testing for Iron

[DaveJT]

I'm interested in testing for Iron in my planted tank. I'm pretty sure I have a deficiency and will be supplementing Iron shortly and thought it would be interesting to test on a regular basis to quantify results a little.

However,

I did read a note from one of the hosts of a popular planted tank site that "All iron tests for aquariums are inaccurate and not to bother with them".

So ... Why might he make this claim?

Are there varying water conditions that alter the test? Are the many different types of Iron that can be added to the tank responsible for inaccuracies?

Are there different types of Iron tests? Which is preferable.

And of course... How, if at all does this pertain to SeaChem'S Iron test kit.

After Adding Flourish Iron to the tank will this produce a measurable response on SeaChem's Iron test.

Thank you.

[Tech Support AN]

I'm glad that you are wanting to start using an iron supplement, as it plays a very important role in the planted aquarium. Since you mentioned that you might have a deficiency, here are the signs to look for: chlorosis of tissue between veins, stems short and slender, mostly affects young leaves.

To address your question about iron test kits. I would not go to the length of saying that they are all inaccurate and not to bother with them. As a matter of fact, they can be very accurate as long as they are compatible with the the type of iron you are testing for. There are indeed different types of iron that are supplemented to an aquarium. The 2 main types of iron used in the aquarium are chelated iron and non-chelated (free) iron. Chelated iron is in the ferric state (Fe3+) and must be reduced to the ferrous state (Fe2+), which is the preferred state for plants. In doing this reduction, the plants have to expend a great deal of energy. Our Flourish Iron is already in the reduced Fe2+ state and allows the plant to readily take in the iron almost immediately without using any energy.

So, of course, with the different types of iron, there is a need for different test kits. If you are using a chelated iron supplement then you will want to make sure that your test kit measures chelated iron. If you are using say our Flourish Iron, which is not chelated, then you will want a test kit that measures non-chelated or free iron for an accurate reading. Whether one is preferable over the other, I guess that will depend on what iron supplement you are using. Our MultiTest: Iron kit measures both chelated and non-chelated iron, so there is no need to worry about inaccurate results. I do want to make you aware, however, that since our Flourish Iron is bound to a carbohydrate that is very easily metabolized by your plants, more likely than not, it will not register on a test kit, even after you dose it. This is because it gets utilized immediately, but I can assure you that it is being consumed by your plants. If you would like to read more about our Flourish Iron or our Iron test kit please follow the links below:

http://www.seachem.com/Products/product_pages/FlourishIron.html
http://www.seachem.com/Products/product_pages/MT_Iron.html

Also, here is a link to a very insightful thread written by the owner of our company about the benefits of ferrous gluconate iron over iron EDTA (chelated iron):

http://fins.actwin.com/aquatic-plants/month.9811/msg00474.html

I hope this information was helpful and please let us know if you have any additional questions.

[Fishytales]

I appreciate all the information being given on the forums. I do have one question regarding this reply. That is "Why would someone want a test kit for testing iron while dosing with Flourish Iron?". It would seem a waste if nothing is going to be shown even after dosing.

[QUOTE=Tech Support AN;7775] I do want to make you aware, however, that since our Flourish Iron is bound to a carbohydrate that is very easily metabolized by your plants, more likely than not, it will not register on a test kit, even after you dose it. This is because it gets utilized immediately, but I can assure you that it is being consumed by your plants. .[/QUOTE]

Best regards,

Howard

[Tech Support AN]

Thanks for the post. To be honest, if you are using Flourish Iron according to the instructions on the label, it is really not necessary to test for iron, as it gets consumed rapidly. I dose Flourish Iron daily, do not test my level, and have had no issues whatsoever. However, not every hobbyist uses our Flourish Iron, therefore, may need to test the iron content of their water more often to prevent toxic levels from accumulating, depending on what type of iron supplement they are using. We did not make the MultiTest: Iron for use with our products only, but for anyone testing any type of iron (chelated and non-chelated) in either a freshwater or a saltwater system. I hope this cleared things up. :-)

[Fishytales]

That explains it perfectly for me. Thanks!

[Tech Support EH]

You're very welcome!