There is a new test kit out by Red Sea that is reasonably priced that tests Iodine, Potassium and Iron. It was at That Fish Place for $54.00 but if you buy it mid week you can get it for 30% off. They talk about these elements being responsible for coloration in SPS. They have a booklet that goes into detail for each element and has ranges for healthy levels for each. I was supprised that they suggest having your DKH at 12.6 if you have SPS frags and are growing them out and 8.2 if you have established colonies. What if you have both. They have launched a new line of CA, MG and many other products with this test kit. Looks very interesting.
Thanks Mike. That makes one more test kit for Potassium. they have been hard to find. Fauna Marine, Elos and Koralin Zucht had been the only ones with a kit before. and they are hard to find. DPA has a KZ kit on order, but their supplier hasnt stocked them yet. maybe he can get this one for me instead. After i found out my old salt mix is low in potassium i started dosing KCl, but guestimating how much. i really should get a test kit as its not good to over do it. Dosing potassium has been popular with ULN (Ultra Low Nutirent ) reefers since corals take it up as well as the bacteria from carbon dosing, skimming and macro. it helps SPS grow and improves some colors , like blue.
I also occasionally dose a little bit of borate, but i do have a test kit for that. its part of the Seachem Mg/Ba/carbonate test kit. Borate is only required in very low ppm, but does provide a powerful buffer effect. some sea salt mixes , like Seachem have a little higher borate concentration to imporve their buffer system.
I use salifert Strontium test kit i got at TFP few month ago. I was very surprised that with my WC schedule using tropic marin reef salt, strontium was very low, 0-3 mg/l(ppm), I got it up to 10mg/l and it seems to require me to add some weekly. One of the benefits i discovered using salifert strontium kit is it’s incorporates cal test as part of measuring strontium. 2 tests in one kit, i like it.
Thanks Mike, i will be up there in less than 2 weeks for the frag swap. No big hurry for me. Ive been dosing Kalium without a kit for a couple months now. only change is better colors and growth. Havent decide what kit to try. i might have to get one for strontium too Rosti, i do add it weekly again. about a heaping teaspoon of strontium chloride salt per week. i might need a Mg kit too. my old one is almost gone. It seems like a couple of the companies have been upgrading their test kits resently. a little easier to judge the color changes.