[APD] RE: K+ at high or low Ca values

["Thomas Barr" <tcbiii at earthlink_net>]

 >I really  believe your method is the simpliest way to avoid problems, but
>that not explain why when K is high, in  a lot of tanks  have more or les
>the same simptoms. Next time when I will have distorted grow, I will try to
>cure it not reducing my K dose as I normally do. Next I will ad more Ca. If
>is a solution ¿What will be a explanation if K doesnt interfere Ca uptake?
>Sorry but my English is not good enogh to explain my thoughts :(

I'm not sure what the explaination will be because I do not have that
__problem__ in any of my observations, nor did anyone till about 2 years
ago.
We were adding lots of K+ liberally for a number of years, distorted new
growth never appeared in my tanks or those that I took care of.
No one really mentioned anything except K+ could do no wrong.

One guy came in and claimed high K+ caused algae, something like more than
2-5ppm or so. Shawn Prescott I believe, but few had any issues and many of
the folks on the list that played around with the K+  where excellent
growers, not newbies. 

In order for me or anyone to figure the problem out, you need to be able to
reproduce it based on your measurements.
I'm sorry but that has not occured with myself.

I do KNOW the K+ levels I am adding, I KNOW the source water composition, I
KNOW I have some of the problem plants(Ammannia, Nesaea, Eustralis,
swords), I KNOW I have done this routine for a long time, I KNOW I can get
Amano quality plants without lowering the K+, using Eco complete/fertiplant
or whatever.

So like PO4 must cause algae like so many folks said prior, if high K+
causes this how come I do not have this problem. 

That way since I know what I am adding, and it's not occuring, I have a
much stronger arguement for saying it's not K+.
A whole host of things could cause the what you see as Ca++ deficiency, not
just one obvious thing. 

Many have claimed/competent aquarist also, this occurs but I cannot
reproduce in my tanks.
It's not one quick test, I've done this for a long time. High/low light
etc. 

So it's something else besides high K+ and or Ca.

Folks with high Ca and low Ca seem to have the same issue so this is
leading me to give the K+ blocking the Ca++ idea less worth as an arguement
since we have found a fair amount of evidence suggesting Ca in enough high
enough concentrations should ameliorate this problem.

I really don't see how this can occur as far as a transportor enzyme as the
valencies are different, Cu and Fe can use the same transporter in plants
for example. 

I suppose high K+ might supress something else, not Ca++ for the reason's
stated here, but why don't/haven't I seen it yet if that is the case?
Why can I not reproduce it? 

I have great tap with low Ca and no K+/PO4 etc, I can easily add as much Ca
and K+ to the plants in question.
But why don't I have the same issues?

Something else is going on there.

Another question, why did this occur two years ago and not before?
Why and how did everyone else miss this distorted growth issue?

Regards, 
Tom Barr 







 



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