iron being used up faster than i can handle

[jimbooo]

Hi Everyone, i have been using the following products to fertilise my tank. (180L / 40UKG)

eSHa Prophyll

eSHa Cryptoplus

Kent Botanica "Grow"

i cannot get the iron level above 0.05ppm

i did a 30% water change saturday, added a triple dose of "Prophyll", Single dose of "Cryptoplus" and at least 50ml of "Grow"

in theory i should have so much iron in there i should have a big algae problem but instead after 2 days iron is back to zero (no trace at all not a whisker)

i then redosed the same as before and crushed up 2 jbl ferrotabs, dissolved them and poured that in on top.

tested last night, Iron = 0.03ppm

however my plants are going mad, Vallis growing 1 foot every 3 days!!!

i'm gonna need 5 gallon tubs of liquid fertiliser at this rate. need another option. HELP PLEESEEEE

it's this tank

 

[Dubby]

At this rate you will be better off buying the chelated iron directly from the garden centres and making your own fertiliser.

 

[jimbooo]

tell me about it. but i'm confused, my tank isn't that great (ie no Halides, DIY co2 etc..)

is there a better fertiliser to use with a higher %age cheleted iron. I think "Grow" has 0.25% Cheleted Iron in it.

 

[guppygirl]

Try the Flourish Iron, it says it's guaranteed analysis says it has 1.0% Iron (FE)
Link here.
It says it comes in a 2Liter size too!

 

[jimbooo]

thanks guppy girl, looks like an option.

 

[guppygirl]

No probs!!

 

[George Farmer]

Hi Jimbooo - Are your plants showing iron defeciencies? If not then why add more iron and give yourself more work and expense. It's the classic self-perpetuating cycle; add more fert to get more growth - more growth leads to more fert needed etc.

I have never tested for iron, if my plants look like they are suffering from a defieciency then I'll just add a little more fert until the symptom goes.

 

[iggy01]

I have never tested for iron, if my plants look like they are suffering from a defieciency then I'll just add a little more fert until the symptom goes.

gf225 makes a good point there. Also, from what I've read, iron test kits are notorious for giving false readings.

 

[guppygirl]

Hi guys!
I sent this question to the FAQ section of Seachem... look in the Flourish Iron FAQ section.
Hopefully we'll see a reply soon!
~Robin

Oh and for a link, here's the Iron FAQ section.
Link

 

[Silly me]

I would buy a new test kit..

 

[denbob]

Could be the iron is being consumed by your plants Which look magnificent

 

[jimbooo]

the test kit is a JBL one and only a week old.

my 12G shows 0.2mg/l iron most of the time so i know the test kit works.

i'll get a specific iron fert i think rather than the multi nutrient ones and see if that helps.

 

[Dubby]

the test kit is a JBL one and only a week old.

my 12G shows 0.2mg/l iron most of the time so i know the test kit works.

i'll get a specific iron fert i think rather than the multi nutrient ones and see if that helps.

jimbooo:

I would second gf225's opinion. Add iron when necessary.

 

[jimbooo]

jimbooo:

I would second gf225's opinion. Add iron when necessary.

my theory is i still have remnants of hair and fuzz algae (not sure what to call it it's the green furry fluffy stuff that attached to backing tiles and bogwood) i have none in my 12G and a reasonable ammount in the 40G. the only difference in the 2 water stats is the iron content. i have read that if iron is low algae can out compete the plants. hence my big thing with iron. it gets used as quickly as i add it.

i'm a bit stumped because the algae has reduced since my megadoses of liquid fertaliser

 

[George Farmer]

i'm a bit stumped because the algae has reduced since my megadoses of liquid fertaliser

Does your kit measure chelated and non-chelated iron seperately?