Plant Fertiliser In Marine Tanks

[Colin_T]

Does anyone else use Iron based fertilisers in their marine tanks?
I have been using Sera Florena in my marine tanks for the last few years and it makes a huge difference to the zooxanthellae in the corals and anemones. Also macro algae like caulerpa grows even more with it than normal.

 

[andywg]

I never have, but it would seem a logical thing, considering how abundant corals are on shipwrecks.

Have you considered running an electrical current through an iron structure to encourage growth? That seems to be getting great growth out in the wild.

 

[SkiFletch]

Depends on the corals kept if you ask me. Plant ferts are often high in phosphate which would seem to be counter-productive in trying to enhance stony coral growth since phosphate inhibits calcification reactions...

 

[Lynden]

Yup, that's what I would have said.

 

[Colin_T]

thats why I said iron based fertiliser

 

[SkiFletch]

thats why I said iron based fertiliser

Yes, which often time contain other supplimental nutrients like phosphates and other trace elements. Do be careful dosing Iron-heavy suppliments. While there is iron in the sea, excessive levels in an aquarium may not be great for corals

 

[xxBarneyxx]

Yeah dont think it is something I would recommend unless you know exactlly what is in the ferts. Sera Florena doesnt container nitrate or phosphate but in a tank with loads of corals I would want to be able to measure everything I'm dosing it with (at least for the first few months).

Strange this came up today though as this morning I was half asleep when dosing my planted tank and feeding my fish and very nearly dosed the marine tank with a trace mix