Iron for SPS coloring

[Fatboy]

For a while, I'm been browsing through several European forums (ex: Italy, Germany, etc...) were I have seen some really beautiful SPS tanks.

Talking to a couple of reefers and reading their forums, I have realized that several of them are adding Iron to improve their colors (specially green colors). They are not using Iron for growing macro algae but the specifically dose it for color purposes.

Some brands like Zeo and Elos do have Iron as part of their systems.

Anybody has any experience with adding Iron for color purposes ? I'm clear that Iron could fuel algae, but what about a tank that is stable and where phosphates are almost undetectable ?

If using Iron, what type and brand are you using ?

 

[dirtyreefer]

I'd like to hear more about this too, maybe ask RHF about this one?

 

[wrassie86]

It's very possible that Iron will help with greens.I say this because 8mos ago i moved my tank, at the old place was a 125g dosed with 2 capfulls of kent iron a week and it had great greens.now my new tank is a 120g 4ft and every color but green is good.for months now i have been working on the problem but nothing seems to work.so i've tried the iron again (i'm 4 cap fulls in) I figure about a month for results if there will be any.
But the other thing is i use IO just like many other reefers here and they have great greens without adding anything,so who knows what the differences are.my case maybe lights.because i've shaded a frag of slimmer and it seems to be getting greener from the very pale green it was.

 

[glassbox-design]

Be careful...iron is a limiting source for some bacterias and can easily be over dosed.

e+f

 

[wrassie86]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8060871#post8060871 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Flint&Eric
Be careful...iron is a limiting source for some bacterias and can easily be over dosed.

e+f

Hmm this i did not know,i think the bottle i use says 4 caps per 100g so ive always used 1/2 or less than what it said, dosed into my sump before a big ball of cheato.never had a problem.although i did skip weeks here and there.might be time for alittle more research

 

[Norwood IND]

If you are using Kent Iron I thinks it is one capful per every 50 gallons...

 

[wrassie86]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8061438#post8061438 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Norwood IND
If you are using Kent Iron I thinks it is one capful per every 50 gallons...

Very well could be,i've not looked at the bottle directions for awile.Ive always had about 170g's total so 2 caps works out about right for the most part

 

[falcon41176]

This is a quote from the Reef Aquarium Book Volume 3.

"Iron is a component of the cytochrome molecule, and is a critical requirement for algae(including symbiotic zooxanthellae). Iron deficiency lowers the rate of photosynthesis in alkiline sea water. It can increase zooxanthellae in some sps and increase color, but can also decrease in some other sps, and iron acts as a phosphate remover." Hope this helps. It helped me.

 

[Andys29]

If you are not using a system that will lower nutrients you will not get a good effect of the iron. Some may see results but many wont. Even with zeovit you are not supposed to use any of the supplements until you are into phase 3 which is well over 4-7 months. Theres no point as they really wont work as they are supposed to. Thats why i cant see a normal setup using iron, especially one thats not using one of the systems such as zeo. It just seems like a waste. But if you have a very low nutrient system, give it a shot and let us know
just my 2 cents.

 

[reevs]

Re: Iron for SPS coloring

Talking to a couple of reefers and reading their forums, I have realized that several of them are adding Iron to improve their colors (specially green colors ). They are not using Iron for growing macro algae but the specifically dose it for color purposes.

I said yes..I dosed by zeovit - iron, but do not overdose.

 

[Fatboy]

I was trying to find out if there was any Seachem iron product that I could add to my tank, and this is what I found in the Seachem forum......

" Any significant amount of iron dosed to a marine system would readily precipitate out of solution given the amount of alkalinity present in a marine system. Keep in mind that iron exists at .01 mg/l in NSW. I do not suggest adding this product to a reef to increase this level. Our Reef Plus contains trace quantities of iron and will be a safe and beneficial alternative. "

Is this true ? I guess I will ask this question to RHF.

 

[Amphiprion]

It does readily precipitate. I think Randy has an article on it, as well. At any rate, I don't know if iron would improve coloration. I am doubting whether or not iron is even involved in pigmentation. I know, despite popular belief, that iron actually has nothing to do with red and other colorations in plants--it simply makes them greener through the production of chlorophyll. I don't think you can make much of the same connections to corals, but you can for zooxanthellae. If anything, increased iron concentrations could potentially improve zooxanthellae function by boosting photosynthesis.