Iron supplement

mort · Oct 5, 2016

Anyone dose an iron supplement to help their macro algae? I'm noticing my chaeto start to yellow a little on the new growth and thinking its depleted iron (or may be a combination of things i'm lacking but not sure where to look). Waiting for a test to confirm but what are we adding if we need it?

thanks

hawkinsrgk · Oct 5, 2016

I dose Ferrous Gluconate to help with Chaeto. What you are seeing may be the result of low nitrates. When I had 0 nitrates Chaeto would start to die off

Bunnee911 · Oct 5, 2016

I dose iron once a week for my chaeto and caulerpa.

Waterjockey · Oct 5, 2016

I dose ferrous gluconate ala RHF method once a week

Salty1962 · Oct 5, 2016

1x week for macro.

mort · Oct 6, 2016

Thanks. I have a lot of different macro in three refugium connected to that system and chaeto is the only one looking different. It is however the one which grows strongest as the tank is lit by sunlight so over the summer it has boomed. I'd be surprised if my nitrates were zero but will check.

Randy Holmes-Farley · Oct 6, 2016

I would suggest trying iron and see if it helps. Here's a DIY recipe:

Buy Fergon iron tablets from the drug store.
Put one pill in about 25 mL fresh water (volume is not that important since dose is not that important for iron). Let it soak for a while or overnight until the tablet breaks apart.

Swirl it to mix. Let is settle overnight. Then use the clear greenish liquid.

Dose about 1 mL per 100 gallons once a week (dose is not critical).

mort · Oct 7, 2016

I'll look into the tablets but can't find that brand over here (sure there will be the same product available). I do however have chelated trace elements for my planted tank. Do you think this might be a good option? Analysis of what's in it is on the seller's page here http://www.aquariumplantfood.co.uk/fertilisers/dry-chemicals/dry-salts/chelated-trace-180.html

Randy Holmes-Farley · Oct 7, 2016

EDTA may be too strongly chelated to the metals (IMO). Apparently EDTA iron can only be taken up if the EDTA is broken apart by UV or oxidation first (at least that is reported by Stephen Spotte in a chemistry intensive textbook on aquarium chemistry). It may work, but might also not be the best bet.

mort · Oct 8, 2016

Thanks Randy, I'll stick to your earlier recommendation.

Paul B · Oct 8, 2016

I throw some nails in the tank

(no, Really)

mort · Oct 8, 2016

I can't find fergon tablets here but can get 14mg ferrous fumarate tablets. Would these be OK and is the dosing around double for them as typing in fergon online it looks like they are 27mg.

Failing that I'll try Paul's method and chuck a spanner in or something.

Paul B · Oct 8, 2016

A 6" spanner should do the job or any monkey wrench you have lying around.

That's also cheaper than those tablets Randy is talking about.
I think those tablets are made out of rusty nails anyway

Fourstars · Oct 8, 2016

Thanks for the tip! I just finish off my last bottle and was wondering if there was a cheaper solution. That old rusty barbell weight finally put to use

hawkinsrgk · Oct 9, 2016

What I have been using is ferrous gluconate in powder form. I like it better because you don't have to wait for the pills to settle and the coating doesn't get in your solution

It's not as clean as the hammer or nail method, but it works well for me [emoji846]

Paul B · Oct 9, 2016

I usually go with the Hammer method. It's 2" of hammer for every ten gallons of water

Randy Holmes-Farley · Oct 9, 2016

mort said:
I can't find fergon tablets here but can get 14mg ferrous fumarate tablets. Would these be OK and is the dosing around double for them as typing in fergon online it looks like they are 27mg.

Failing that I'll try Paul's method and chuck a spanner in or something.

If it does not have undesirable excipients in the table, it will be fine.

Randy Holmes-Farley · Oct 9, 2016

hawkinsrgk said:
What I have been using is ferrous gluconate in powder form. I like it better because you don't have to wait for the pills to settle and the coating doesn't get in your solution

It's not as clean as the hammer or nail method, but it works well for me [emoji846]

Pure iron nails would be good. I doubt you can buy them.

hawkinsrgk · Oct 9, 2016

Randy Holmes-Farley said:
Pure iron nails would be good. I doubt you can buy them.

The only reason that I mentioned the hammer and nails method is because I saw PaulB did a post with a hammer in his tank and knew he would get a good laugh out of it

Randy Holmes-Farley · Oct 9, 2016

hawkinsrgk said:
The only reason that I mentioned the hammer and nails method is because I saw PaulB did a post with a hammer in his tank and knew he would get a good laugh out of it

I know.