Never can figure out how to read this test, any idea what this looks like?

[Reefkeepers Archive]

@Randy Holmes-Farley another problem with the iron test... can never quite figure out how to read it, your best judgment?

I believe I followed the instructions properly, could the test be expired or what does this look like?

 

[Reefkeepers Archive]

I checked the bottle and it says it expires November this year so I doubt that's it, i do dose alot of iron but of it was high/off the chart wouldn't it be a purple colour? Also checked nitrates (at zero) if that helps at all

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

I couldn’t say, but any reading with that kit is way more than is needed.

 

[taricha]

No reason to think that a "good" level of Fe in a tank would be detectable with that chemical kit.
If you want to know if the kit is working...
Pull out a liter or gallon or whatever of tank water and add enough Fe supplement to that sample to get to 0.10 or 0.20 ppm Fe and see what the test kit looks like.

 

[Dan_P]

@Randy Holmes-Farley another problem with the iron test... can never quite figure out how to read it, your best judgment?

I believe I followed the instructions properly, could the test be expired or what does this look like?

The Seachem kit might not be able to detect the iron supplement you are adding. The kit’s reagent might be the issue.

 

[Reefkeepers Archive]

The Seachem kit might not be able to detect the iron supplement you are adding. The kit’s reagent might be the issue.

Red sea kit

 

[Dan_P]

Red sea kit

Sorry, but same thought. What supplement are you adding?

 

[Reefkeepers Archive]

Sorry, but same thought. What supplement are you adding?

Red sea iron

 

[Reefkeepers Archive]

@Randy Holmes-Farley question, if this has anything to help. I'm only really concerned that the level is too high, I dose 3.5 ml daily to my tank (120 gallon - rock + sump) and it is full of iron absorbing organisms (overrun with green algae(hopefully not for much longer) and many corals with a green color (which I don't know if absorb iron as much as I think they do)) do you think that would be enough to keep iron down or could it be a reading above what the chart is reading?

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

What product are you dosing?

It is very unusual to get iron too high as it has an extremely wide range between enough and too much.

 

[Reefkeepers Archive]

What product are you dosing?

It is very unusual to get iron too high as it has an extremely wide range between enough and too much.

Red sea trace colors iron

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

My iron dosing recommendation is to add about 0.001 ppm once or twice a week. That seems to be more than enough.

Id drop the iron dose to 0.25 mL once or twice a week and stop trying to measure it by kit.

 

[Reefkeepers Archive]

My iron dosing recommendation is to add about 0.001 ppm once or twice a week. That seems to be more than enough.

Id drop the iron dose to 0.25 mL once or twice a week and stop trying to measure it by kit.

Is it likely that the current iron level is problematic?

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

Is it likely that the current iron level is problematic?

No.

 

[Reefkeepers Archive]

No.

Ok, so I'll cut trace elements dosing every other day for now, eventually twice weekly. Though i do have another problem. Nitrates have always tested to be zero (due to my hefty refeugium and there being a single fish in this tank) got any fish/coral foods that are high in Nitrate but not high in po4? Thanks @Randy Holmes-Farley!

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

Ok, so I'll cut trace elements dosing every other day for now, eventually twice weekly. Though i do have another problem. Nitrates have always tested to be zero (due to my hefty refeugium and there being a single fish in this tank) got any fish/coral foods that are high in Nitrate but not high in po4? Thanks @Randy Holmes-Farley!

Amino acids would do that, but dosing ammonia or nitrate is also easy.

 

[Reefkeepers Archive]

Amino acids would do that, but dosing ammonia or nitrate is also easy.

I think low nutrients may have been the issue in my system! Started dosing amino acids (48 drops every other day) and started feeding powdered coral foods and I'm already seeing better PE! Thanks!