What do you use to dose Iron?

Randy Holmes-Farley · Aug 20, 2015

143MPCo said:
Randy, does it matter how much you use?

Not really. It gets depleted fairly fast.

To a 100 gallon system, I'd dose about 1 ml per week of the tablet dissolved in 20 mL of RO/DI.

Don't dose the solids that remain after letting the tablet sit 24 h in Ro/DI, then stir or shake to dissolve, then use it after settling.

Kyuss414 · Aug 20, 2015

I will definitely pick some up next time I'm at the pharmacy. The Brightwells was pretty cheap and it works, but if that's all it takes with the tablets and theres 100 tablets in a package that'll really last a long time, thanks Randy.

I feel like I should be sending you money for all the money you've saved me on the various dosing supplements.

Randy Holmes-Farley · Aug 20, 2015

That bottle will last a LONG time.

Good luck.

KDawg0623 · Aug 21, 2015

I appreciate all of the insight and helpful tips. especially the pics! Some times I really hate reading and pictures makes it more interesting lol. You guys have great fuges! Looks like I am going to have to shut down my tank to install a better sump and fuge.

Randy, that is some awesome advice! I will look for some this evening or tomorrow morning. I have ordered a canister filter to work along side my sump, when installed, will it diminish the growth of the chaeto at all?

143MPCo and Wiz.. I can only try to accomplish what you guys have shown. Hope I get close. those are great! Tanks again

Randy Holmes-Farley · Aug 21, 2015

KDawg0623 said:
Randy, that is some awesome advice! I will look for some this evening or tomorrow morning. I have ordered a canister filter to work along side my sump, when installed, will it diminish the growth of the chaeto at all?

Depends on what you put into it. A phosphate binder like GFO will likely slow macroalgae growth.

Reef_a_holiks · Aug 21, 2015

using brightwells over here. works great

Touring · Aug 21, 2015

please dont dose what you cant test for....

143mp can you pm me

KDawg0623 · Aug 21, 2015

Randy Holmes-Farley said:
Depends on what you put into it. A phosphate binder like GFO will likely slow macroalgae growth.

To be honest I have read a lot and the letters "GFO" I do not know what they mean. But I wasn't going to use anything for phosphate. I had done a large water change in my 110g which brought down my phosphates and nitrates considerably. I was just going to use the canister filter for bio alls, ceramic rings, and white media, filter floss, and atm that would be it, also the UV sterilizer that comes with it

143MPCo · Aug 21, 2015

Touring said:
143mp can you pm me

Negative, the option is not available under your profile.

KDawg0623 · Aug 24, 2015

143MPCo you mentioned that the chaeto needs to be flooded with light around 6400k. Well I finally found out what I have above my sump. This is it

if 6400k would be considered flooding it.. then I have been scorching it..

If I replace with this light, I should be okay, right?

Thank you

143MPCo · Aug 24, 2015

Color temperature is conventionally stated in the unit of absolute temperature, the Kelvin, having the unit symbol K. Color temperatures over 5,000K are called cool colors (bluish white), while lower color temperatures (2,700–3,000 K) are called warm colors (yellowish white through red).

That means "K" relates to the color of the light and not necessarily the intensity of it... when I said "flooded" with light I mean an overflowing or large amount of light spread beyond its normal confines, thus allow a plant to grow and flourish outside the normal spread of a point.

While that light might grow cheato, you'll need more than one to be enough light and flood the area.

Randy Holmes-Farley · Aug 24, 2015

Touring said:
please dont dose what you cant test for....

So that would have no one ever dose iron since it isn't possible to easily detect the required levels?
Despite the fact that it clearly benefits some users?

Seems short-sighted, IMO.

Randy Holmes-Farley · Aug 24, 2015

KDawg0623 said:
To be honest I have read a lot and the letters "GFO" I do not know what they mean. But I wasn't going to use anything for phosphate. I had done a large water change in my 110g which brought down my phosphates and nitrates considerably. I was just going to use the canister filter for bio alls, ceramic rings, and white media, filter floss, and atm that would be it, also the UV sterilizer that comes with it

What is the "white media"?

GFO (granular ferric oxide) is one of several solid materials that bind phosphate and are used for that purpose.

Touring · Aug 24, 2015

Randy Holmes-Farley said:
So that would have no one ever dose iron since it isn't possible to easily detect the required levels?
Despite the fact that it clearly benefits some users?

Seems short-sighted, IMO.

You right, go head and dose away. sorry for my ignorance for advising reefers to practice testing what they dose.

Randy Holmes-Farley · Aug 24, 2015

Touring said:
You right, go head and dose away. sorry for my ignorance for advising reefers to practice testing what they dose.

I assume that is sarcasm, but to me it makes more sense taken literally in the case of iron.

While it may be fine advice for things you can test, it seems to run out of applicability for things which testing is unavailable but which have a clear demonstrated utility in at least some tanks, and little to no demonstrated evidence of anyone ever having an overdose "problem".

dgrigor02 · Aug 24, 2015

I dose Randy's Fergon solution. Been doing so for many years. 4 pills per 100ml bottle and dose approx 1ml per day on a 180g show. I have a large ATS so there really is no such thing as overdosing as it gets consume quickly.

I harvest 3-4+ cups of rinsed and sqeezed algae per week and weighs a couple of pounds.

I've have 3 triton tests done and all have come back with still being dificient ( but then again I don't really trust that they can accurately messure fractions of a part per billion anyways ) . I'm not at all worried about overdosing.

JDP · Aug 25, 2015

Understanding is the key to dosing and testing plays a small part! IMO

How would chelated Iron affect our chemistry? We have available many hydroponic products, but not comfortable with the long word that make the element chelated!?!

KDawg0623 · Aug 25, 2015

Randy Holmes-Farley said:
What is the "white media"?

GFO (granular ferric oxide) is one of several solid materials that bind phosphate and are used for that purpose.

Sorry, Randy. It is filter floss. You buy it in the bags from an LFS or WalMart, pretty much anywhere

KDawg0623 · Aug 25, 2015

143MPCo said:
Color temperature is conventionally stated in the unit of absolute temperature, the Kelvin, having the unit symbol K. Color temperatures over 5,000K are called cool colors (bluish white), while lower color temperatures (2,700–3,000 K) are called warm colors (yellowish white through red).

That means "K" relates to the color of the light and not necessarily the intensity of it... when I said "flooded" with light I mean an overflowing or large amount of light spread beyond its normal confines, thus allow a plant to grow and flourish outside the normal spread of a point.

While that light might grow cheato, you'll need more than one to be enough light and flood the area.

Thank you for putting it into simple terms for me

I still have a lot to learn and understand. I am very glad to have people like you and Randy and MANY others here in this forum for me to learn from.