KCL Vs K2So4

[sandeepraghuvanshi]

Most of us use K2SO4(Potassium Suplhate) along with Kno3 & KH2PO4 for macro dosing.
Till now I am using separate stock solution for all three.
Now I am thinking to making a single solution of all three macros in a single solution, it will simply make dosing easier.
I want to use KCL in place of K2so4, because of following reasons;

Higher percentage of K : K2so4 has 44.87% of K whereas KCL has 68.81% of K, so for a lower amount of salt I will get higher % of K.

Solubility: K2so4 has a solubility of 120 gm /lit, in practice I find it hard to dissolve even 90 gms of K2so4, on the other hand KCl has a much higher solubility around 360 gm/lit, so I can make a much concentrated solution.
To sum up If I dissolve 50gm of K2so4 in 500 ml of water one solution and 50 gm KCl in another and dose 25 of the stock solutions in my 45 g tank.
First one will raise ppm by 6.5 while KCl will rise it by 10 ppm, that is a diff of 54%.

There are at some commercial brand which are using KCl for K fertilization.
Flourish (Comprehensive) by Seachem both use KCL.
It is further interesting that Seachem uses K2so4 for Flourish Potassium but use KCL in Flourish.

Has anyone here used KCL instead of K2so4, any experiences, downfalls etc. before I switch to KCL.

 

[Yo-han]

Have been looking into this a while back myself. First of all, Brighty K uses KCO3 as far as I know. With the hard water I already have I can't use pure KCO3 because it would raise my KH even more. The reason I considered KCl above K2SO4 is mainly solubility (making more concentrated solutions) and I'm adding a lot of SO4 already with Mg and also my tracemix does contain SO4. In the end, I mixed the three of them and it feels like a good compromise (not the easiest). KCl is more expensive here than K2SO4...

 

[sandeepraghuvanshi]

Have been looking into this a while back myself. First of all, Brighty K uses KCO3 as far as I know.

Thanks for correction.
I will check for cost aspect.

 

[Biollante]

2K or not 2K That Is...

Hi,

I really do not know what they use in Brighty K; I do not think that KCO[SUB]3[/SUB]will hold together.

My guess is if a carbonate, it is potassium carbonate K[SUB]2[/SUB]CO[SUB]3[/SUB], 56.58% K[SUP]+[/SUP].

My 2₵ worth.

Biollante

 

[Yo-han]

To put it in sandeepraghuvanshi's words: Thanks for the correction!

 

[Yo-han]

A little correction of myself, I don't think K2CO3 is used in brighty K, but KHCO3. (At least, that is what I use.) I know brighty K contains carbonate, so I wrote that down in a not very awake state. But K2CO3 is highly alkaline and would bring pH up dangerous. KHCO3 would be more safe so I think brighty K contains that as well...

 

[Tom Barr]

KHCO3 is used. Adds KH and K+.

 

[sandeepraghuvanshi]

Err....., I think we went off to a tangent.
I actually wanted to know if KCL is okay for k, I am not really interested in what ADA is using in Brighty K.
And if KCL is Ok, then why does everybody uses K2so4, ad KCl has higher percentage of K and is more soluble in water.

 

[Biollante]

You Call This Off On A Tangent? At Least We Are Still Talking K

Hi,

KCl is just fine, you get about 52.4% K[SUP]+[/SUP] and 48.6% Cl[SUP]-[/SUP], it is a touch controversial,:eek-new: but I think 40-ppm or so of chloride is a good thing.

Biollante

 

[Biollante]

2-part Questions Cause Tangents, This Is the Type That Cause Full Blown Hijacks

Err....., I think we went off to a tangent.
I actually wanted to know if KCL is okay for k, I am not really interested in what ADA is using in Brighty K.
And if KCL is Ok, then why does everybody uses K2so4, ad KCl has higher percentage of K and is more soluble in water.

Hi,

It is the second part of these questions that cause the tangents.:gw Heck European wars have started over less.:eek-new:

I suspect tradition has a lot to do with the K[SUB]2[/SUB]SO[SUB]4[/SUB], it is generally cheaper, technically we need sulfur, though I think we usually get plenty via other means.

I think some folks are scared to death by the Cl part, some do not know the difference between chloride and Chlorine. It may surprise you how many folks just plain go off their nut when anyone mentions dosing chloride.:highly_amused:

Biollante

 

[sandeepraghuvanshi]

Hi,

KCl is just fine, you get about 52.4% K[SUP]+[/SUP] and 48.6% Cl[SUP]-[/SUP], it is a touch controversial,:eek-new: but I think 40-ppm or so of chloride is a good thing.

Biollante

Thanks, will think about using it in future when my bottle of k2so4 gets empty.
I called this tangent because the discussion was veering off towards ADA, and a discussion on ADA takes a tricky direction on any forum.

 

[Yo-han]

Sorry, my bad! But like I already said: K2SO4 is cheaper! But nonetheless, I prefer my KHCO3 K2SO4 and KCl mix (1:1:1) it works for me:
[attachment=1154:name]

But this is probably only for my own comfort and either of them used alone would probably be just as good...

 

[sandeepraghuvanshi]

Sorry, my bad! But like I already said: K2SO4 is cheaper! But nonetheless, I prefer my KHCO3 K2SO4 and KCl mix (1:1:1) it works for me:
View attachment 3334

But this is probably only for my own comfort and either of them used alone would probably be just as good...

Thanks, can you tell what ppm are you dosing in your tanks

 

[fplata]

This is great info, so where can i purchase KCI? i believe that is what is used in brightly k

 

[Biollante]

Lethal Soft Water Injections, Anyone?

This is great info, so where can i purchase KCI? i believe that is what is used in brightly k

Hi,

Potassium chloride, KCl is available at most grocery, hardware and big box stores that sell water softener salts.

It is also available online.

Any state that offers the death penalty via lethal injection probably has some on hand.:eek-new:

I think Tom Barr in post #7 said that Brighty K is KHCO[SUB]3[/SUB]; apparently, they are not trying to execute the fish.:highly_amused:

Biollante

 

[Crispino Ramos]

The disadvantage of using KCl is that the Chloride binds with Calcium forming Calcium Chloride salt. Calcium is present in micros like CSM+B and Seachem Flourish Comprehensive.

 

[Tom Barr]

The disadvantage of using KCl is that the Chloride binds with Calcium forming Calcium Chloride salt. Calcium is present in micros like CSM+B and Seachem Flourish Comprehensive.

Put CaCl2 into water, does it reform into the salt or does it complete disassociate?
You can also try it with Ca(NO3)2 and KCL.

You will not get CaCl2 precipitation.

KCL, CaCl2 and Ca(NO3) 2 are "extremely" soluble.

If you added say K3PO4(aq) and CaCl2(aq)........then you can get (Ca)3(PO4)2(s) and KCL(aq).

You can try this yourself and see.
CaCl2 is very soluble, not as soluble as say KCl, but it will dissolve very easily.

 

[Crispino Ramos]

I have observed that when calcium chloride forms, it coalesce on the glass and becomes a medium for algae to grow. If I don't scrape them fast enough, it forms like a hard plaque on the glass and a little harder to scrape off.

 

[Biollante]

Should Completely Disassociate...

Hi,

The only chloride, Cl[SUP]-[/SUP] that is not soluble is silver chloride, AgCl.:gw

Anything less than 74-grams of Calcium chloride per 100-grams of water should completely disassociate at 20°C.

Potassium chloride is less soluble than Calcium chloride, but still very soluble at 34-grams per 100-grams of water at 20°C.


You would need to be adding a lot of phosphate and Calcium chloride to get noticeable amounts of Calcium phosphate from the double replacement reaction.

Calcium phosphate tends to form small rocks as opposed to a scale or film, unless evaporated.


Biollante