Caulerpa and Iron...

[Reefguide]

I started to dose Iron because my caulerpa keeps crashing. I'm adding Kent's Super Chelated Iron. LFS told me to add 1/2 of there recomended dose to avoid a algea blooms. My question, should Iron be at a specific level in Reef Aquariums or do I just dose till caulerpa startes to grow? Are there even test kits for Iron?

Thanks...

 

[randy holmes-farley]

While there are tests for iron, I'm not a fan of targeting specific levels of iron. The issue, IMO, is that measuring total iron (just like measuring total copper or any other metal ) is of dubious value when the bioavailability of the iron is what is important.

Here's my article on iron, and a follow up article (on organisms other than macroalgae) will post in a couple of weeks:

http://www.advancedaquarist.com/issues/aug2002/chem.htm

 

[O P Ing]

hi.
I agree with Randy.

FWIW, I have been harvesting Caulerpa in a tank that I have not done any water change or additive (except Ca rxtor) for two years, and I have yet to see the Caulerpa crash. It is interest to note that the very same tank was not able to keep Caulerpa in the first few attempts when I tried to introduce the weed. :?

 

[Reefguide]

Randy : Thanks... will read....


O P Ing : Did you do anything different? Or it just took the last time you tried?

 

[O P Ing]

hi.
I am as confused as the first day when I got my first betta bowl 25 years ago.

I don't remember anything particular that I did, but even if I do remember what I did differently, I will feel that it is just matter of coincidence rather than something that is repeatable. It is something like weeding a big patch of mint plants in my garden, and putting my arm in the tank without washing it as well as I should... :?

I can confidently tell you that dosing iron will only work as well as my "mint" procedure, and no better. :wink: