Making sure your plants have an adequate amount of available potassium can make a world of difference in the planted aquarium. Used as a co-factor in several enzymes as well as an osmo-regulator, potassium concentrations are recommended to be maintained in the ball park of 10 and 30 ppm (mg/l). In the absence of this macronutrient, plants may begin to show particular symptoms being small holes in leaves that mature into much larger necrotic patches with sever yellowing. Making your own stock solution of potassium for dosing in your planted aquarium can be extremely beneficial to overall plant health and your wallet.

 

     Follow the steps in this video to make your own potassium fertilizer and pick up a copy of our Guide to Aquarium Plant Deficiencies to learn the ins and outs of aquatic plant health and maintenance. In this guide you will learn to fix common aquarium nutrient deficiencies as well as the mechanisms behind how and why plants function the way they do in the aquarium.