[skylergirl]

I was just wondering if anybody used iron suppliments to enhance growth of the macroalgae.

I recently aquired a blue ridge coral that uses iron to build its skeleton and wondering if the coral would benefit from the iron too.

When I had a planted freshwater tank, iron was one of the key ingredients to good plant growth.

I spent ALOT of money buying fractionated clay substrate that is rich in iron content. My plants grew like weeds! I had to thin out the bunch by handfuls almost monthly. I had around 60-70 fish, but you could barely see them! [D]

So anyway, I was wondering if adding some iron would help out the plants in a saltwater tank.

I have a bottle of iron supplement that I bought. It states safe for salt and fresh water with no nitrate or phosphates in the stuff.

I haven't added any yet. Just wanted to make sure there are no deleterious effects before adding.

Thanks all!

 

[PaintGuru]

If you add anything you should have a test kit for it...simple rule to live by. I have never heard of corals needing iron to grow their skeletons, just algae. And remember, if your macro algae likes iron, so does your micro/film algae, so be ready for an increase in that as well.

 

[skylergirl]

Here is a quote from a page I found...

The benefit of iron appears to be at least two-fold (and maybe three-fold). The main benefit is that at least some species of macroalgae grow faster, and appear a darker, more attractive green, when the tank is dosed with iron. In addition to the aesthetic benefits, this increased growth permits the macroalgae to be a better nutrient export system. A secondary benefit is that faster growing macroalgae may better compete with microalgae, which is often a source of frustration to reefkeepers. One more speculative benefit is that it may decrease the likelihood of caulerpa undergoing sexual reproduction, creating water quality problems.

If anybody is interested in reading more, here's the website

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

Guess I'll give it a try and keep you guys posted as to my findings.

 

[PaintGuru]

I'm confused as to why macro algae would somehow beat out microalgae for nutrients, etc. Lets say you have macro and micro in the tank and you put in iron (or any nutrient for that matter), why would the macro get the added growth from the additive and not the micro? I would think in order for macro to be an effective way of ELIMINATING most micro algae, it would have to be present in large amount and the micro would have to be pretty much non-existant. If you do not have a good control on your micro algae, I cant see how this is a good idea. Please correct me if I am wrong in my thinking somewhere.

 

[Sylock]

I always assumed that macro algae was able to pull nutrients a little better than micro, and that was the whole idea of having it. It wasn't a percentage thing, although that helps too. It was just that the macro was quicker / more easily sucked up the nutrients.

If that assumption is correct, then add in the idea that iron makes for a healtier macro, that must be why it would really out compete the micro.

Again, this is what I had going through my crazy head.

 

[skylergirl]

Yup, I agree with you Sylock. My understanding is the macro is able to better use the form of iron that you'd buy from the store. Hence making the macro respond quicker to the added nutrients than the micro and it out competes the micro.

I bought some of this stuff http//www.petsolutions.com/cgi-bin/cgiitmls?m=ThisP&p=1051.400000&l=1

I used to dose Flourish Iron to my planted tank. I think that is why the plants grew like weeds, even though I did not have an additional CO2 source.

 

[MATTT]

skylergirl,

I have a 29gal fresh water plants tank also. But some how my plants are not as healthy as your. What did I do wrong ? I have at least 80watts of lights, diy CO2 and clay substrate. My water always seem to be cloudy. I have been using well water. Could you give me some hints ?

Thanks,

Mattt.

 

[skylergirl]

Hmm....that is weird. I only had 80 watts on my 75 gallon tank, and you have that on a 29 gallon tank!!! So it's probably not the amount of light. What kind of bulbs are they and when was the last time you changed them? How long has your tank been running? Have you tested all your water parameters? Do you have fish in the tank?

Are you sure the diy co2 system is working the way it's supposed to be? How long have you used that? I didn't have a co2 system at all and my stuff was fine.

My first guess would be the well water is making your water cloudy, but that also depends how long your tanks been running. Are you going to the frag fest? Maybe bring a sample of water from your well and from your tank. Perhaps together we can test it and make heads or tails of what's going on?

Where do you live?

 

[MATTT]

skylergirl,

You don't have a co2 and your plants looks that good !!! I'll be at the frag swap, I will make sure that I bring a water sample of the tank and well. I just switch from a 20gals tank to a 29gals for about two weeks now. But before that my 20gals is doing the same thing. Water is cloudy and the plant are not doing that well. I have around 13 fishes most are neon goby. My lights are two 24" t5 65k and four 10watt 65k power compact from walmart. I am using those clay substrate. I don't know what it is but plants are growing some but does not look healthy at all. I don't know if I should add any iron supplements to help with the growth. Your water looks so clear, I am using carbon for my but the water does not looks as clear as your. What do you use for your filter ? What is your filtering system ?

Thanks,

Mattt.

 

[skylergirl]

I'm ashamed to say that ALL I used on the 75 gallon tank was an Aquaclear 500. [-bigmouth] Haa....haaa...I didn't even have any powerheads for the entire year it was running. [-dopey] I did have a HOT Magnum that I used when I stirred up the Flourite. I never vacuumed either (too lazy). I just took a dowel and stirred up the substrate and hung on the HOT Magnum to pick up all the detritus.

I used a plant fertilzer that came in a bottle. I still have it in my refrigerator. Would you be interested in buying it? I used other additives that I poured in on occasion. I can try to get the names of those too. I did not measure and was not good at keeping a schedule. If I remembered, I dosed. [-crazy]

The water was sparkling clear. If yours is cloudy, I would say add some Stress Zyme or other biological filter starter to get it going. Sounds like a constant bacterial bloom. Have you tried switching your water to RO or even the stuff you buy at the store? That might help.

You also mention that you use a 'clay' material. Do you specifically know what the name/brand is? I can sell you some of mine if you'd like. Let me know and I'll bring enough for a 29 gallon tank. PM me.

Possible you have TOO MUCH light and you are frying the plants. What is your photoperiod?
----------------------------------------------

I went to Fish Doctors yesterday. I asked about dosing iron and using Flourite from my freshwater days to get the macro algae going.

To my surprise, they JUST started experimenting with Flourite as well in one of their tanks. The clerk helping showed me that some of the turtle or sea grass was growing like weeds. But that they were also experiencing a cyano bloom that was chunky in nature as opposed to slimy. Too many factors going on there to pinpoint exactly why they would be having the cyano.

I think I'm going to try a tray of Flourite in the refugium with the macro and see how it grows.