Flourish Iron and clouding.

[malloy85]

Hey guys

In short and as directed I add just under 5ml for my tank but this results in 2 days of a cloudy tank. I was wondering if it might be a good idea to reduce the dosage by half and dose that once a day seeing as I just learned that the iron is only available for 24hours.

I'm using liquids to fert my tank and will be moving over to dry ferts in a month or two but for now, I need help with the liquid. I am seeing an improvement in reds with flourish iron and it's only been a week so far. Thanks.

[owens81jw]

Originally Posted by malloy85

Hey guys

In short and as directed I add just under 5ml for my tank but this results in 2 days of a cloudy tank. I was wondering if it might be a good idea to reduce the dosage by half and dose that once a day seeing as I just learned that the iron is only available for 24hours.

I'm using liquids to fert my tank and will be moving over to dry ferts in a month or two but for now, I need help with the liquid. I am seeing an improvement in reds with flourish iron and it's only been a week so far. Thanks.

how big is your tank?

[Noahma]

are you using a UV filter?

[ronnie6989]

What is your level in the tank....You do have a test kit or reading instructions. I know if you over dose with iron, fish start stressing and you start losing good guy bacteria that you have built up in your filter and gravel that maintains your cycle. If you use iron you need a test kit.

Ronnie

[malloy85]

I appreciate the help here guys. To answer your questions...

.My tank is a 50gal

.I'm not using a uv filter and have never seen the need to so please explain

.I haven't overdosed yet I don't think. Right now I have no fish in the tank so I'm using internal filters for flow. Seachem recommend 5ml for every 200L so far the most I have dosed in a week has been 6ml on different days. Is it wise to split the recommended dosage over a week and still keep the red plants red?

[Noahma]

Originally Posted by malloy85

I appreciate the help here guys. To answer your questions...

.My tank is a 50gal

.I'm not using a uv filter and have never seen the need to so please explain

.I haven't overdosed yet I don't think. Right now I have no fish in the tank so I'm using internal filters for flow. Seachem recommend 5ml for every 200L so far the most I have dosed in a week has been 6ml on different days. Is it wise to split the recommended dosage over a week and still keep the red plants red?

UV causes iron to precipitate out of the water, causing cloudiness. I have had it happen a couple times when running my U.V. filter.

[Darkblade48]

Originally Posted by malloy85

.I'm not using a uv filter and have never seen the need to so please explain

UV light is not needed, but if it is used, it can break down the chelating agents that complex iron and prevent it from precipitating.

On that note, do you know what your phosphate levels are? It is plausible that if they are extremely high, that the iron could be forming an insoluble precipitate.

[malloy85]

My phos kh and gh are all high. I couldn't give you an exact number but I know from previous test and talking to the water company that they are high.

I've dosed 2ml and got like 5% clouding as opposed to the recommended 5ml where my tank clouds for days? What would you recommend as my next course of action? Is there another fe solution I can use to avoid the cloudiness?

[malloy85]

Guys?

[Darkblade48]

I would first try to get an actual measurement of your phosphate level; it might be the phosphates, or it might not be.

There are some bacteria that feed heavily on iron, and could also cause cloudiness, but that might be a long shot...

[cpeterson9]

i had the same problem and it turned out phosphates were the problem.