Health Fe level for 120g (ppm)

  • We are currently upgrading MFK. thanks! -neo
B

Bobtastic6

Feeder Fish
MFK Member
Sep 13, 2009
157
0
0
United States
I recently purchased "Easy Life: Ferro" which is an iron fertilizer. There is no recommendation on timeframe of doses but it does say 1 fl. oz./160g will raise iron levels by .50 ppm. What is a healthy iron level for my 120 g tank and how long should that iron level maintain?



Sent from my iPhone using MonsterAquariaNetwork app
 
I'm far from an expert on the matter, but with planted tanks its far from an exact science and depending on which stage your planted tank is in, it may require different amounts...

The only way to sort of tell (as far as i know) is by seeing if your plants are showing any iron deficiencies :)


Sent from my iPhone using MonsterAquariaNetwork app
 
Ive not personally used that brand. BUT according to their directions they say 10 ml per 100 l per week or daily 2ml/100l – increases the iron content of 0.5 ppm, or 0.5 mg / l.

Most of us planted tank people like to run anywhere from .75ppm to 2.0ppm. Iron is VERY hard to overdose. Lots of factors play into how much is being used. Such as, How much light? What plants you have in the tank? What other items are you dosing into the tank? If those other items carry any addition Fe amounts? What type of FE is it? Gluconate or Chelate? Have you seen any deficincies in your plants?

Ive done and still do planted tanks from low light basic to high light high tech. There is several factors that go into it. Iron test kits are poor at best. One nice thing about dosing iron is its hard to dose to much. The instant you put it in the level goes down. I dose mine every other day. I dose dry fertilizers and use a mix of both Iron Gluconate and Chelate. I dose about 1/4 to 1/3 teaspoon everyother day. My ppm is right around 1.25 to 1.5ppm. BUT ive also got lots of red plants and plants that have higher iron needs. I also dose a micro nutrient mix. Plantex CSM+B and Millers Microplex (yes together) They have an iron content in it as well. and I also have this as part of my 1.25 to 1.5ppm ratio.
 
Aquaticfan said:
Ive not personally used that brand. BUT according to their directions they say 10 ml per 100 l per week or daily 2ml/100l – increases the iron content of 0.5 ppm, or 0.5 mg / l.

Most of us planted tank people like to run anywhere from .75ppm to 2.0ppm. Iron is VERY hard to overdose. Lots of factors play into how much is being used. Such as, How much light? What plants you have in the tank? What other items are you dosing into the tank? If those other items carry any addition Fe amounts? What type of FE is it? Gluconate or Chelate? Have you seen any deficincies in your plants?

Ive done and still do planted tanks from low light basic to high light high tech. There is several factors that go into it. Iron test kits are poor at best. One nice thing about dosing iron is its hard to dose to much. The instant you put it in the level goes down. I dose mine every other day. I dose dry fertilizers and use a mix of both Iron Gluconate and Chelate. I dose about 1/4 to 1/3 teaspoon everyother day. My ppm is right around 1.25 to 1.5ppm. BUT ive also got lots of red plants and plants that have higher iron needs. I also dose a micro nutrient mix. Plantex CSM+B and Millers Microplex (yes together) They have an iron content in it as well. and I also have this as part of my 1.25 to 1.5ppm ratio.
Click to expand...

Thank you, that was very informative. Here are a few more details...

- i have two 54w bulb, T5, any my light cycle is 12 hrs on, 12 hrs off
- only two of the plants i have have red on them (pics below)
- these plants include amazon sword, java fern, a red lilly (the name escapes me), and i cannot remember name of the fourth (the plant in the first photo)
- the other products i'm dosing are both made by Seachem. I use the Flourish, which is a "comprehensive supplement" which does also contain iron. The other is Flourish Excel, which is an "organic carbon supplement". This states on the label as follows: "Flourish Excel also has iron reducing properties which promote the ferrous state of iron (Fe+2) which is more easily utilized by plants that ferric iron (Fe+3)."
- my substrate as you will see is very sandy
- the only deficiencies i see is occasional yellowing of some leaves and a slowed growth since the explosive growth i saw when they were first planted


Sent from my iPhone using MonsterAquariaNetwork app
 
tyjo1334 said:
I don't mean to take this thread off subject but this is one of my issues as well. I was wondering how do all of you test for iron? What is the best method and brand of test kit for iron?


Sent from my iPhone using MonsterAquariaNetwork app
Click to expand...

For the most part all iron test kits arent worth it. Very inaccurate. Bedides as I mentioned before iron fluctuates and changes the instant its added to the tank. Its not worth testing for. Its better to dose on the heavy side of things as its hard to overdose it anyhow.

I'm not sure what methods most of you all are dosing your tanks with. But I highly recommended the estimative index based fertilization system created by Tom Barr.

Basically it eliminates nutrient deficiency as an issue. Ive been using the method now for quite some time. If your interested in more information on it id be glad yo help.

Sent from my SPH-L710 using MonsterAquariaNetwork App
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
MonsterFishKeepers.com
Top Bottom