Iron issues

w.gurney77 · Jan 11, 2015

What would cause my iron levels to be very low? When I add iron it is reacting with some thing in my water and falling out of solution. What is being pulled out of the water by the iron? How do I remedy the situation?
Parameters:
Alk 10.5
Cal 460
Mag 1380
pH 8.0 ( drops slightly when Fe is added)
PO4 <.03
N03 <.25
Potassium 398
Iodine .06
Iron tests at 0

franciscosalazar · Jan 11, 2015

My bad, didn't realize what forum this was, don't mean to step on toes

Randy Holmes-Farley · Jan 11, 2015

Iron should never be at detectable levels. Surface seawater values of iron are something like 0.000006 ppm. It is readily scavenged by all photosynthetic organisms, such as algae, macroalgae, and corals.

So even if you dose (as I do), you cannot use a kit to judge the require dose.

This has more:

Chemistry And The Aquarium: Iron In A Reef Tank ? Advanced Aquarist | Aquarist Magazine and Blog

Chemistry And The Aquarium: Iron: A Look At Organisms Other Than Macroalgae ? Advanced Aquarist | Aquarist Magazine and Blog

w.gurney77 · Jan 11, 2015

Thanks Randy I though I was going crazy. I was trying to get a test reading that showed detectable levels. I guess I will stick to my regiment. Why does the red sea test kit say normal levels are .15 ppm?

Randy Holmes-Farley · Jan 11, 2015

w.gurney77 said:
Thanks Randy I though I was going crazy. I was trying to get a test reading that showed detectable levels. I guess I will stick to my regiment. Why does the red sea test kit say normal levels are .15 ppm?

I cannot even imagine why. Perhaps they think that high of level is useful, but I don't believe that to be true.

In the ocean, even at depths where it is not depleted by organisms scavenging it, it doesn't generally rise higher than 0.00014 ppm.

reefndude · Jan 11, 2015

What would you suggest to dose for iron?

Randy Holmes-Farley · Jan 12, 2015

You mean what material?

I generally recommend a DIY using Fergon tablets from a drug store, but there are some commercial preparations that also will be fine.

I dissolve 1 Fergon tablet in about 20 mL of RO/DI (actually allow it time to to disintegrate first, then shake it up).

Then I let the solids settle out, and use the clear greenish liquid.

Dose is very noncritical for iron. I add 1-2 mL once or twice a week to my 120 (~300 gallons total water volume).

reefndude · Jan 12, 2015

I think I'm going to try dosing iron. Been seeing that topic a lot lately.

Thanks Randy

jedimasterben · Jan 12, 2015

Randy Holmes-Farley said:
You mean what material?

I generally recommend a DIY using Fergon tablets from a drug store, but there are some commercial preparations that also will be fine.

I dissolve 1 Fergon tablet in about 20 mL of RO/DI (actually allow it time to to disintegrate first, then shake it up).

Then I let the solids settle out, and use the clear greenish liquid.

Dose is very noncritical for iron. I add 1-2 mL once or twice a week to my 120 (~300 gallons total water volume).

Does the resulting solution store well or does it need to be 'made fresh' more often?

Randy Holmes-Farley · Jan 12, 2015

You're welcome.

Good luck!

reefndude · Jan 14, 2015

Randy Holmes-Farley said:
You mean what material?

I generally recommend a DIY using Fergon tablets from a drug store, but there are some commercial preparations that also will be fine.

I dissolve 1 Fergon tablet in about 20 mL of RO/DI (actually allow it time to to disintegrate first, then shake it up).

Then I let the solids settle out, and use the clear greenish liquid.

Dose is very noncritical for iron. I add 1-2 mL once or twice a week to my 120 (~300 gallons total water volume).