Can anyone tell me what the difference or disadvantage of using these tablets as opposed to some of the pricey bottled potassium aquarium products?

[Bamf Comics]

$3 a bottle, 5 cent per tablet, cheaper if I bought the bigger size bottles. I just dropped one into 3 different tubs to see what happens with the plants.

 

[Colin_T]

Why do you want to add potassium to an aquarium?

What type of potassium are the tablets (chloride, sulphate, something else)?

 

[Bamf Comics]

Potassium is something that plants need and can perk them up, increase growth and greenness. It's really good at helping java fern and such get rid of those brown spots on the leaves. I used to use a bottled version back in the 90's. https://www.seachem.com/flourish-potassium.php

Flourish Potassium™ contains 50,000 mg/L of potassium suitable for the natural planted aquarium. Potassium is one of several elements that are vitally important to maintaining a vigorous level of growth in a planted aquarium. Potassium can become depleted in a rapidly growing system or when the source water has a low mineral content. In these cases potassium could become the limiting factor to growth. Use Flourish Potassium™ to prevent potassium depletion (signs of which include yellowing in older leaves) and maintain the highest level of growth.

The most easily obtained sources of potassium are potassium nitrate and potassium phosphate. Both of these sources add to either nitrogen or phosphorus as well as potassium, making it virtually impossible to target a specific NPK ratio. Flourish Potassium™ is derived from potassium sulfate, allowing the user to adjust potassium levels without affecting nitrogen or phosphorus.

I went shopping this morning for "No Salt" at the dollar store which is a potassium chloride sodium alternative. As expected, they didn't stock it or any alternatives for people on low sodium diets so this was plan B to check out their vitamin department. Potassium Gluconate. Stupid cheap and no mess easy to count tablets. I'm not wanting it bad enough to buy a 40 pound bag of Potassium Chloride at this stage like they sell for water softeners.

 

[TwoTankAmin]

Here are the ingredients in those Caplets: The ingredients in Rexall Potassium 99 mg include: The ingredients in Rexall Potassium 99 mg include: AI Overview Learn more…

The ingredients in Rexall Potassium 99 mg include:

• Potassium (as potassium citrate and potassium amino acid chelate)
• Cellulose
• Stearic acid
• Cellulose and glycerin coating
• Silica
• Magnesium stearate
• Vegetable glaze

Potassium supplements are available in many forms, including potassium chloride, citrate, phosphate, aspartate, bicarbonate, and gluconate. Potassium chloride and potassium citrate are available over-the-counter and by prescription, while potassium bicarbonate is only available by prescription, and potassium gluconate is only available over-the-counter.

from Potassium Supplement

I have aways used Potassium nitrate as the plants will also use the nitrate. As an alternative to using crushed coral/limestone/etc. for raising KH, I am currently investigating Potassium carbonate/bicarbonate. These are supposed to work faster (and hopefully better) than the other options. But ia am interested more in the carbonate or bicarbonate ingredients.

 

[Bamf Comics]

All those other ingredients combined are less than 2% per 99mg of potassium and sound harmless. It's labelled and inspected for human consumption so I have less concern for them than most hot dogs I get. When I added them to the tank they quickly broke down into a white powder like leftover which we'll see how long it takes to disappear. The tubs have low air supply sponge filters so there's very little current. I may DIY some CO2 later on and I'm using them for guppy breeding/raising so I don't want anything more powerful to suck up babies.

Chicken nuggets worry me as well for inclusions. I had a batch that would spark and smoke in the microwave from what I assume was metal fragments somewhere in the processing getting into the coating.

 

[fishorama]

Most everyone in my plant club uses powdered forms of ferts if you want to go cheap. I'll have to look up what potassium they use, I have some, somewhere...Maybe tomorrow...Likely 2tank has it right

 

[Colin_T]

Normally you use potassium to encourage terrestrial plants to produce more fruits and flowers. Most aquatic plants don't flower and don't really need potassium.

 

[GaryE]

Calling all chemists....

In the past, dealing with a very persistent Cyanobacterial bloom in clean tanks, I was able to 'defeat' the problem with doses of Potassium Nitrate. Buying that has become a problem here, as it was used by right wing terrorists in the US in bomb making, and getting even miniscule quantities of it is a bit of a process.

As a complete non chemist with zero training, I tend to err on the side of caution when putting things in tanks. Is 'saltpeter' or Potassium nitrate found in vitamin supplements in amounts that could help with Cyano, and if so, given that brands differ across the world, what would I look for?

If this is an off base, half baked idea, I'd rather know it. This thread got me thinking and digging.

 

[Colin_T]

In the past, dealing with a very persistent Cyanobacterial bloom in clean tanks, I was able to 'defeat' the problem with doses of Potassium Nitrate. Buying that has become a problem here, as it was used by right wing terrorists in the US in bomb making, and getting even miniscule quantities of it is a bit of a process.

Be careful googling potassium nitrate too. You might get a visit from the authorities.

 

[GaryE]

Looking for a couple of grams here means submitting photo ID to the seller so they can pass it on to the police if questions are asked. It isn't worth it. I'll deal with the cyanoboys in blue green, but prefer to avoid the boys in blue.

But if there is something that works the same in commercial vitamins (not as fertilizer) I am surrounded by legit vitamin sellers and naturopath shamans and lab coat wearers. I'll buy their stuff, for fish.

 

[Bamf Comics]

Most aquatic plants don't flower and don't really need potassium.

I remember having good results adding the Flourish one in the 90's compared to what I was getting without using it but as always, seeing is believing which is why i went ahead and tried a tablet in 3 different tubs yesterday to see what happens. I also appear to be lacking nitrate in at least one of the tubs but I addressed that in a different thread. It also reminds me of those people with live plants panicking due to ammonia or nitrite level threads. For at least short periods of time, just leaving the lights on 24/7 until you get the ammonia or nitrite back under control seems like a sensible easy choice. Apparently long term it'll take all your nitrate away as well so.............