Iron

[Chris Adams]

After reading a few threads about Red Sea Corals Colors I decided to do some research and figured I would go ahead and purchase the Pro test kit for iodine, potassium and iron.

iodine and potassium are within acceptable range when I tested last week but iron was not detectable in the test.
Red Sea says the below. So is there any way to measure the non-free form iron

After a few minutes from the time you add the iron (Coral Colors C) to the aquarium you will probably measure levels around 0.05 ppm. This may last for several hours before it drops to zero (usually within 24 hrs). The reason for this is that the iron may have precipitated or bonded to organics substances.
The use of the Iron Test within Red Sea’s Coral Colors Test Kit will ensure that Iron is not over- dosed as long as the iron is still in free form. However the test will not detect iron which is not in its free form, and therefore a zero reading should be treated carefully as any overdose will cause stress to corals.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

First off, I'd not test for iron (because kits cannot detect low enough) and I'd not dose so much that it could reach 0.05 ppm.

There's no reason to so grossly overdose iron, and no kit can test low enough to test the useful doses of iron.

Bear in mind that the level of iron in surface seawater is more typically 0.000006 ppm. I dose aboutt 0.001 ppm once every week or two and it is plenty for my tank.

IMO, dosing some is useful in a variety of scenarios, especially if you maintain macroalgae, but you need not dose as much as 0.05 ppm.


These articles of mine have more on iron and dosing it:

http://www.advancedaquarist.com/issues/aug2002/chem.htm

http://www.advancedaquarist.com/issues/oct2002/chem.htm

 

[Chris Adams]

Once again thanks Randy. Will read through those

Edit: I do no know why I did not just search the net for Randy and Iron

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

You're welcome.

If you have follow up questions, just pop back.

 

[atlfishes]

What brand of iron are you dosing? I saw some from Triton and Kent, but I'm sure there are others.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

FWIW, I currently use and recommend a DIY using Fergon tablets (an human iron supplement) from a drug store.

Just dissolve a single table in some RO/DI, let it settle, and use the clear fluid. I dissolve in about 25 mL of fluid and dose about 1 mL at a time to my system (total volume about 300 gallons). Keep it tightly closed to prevent air oxidation.