| Fertilizing Science of Aquatic Fertilizing - Discuss fertilizing techniques and proper aquatic plant nutrition here. |  |
09-23-2009, 06:30 PM
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#1 (permalink)
| | Senior Member
Join Date: May 2007 Location: Charlotte, NC
Posts: 118
iTrader Positive Rating: 100% Plant Points: 7850 | Iron supplement I need a good iron supplement. I'm currently using Seachem's Iron, but I don't see any improvements in my reds. I've dosed about double the recommended amount. Any suggestions? |
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09-23-2009, 09:49 PM
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#2 (permalink)
| | Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Seattle, WA
Posts: 1,655
iTrader Positive Rating: 100% Plant Points: 89700 | Re: Iorn supplement Hi jeremy1,
The "reds" may need iron to be their brightest, but a lot of other factors can affect plant color as well. For example, because I run about 2 watts per gallon (medium light) most of my plants do not show their red color unless they are in a brighter area of the tank. Or in the case of stem plants, when the stems grow near the surface where the light is brighter. |
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09-24-2009, 05:59 AM
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#3 (permalink)
| | Moderator
Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Joshua, TX
Posts: 5,853
iTrader Positive Rating: 100% Plant Points: 326925 | Re: Iorn supplement Light, light and enough light is the biggest issue for red plants IMO. After light is enough iron. I use Flourish Fe and just upped my dosing. I was using the recommended amount 3 days a week. I just began using that same amount EVERY day along with dosing my traces every day. What a difference! You can read about it here, post #65 http://www.aquaticplantcentral.com/f...ce-make-7.html
You can see my tank here, post 528 are color close-up, 2 weeks after dosing change http://www.aquaticplantcentral.com/f...escape-53.html |
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09-24-2009, 07:27 AM
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#4 (permalink)
| | Senior Member
Join Date: May 2007 Location: Charlotte, NC
Posts: 118
iTrader Positive Rating: 100% Plant Points: 7850 | Re: Iron supplement Yeah, I think I have to be patient with it. I use IE dosing and two 55wat PC for AHsupply over a 29gal plus CO2 I will see how thinks turn out when plants reach nearer the top.. I do get great pearling so CO2 should be okay. I will up trace freqency to every other day and see what happpens. Plant are only 2wks old in an established tank. |
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09-24-2009, 07:58 AM
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#5 (permalink)
| | Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Long Island, NY
Posts: 2,431
iTrader Positive Rating: 100% Plant Points: 114990 | Re: Iron supplement Unfortunately with PC lighting on a 29g it will be difficult to get deep red color througout. The lights aren't intense enough and the tank too deep. |
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09-24-2009, 12:14 PM
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#6 (permalink)
| | Senior Member
Join Date: May 2007 Location: Charlotte, NC
Posts: 118
iTrader Positive Rating: 100% Plant Points: 7850 | Re: Iron supplement Quote:
Originally Posted by houseofcards Unfortunately with PC lighting on a 29g it will be difficult to get deep red color througout. The lights aren't intense enough and the tank too deep. | I had the same feeling. I'm thinking about the MH 150watt from fishneedit. I'm wondering how their bulbs are either the 8000K or 6700K ? Anyone used these before/ |
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09-24-2009, 03:03 PM
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#7 (permalink)
| | Moderator
Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Joshua, TX
Posts: 5,853
iTrader Positive Rating: 100% Plant Points: 326925 | Re: Iron supplement I think 150watt MH might be too much for a 29g. Have you looked into T5's? I've considered this fixture because I could use Geissman bulbs on this fixture and they last a long time. http://www.growlightexpress.com/fluo...ht-t5-322.html
Right now I have this light on my 29 and it does fine. I get good color with it. I have to keep the bulbs replaced every 6 - 8 mths as they loose their power. http://www.2gills.com/store/p/121-Co...l?feed=froogle |
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09-24-2009, 08:28 PM
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#8 (permalink)
| | Member
Join Date: Mar 2009
Posts: 30
Plant Points: 2200 | Re: Iron supplement Just thought I'd add from my understanding, Flourish Iron will only last 2 days in the tank, there's better iron options out there. Again, I'm a noob and this is what my sources have told me. |
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09-25-2009, 05:09 AM
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#9 (permalink)
| | Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Champaign, Illinois
Posts: 291
iTrader Positive Rating: 100% Plant Points: 16350 | Re: Iron supplement Seachem actually recommends dosing with Iron six days a week on their dosing chart. That is what I do with my tanks. |
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09-25-2009, 07:14 PM
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#10 (permalink)
| | Moderator
Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Joshua, TX
Posts: 5,853
iTrader Positive Rating: 100% Plant Points: 326925 | Re: Iron supplement I just started doing the Fe every day - and traces. What a difference! |
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