Puzzling Iron Levels

[Marisa_allen]

I have started my fishless cycle on my tank and all is going well... hooray!

I have a couple of questions though.

I have been adding leaf zone (the correct qty for my tank) but when I test for non chelated iron it reads zero. I have dosed 3 evenings in a row now and done a water test and the reading still says zero. Any ideas?

I have also used Rowa Phos to remove phosphates as my tap water has 4ppm levels. Now it is zero what is the best way to introduce trace phosphate levels? I dont use c02 so I only need a little, would enough come from the fish food (bearing in mind I have no fish yet!).

 

[Marisa_allen]

Do you have carbon in your filter? Zeolites? They take nutrients/ferts off the water. I wasted a few capfuls of ferts before I found out about it

Hi no I dont. I am worried about overdosing with iron but I guess if my tester (which is a brand new Nutrafin kit) says that the non chelated iron is zero then i have to assume it is correct! I hope!

 

[George Farmer]

Iron (Fe) is notoriously unstable in water and testing is generally very unreliable. Just stick to the instructions and you'll be fine.

You won't need to introduce any PO4 to your tank with no CO2 injection. The plants will get all they need from your water changes (even using RowaPhos), and fish food/waste.