Iron Uptake/Dosing

fishboy11 · Jul 17, 2016

Hey everyone. Have a quick question regarding Iron supplementing. I am doing the complete Red Sea supplement program. On Tuesday, I tested Iron and got 0.00ppm. I added 30ml of Coral Colors C over 3 days (tank is approximately 50g). This is the recommended dosage to reach 0.15ppm. I tested this morning and the reading was 0.05ppm. I don't have many corals (7 acro frags, 5 of which were added Thursday), a small hammer colony (7 heads) and some zoas. I run a reactor with carbon and GFO. Are either of these known to remove iron? I'm slightly confused, as all my other parameters are good. Any input would be greatly appreciated

Randy Holmes-Farley · Jul 17, 2016

IMO, iron should always test zero. No kit can detect anywhere close to NSW, and Red Sea overdoses it. Even Triton cannot detect NSW iron.

GFO likely adds iron.

Randy Holmes-Farley · Jul 17, 2016

These have a lot more discussion on iron and dosing:

Chemistry And The Aquarium: Iron In A Reef Tank ? Advanced Aquarist | Aquarist Magazine and Blog
http://www.advancedaquarist.com/issues/aug2002/chem.htm

Chemistry And The Aquarium: Iron: A Look At Organisms Other Than Macroalgae ? Advanced Aquarist | Aquarist Magazine and Blog
http://www.advancedaquarist.com/issues/oct2002/chem.htm

fishboy11 · Jul 17, 2016

Thank you very much Randy!

Randy Holmes-Farley · Jul 17, 2016

You're welcome.

Happy Reefing.

fishboy11 · Jul 17, 2016

Randy, the relationship between Cyanobacteria and iron is interesting. Before I added the 30ml of Red Sea Coral Colors C, I did have quite a bit of Cyanobacteria that I was using a turkey baster for every day. Since adding the supplement, my Cyanobacteria has diminished significantly. However, tests this morning indicated my nitrates had diminished to 0.50ppm as well. Just something curious after reading your articles. Thanks again [emoji4]

twilliard · Jul 17, 2016

fishboy11 said:
Randy, the relationship between Cyanobacteria and iron is interesting. Before I added the 30ml of Red Sea Coral Colors C, I did have quite a bit of Cyanobacteria that I was using a turkey baster for every day. Since adding the supplement, my Cyanobacteria has diminished significantly. However, tests this morning indicated my nitrates had diminished to 0.50ppm as well. Just something curious after reading your articles. Thanks again [emoji4]

I have a lot of info when it comes to cyanobacteria

Check below

Randy Holmes-Farley · Jul 18, 2016

fishboy11 said:
Randy, the relationship between Cyanobacteria and iron is interesting. Before I added the 30ml of Red Sea Coral Colors C, I did have quite a bit of Cyanobacteria that I was using a turkey baster for every day. Since adding the supplement, my Cyanobacteria has diminished significantly. However, tests this morning indicated my nitrates had diminished to 0.50ppm as well. Just something curious after reading your articles. Thanks again [emoji4]

Thx. It is a complex relationship since both cyano and their competitors for nutrients need iron.