Fe Level Question

[leafhorn]

Hi all,

I got a plant tank which about 10 tens days back I measure fe level is 0.4 after a water change. Then three days after I measure fe level again is also at 0.4 and I do a water change after that and measure the fe level again after dosing, it reads at 0.5.

One week later, today, before water change I measure again its at 0.5 again.

Does this shows that the plants are not using the nutrients?

Anyway I know fe 0.5 is kinda high, I just switched fertiziler brand not used to the dosing amount yet, changed to TMG. The test kits are ok, other tanks no problem.

Plants are mostly crypts. 15 gallon 2ft tank, 2 wpg 6700k FL lighting, ph 6.5, kh 4 (maintained by my rocks), with CO2 1bps, turn off at night, tank roughly about 3 months old, dont remember.

Does this means that my plants are not growing? Visibly, I never notice any grow for nearly a month also, except for the floating plants kept dividing, my crypts not much development. No algae problem however. Appreciate any advice.

[Heuer]

Hi leafhorn,

Sorry to ask you a off topic question. What is TMG you mention? Is this a brand of a liquid fertilizer? where can i get it and what is the cost?

thanks!!

[eric_kclee]

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On 8/21/2003 11:29:03 PM
Visibly, I never notice any grow for nearly a month also, my crypts not much development.
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o.4-0.5 Fe, could it be leaching form your base fertiliser? if you didn't dose Fe.

I think no visible growth for a month is really way out. My crypto balansae grow 2 full leaves in a month, Crypto parva - 3 leaves in a month. (for your reference)

[leafhorn]

Can it be rocks leaching fe? Possible or not? Recently used some nice looking rocks, it fizzles to the vinegar test and I used it anyway. The rocks are yellowish color with reddish at some parts, with these rocks my kh is always at 4 dh.

TMG = Tropical Master Grow

Its a good and popular fert, 500ml bottle about 30 plus bucks. Can get at Petmart and Nature and some other places I donno.

[eric_kclee]

Sorry, didn't notice that you dose fertiliser and TMG.
All fertiliser do contain some amount of Fe. and I heard TMG contain Fe too.
Not too sure about your rock. However you can do some experiment, soak you rock (if possible) in a pail of tested water, after some days, test for Fe again. If Fe rises then you have an answer.

[leafhorn]

Hey great idea thank you!

[geoffrey]

Fe is fairly hard to measure with Test kits. I doubt anyone would consider 0.5ppm high.

[eric_kclee]

Ya man!

Don't loose your focus,
I thought your main problem is stunt growth. don't channel your focus to the wrong place.

Focus on your main diet. By the way, I thought TMG is only trace element...you didn't feed them Macro Nutrients ah?

Ai Yoh, don't just feed them ice-cream....serve them maincourse.

[leafhorn]

Is TMG only trace? Not sure havent check yet, hehe I always thought it got micros and macros all in one simple to dose, thats why I buy.

[bclee]

TMG, like most liquid fertilisers, contains traces + a bit of K. Still have to add Macros.

TMG contains: K 0.79% Mg 0.39% S 1.01% B 0.004% Cu 0.006% Fe 0.07% Mn 0.04% Mo 0.002% Zn 0.002% HEEDTA, DTPA, E123 

Of all the commercial liquid fertilisers, those that I know contains N-P-K are:

Bioplast NutriPlant (only N & K, no P)
Nutrafin Plant Gro NPK (0.6-0.3-2.4)
Seachem Flourish Potassium (K only)
Seachem Flourish Nitrogen (N only)
Seachem Flourish Phosphorus (P only)

BC

[anttz]

bclee,

I'm using Bioplast NutriPlant, the label on the bottle do said it contain NPK.

I used it with seachem flouish. No sigh of any plant deficiency so far.

So a bit confuse now???

[bclee]

The description I read only mentioned potassium and nitrogen without mentioning any phosphorus. If your bottle label say so... then it should contain phosphorus.

BC

[geoffrey]

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On 8/22/2003 3:31:51 PM

I'm using Bioplast NutriPlant, the label on the bottle do said it contain NPK.

I used it with seachem flouish. No sigh of any plant deficiency so far.

So a bit confuse now???
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Even if Bioplast NutriPlant is indeed without P, it does not mean you should see deficiency of P immediately. P can come from other sources other than fertilisers. Furthermore P is needed in very small quantity compare to C, N and K.

[leafhorn]

Thinking again, my fish load isnt too light also, should take care of NPK already right? Got about 20 rasboras, plus another 5 ottos and about 10 shrimps.

[bclee]

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On 8/22/2003 8:04:28 PM

Thinking again, my fish load isnt too light also, should take care of NPK already right? Got about 20 rasboras, plus another 5 ottos and about 10 shrimps.


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Not true. It may not be enough. But it varies from tank to tank.

The best is to observe the overall health of your tank. If you have persistant algae or your plants don't look great. You may be missing on NPK. A water test is a good indicator.

BC

[leafhorn]

Thank you bc.

[Blue Whale]

hello BC, me back.

Vote for Seachem. [:] solid stuffs.