...

 

[OCReefMadness]

You can dose it daily with the dosing pump...you know where to get one. Lol

 

[OCReefMadness]

I have a lot of Aspartic Acid powder if you want some.

 

[lowbudget]

If the new made water is less then your tank it will bring it down with 50 gallons twice a month

 

[CamelMD]

thats a good point. I just assumed it would be higher but assumption is the mother of all f-ups .

I'll test

 

[CamelMD]

Tony, what affects have u noted using aspartic acid? why not just amino groups. I still have that libra doser sitting. I need to use that haha