Neptune Aquatics

Does anyone test for Potassium?

My understanding is the current kits we have are unreliable, what brand did you purchase?

AFA dosing, and testing, I use 50% SeaChem reef, which is loaded with potassium, so I assume I'm doing OK :D
 
I used the KZ test for a while before I passed it along. I found it to be quite difficult to use, at best. While I don't really follow K levels, I do send my water into aquarium water testing every few months, and use their results to track my K levels and double check my home test kits. Like Jeremy said, you could just use a Seachem reef, and not have to worry about the K level. My levels run between 375 and 425.
 
There is a HUGE reason why Merk, Hanna, etc do not offer a potassium test kit for saltwater. If the real science bound companies don't offer it and only hobby companies do...that should raise a giant red flag folks :D
 
Maybe those companies focus on the needs of sciences other than reefkeeping in which potassium levels are not important. But I agree some tests out there are totally bogus.
 
????? Science needs all stuff tested, FAR more the us hobbyists. We (RMi) have to send our water out to be tested for potassium via a very expensive testing facility. We'd kill for a real potas test kit as would many other people in our situation. Water districts have to do the same which is VERY costly. They'd kill for a cheaper alternative as well.

The reason they haven't is the methods applied by "hobby" companies are inaccurate and non reliable.
 
Hanna does make one for soil: http://www.professionalequipment.com/hanna-agriculture-soil-test-hi-3896/soil-sampling/

Just because they don't make one doesn't mean a method does not exist. Most of Hanna's stuff are designed for non saltwater application. Not very many people care to test for potassium in saltwater to begin with so even if the method did exist it would become a question of whether it was profitable to produce test kits.

Inaccurate and non reliable are relative terms. I'm not saying this test kit is worth anything but the required degree of accuracy from different applications vary. Maybe the accuracy is only +/- 20ppm which may be good enough for a hobbyist's use. Even with that type of measurement noise, one can see if their tank is extremely deficient or excessive in potassium concentration. However this resolution may not be sufficient for your uses Gresham, in which case you would have to rely on more expensive techniques.

Out of curiousity how much does it cost to send it out? What type of accuracy? Do you know what type of method?

I'm not sure about KZ's kit so that's why I asked.
 
Soil testing helps me how? :D

I can't post anything about our process's including our testing protocols. What I could post I did :) I can tell you we spend tens of thousands a year on testing.

Hanna isn't really that widely used amongst the scientists I know. they say it's like Cole Palmer, IE. they don't make anything themselves (just re brand others). We mainly use Merck and the likes as do many of the people we work with. We use the Hanna PO4 as it's cheap, we get it at cost and we go thru those machines quite often (disposable).
 
The soil testing may not be applicable but the method may be similar to one that can be developed for saltwater. I'm no chemist so I wouldn't know but whatever they're using it seems affordable.
 
[quote author=sfsuphysics link=topic=4167.msg49989#msg49989 date=1217014358]
They can test for potassium in blood can't they? :D

[/quote]

Yup using very similar methods as the facility we have to use employees :D
 
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