Brightwell Chaetogro review

[DCR]

@Randy Holmes-Farley I'm considering using Seachem Iron Flourish. It is more concentrated than most iron products. A 500ml bottle contains 5000 mg of iron gluconate. (10x the iron content of Brightwell's Chaeto Grow). However following Randy's DIY usage, I also have a 300 gal tank, I would add 0.1ml twice a week. Therefore I intend to dilute Iron Flourish further in distilled water to make the dosing more manageable, likely 10-to-1. I assume this approach is not an issue, the iron gluconate will remain is suspension?

I believe I recall a thread on here about someone wiping out their tank with Flourish. I would do some more research on it.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

I’m not aware of a problem with Flourish iron, but I’d prefer a diy using Fergon tablets from a drug store since it has a purity assurance the flourish lacks.

 

[BigMax]

I’m not aware of a problem with Flourish iron, but I’d prefer a diy using Fergon tablets from a drug store since it has a purity assurance the flourish lacks.

Thanks for your take. I bought the Fergon tablets, but they are now 'green coated' and quite a few 'other ingredients'. Is there a different version that you use? or is this the recommended product?

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

Thanks for your take. I bought the Fergon tablets, but they are now 'green coated' and quite a few 'other ingredients'. Is there a different version that you use? or is this the recommended product?

Nope, that’s the one.

 

[BigMax]

Looking at my options once again as my chaeto growth as slowed. Looking at Brightwell's chaeto-grow they recommend 5ml per 20 gallons. At a 0.1% iron concentration would equate roughly 1mg per ml. For my 300 gallon tank the would be 75mg of iron twice a week for several weeks. Then dialing back to 'what's needed' which is wide open tp interpretation. Just trying to demine what is excessive? I may bump up my current dosage of 3mg to about 25mg weekly for an extended period Is that problematic?

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

Looking at my options once again as my chaeto growth as slowed. Looking at Brightwell's chaeto-grow they recommend 5ml per 20 gallons. At a 0.1% iron concentration would equate roughly 1mg per ml. For my 300 gallon tank the would be 75mg of iron twice a week for several weeks. Then dialing back to 'what's needed' which is wide open tp interpretation. Just trying to demine what is excessive? I may bump up my current dosage of 3mg to about 25mg weekly for an extended period Is that problematic?

Iron doses are very noncritical. There’s a very wide range between enough and too much.

 

[BigMax]

Iron doses are very noncritical. There’s a very wide range between enough and too much.

So 60 to 70mg in a 300 gallon tank per week, while growing chaeto is likely not out of line? Thx

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

So 60 to 70mg in a 300 gallon tank per week, while growing chaeto is likely not out of line? Thx

It’s very high and I think it is way more than is needed, but it won’t likely hurt anything. Red Sea recommends 0.1 ppm, which is also very high but not apparently killing things.

 

[TheReeferer]

Is it safe to assume if nutrients are sufficient but chaeto turns white and die it’s due to iron deficiency as discussed here?

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

Is it safe to assume if nutrients are sufficient but chaeto turns white and die it’s due to iron deficiency as discussed here?

I don’t think that’s the only explanation, especially based on that minimal info, but it’s an easily tested possibility with some new chaeto.

Was it growing in your system then died, or was it a new batch?

 

[Willito]

Hi Randy,
My system is 600 gallons and would like to set this on a dosing pump. My plan is to mix Furgon with Di water to make a diluted solution 10x the recommended recipe into a 1 Litre. By dosing 7ml /day this should last me roughly 5 months. Would the active ingredients degrade during this time and will it require regular mixing?

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

There is some concern that the ferrous iron will air oxidize into ferric iron in that time, and that can make it less soluble. Whether that keeps it from being adequately useful since there are organics to help solubilize it, I cannot be sure.

 

[Willito]

What would you suggest the expiration would be once the Furgon is mixed with water? Just want to get an idea before making my solution.