DIY the DIY FE++ Ferrous citrate supplement

[jason2459]

So, periodically I'll get into dosing something to see some kind of reaction and want to look at dosing some iron again. I've used Iron gluconate previously from supplement tablets and Seachem's Flourish iron.

This time I wanted to make my own and was going to make up some iron(II) citrate.
http://www.advancedaquarist.com/2002/8/chemistry

But then I thought I can also make my own ferrous sulfate too.

@Randy Holmes-Farley
Does the acid level in the end product mater or should I try and reduce the H2SO4 content with a higher pH solution which would lead to more oxidation?

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

So, periodically I'll get into dosing something to see some kind of reaction and want to look at dosing some iron again. I've used Iron gluconate previously from supplement tablets and Seachem's Flourish iron.

This time I wanted to make my own and was going to make up some iron(II) citrate.
http://www.advancedaquarist.com/2002/8/chemistry

But then I though I can also make my own ferrous sulfate too.

@Randy Holmes-Farley
Does the acid level in the end product mater or should I try and reduce the H2SO4 content with a higher pH solution which would lead to more oxidation?

How did you make it?

 

[jason2459]

Planning on some steel wool and sulfuric acid. I'm curious if the acid content of the product is something I should worry about keeping lower or not?

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

Planning on some steel wool and sulfuric acid. I'm curious if the acid content of the product is something I should worry about keeping lower or not?

If you don't add a big excess of acid, I don't think the acidity is a concern to the tank.

 

[dragon99]

Because who doesn't dream of melting steel wool with sulfuric acid and dumping it into a reef tank

But I can't wait to see the results.

 

[jason2459]

If you don't add a big excess of acid, I don't think the acidity is a concern to the tank.

Ok thanks. I'd rather try and reduce oxidation. Still researching this but should be fun.

Because who doesn't dream of melting steel wool with sulfuric acid and dumping it into a reef tank

But I can't wait to see the results.

lol

Just having fun but I'm not sure I'm going to end up with the optimal forms but will still combine with sodium citrate dehydrate before using. I'll probably end up with a tetrahydrate or combination of that with a monohydrate.

FeSO4 + H2O or FeSO4 + 4H2O vs. FeSO4 + 7H2O

Then combine that with the C6H5Na3O7 + 2H2O

To make FeC6H6O7

I think my main issue will be solubility of the monohydrate.

 

[jason2459]

I think I successfully did this Randy my end product, iron(II) citrate, is a very very dark green. I did filter out some undesolved particles which I assume was a monohydrate form. My ferrous sulfate ground down was a mix of light green some almost white and periodic dark granules.

Does the iron (II) citrate come out as a very dark green initially?

I see this in your article

"This iron(II) citrate has turned brown and cloudy since I first made up the bottle years ago, suggesting that it is oxidizing to iron(III) and some is precipitating from solution, but I still use it. Over the past 4 years, I've dosed nearly all of the 5 grams of actual iron to my tank."

 

[jason2459]

I just tried to get a good picture of it but its a very dark green.

 

[jason2459]

oh, and FYI don't try this at home... lol

Be warned this created a LOT of fumes you do not want to breath in.

Edit: to clarify the "this" being the dissolving of the steel wool with sulfuric acid and water, which was a fairly impressive reaction which got quite hot too, not the mixing of the ferrous sulfate and sodium citrate.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

I don't recall what color I initially got, but it turned orange over time (Fe2O3 forming).

 

[jason2459]

Thanks. I tried looking for pictures iron (II) citrate solutions but didn't find any. Lots of other combinations. My ferrous sulfate looked similar to others as were the crystals so that was promissing. But once fairly dried out it definitely wasn't evenly colored through out.

Then I found that steel wool has a coating that acetic acid can remove but I'm not sure what that coating is or if its harmful. But I've found references its an oil so figured its ok.

I'll keep dosing very small amounts and see what happens.

Making the ferrous sulfate was fun though.

 

[jason2459]

Almost 2 weeks of dosing .1ml/day per 220 total system volume and haven't seen any adverse effects. My bubble tips seem more colorful but that could be anything.


But I did clean off my Turbo's Aquatics ATS tonight which is what prompted me to start playing with dosing iron again. Past few cleanings it was seeming to be "duller" and not as full. I didn't think it was a lack of feeding as I do a lot of that.

It was a night and day difference. A very nice dark thick green growth.

About 900g harvested off this little screen.

So, I believe my DIY the DIY iron supplement was successful.


Thanks Randy for all the guidance you give and articles you've published.

 

[Turbo's Aquatics]

oh, and FYI don't try this at home... lol

You're just going to encourage people to try it at home, you know that right??

Almost 2 weeks of dosing .1ml/day per 220 total system volume and haven't seen any adverse effects. My bubble tips seem more colorful but that could be anything.


But I did clean off my Turbo's Aquatics ATS tonight which is what prompted me to start playing with dosing iron again. Past few cleanings it was seeming to be "duller" and not as full. I didn't think it was a lack of feeding as I do a lot of that.

It was a night and day difference. A very nice dark thick green growth.

About 900g harvested off this little screen.

So, I believe my DIY the DIY iron supplement was successful.

Thanks Randy for all the guidance you give and articles you've published.

Nice!

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

Thanks, Jason! Glad it is working!

 

[jason2459]

You're just going to encourage people to try it at home, you know that right??


Nice!

Hope they do as it was fun but also hope they take the proper precautions with the acid and the ventilation required particularly during the reaction.

 

[dragon99]

Are you planning to compare this to any off the shelf iron supplements?

 

[jason2459]

Are you planning to compare this to any off the shelf iron supplements?

I don't have any plans to or know how I would be able to. I have used briefly iron tablets dissolved before and the Seachem Flourish Iron so don't have enough experience with other sources either to compare other then algae liked them all.

 

[jason2459]

I'm not very good at manual dosing so setup a BRS 1.1ml/m pump to dose every 6 hours a very small amount.

 

[jason2459]

I still think this has helped my anemones just as much as my ATS. My ATS was measurable though.

but here's my bubble tip garden. They are a deeper red in person and more so since dosing the iron.

 

[Catchemall]

Wish mine bubbled like that [emoji24]