Fe-gluconate & alkalinity

[Tmmste]

I wondered if Fe-gluconate behaves similar to calcium gluconate (like seachems all-in-one), to also boost alkalinity. As Fe-citrate will also consume alkalinity....

 

[Brew12]

I wondered if Fe-gluconate behaves similar to calcium gluconate (like seachems all-in-one), to also boost alkalinity. As Fe-citrate will also consume alkalinity....

I don't believe that calcium gluconate will have a meaningful impact on alkalinity. I would expect that iron gluconate would also have a minimal impact on alkalinity.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

I think you won’t be adding enough to notice the alk effect. Also, the iron itself will deplete alk if oxidized from ferrous to ferric iron.

 

[Tmmste]

I think you won’t be adding enough to notice the alk effect. Also, the iron itself will deplete alk if oxidized from ferrous to ferric iron.

Ahh! so it would make more sense to have Fe(III) powder.. or basically very fine GFO (same stuff right?) Is there a way to keep this suspended? If not I may decide to change back to GFO as the iron source available is not pure (the information sheet was published after I bought this stuff, but it looks like technical grade to me)

apart from that the rust on the equipment is very messy (I do not use fiberfill/filterwool to capture the fine rust particles).

I wonder, if a bacteria film would prevent granulated iron oxide from reacting with phosphates..... I do not like to change out filter media. But wondered if it would make sense to fill a media reactor with a substantial amount of fine GFO.. and just allow enough low flow through the media to continously bind po4 and keep this level stable. Maybe you can shed some light on this @Randy Holmes-Farley.