Iron is to low tech what co2 is to high tech.

[starlord]

I've noticed a lot of low-tech vs high-tech comparisons using the dirted tank method, and it's interesting to see how close the gap is. What strikes me is that low-tech tanks rarely get iron dosing. I'm convinced that with some hardy fish and consistent iron dosing, low-tech would give high-tech an even run for its money. Assuming both are using top-notch grow lights, of course. The thing is, dosing iron is a breeze compared to dealing with empty Co2 bottles - taking them to a welder's shop and all the hassle that comes with it. Iron really is underappreciated for the impact it has in low-tech tanks.

[boomer]

If a low-tech or natural planted tank needs iron, it's likely to require other micro nutrients as well. Using a comprehensive liquid fertilizer, like I did, provides a balanced mix of nutrients, including iron. The only exception is mcoras, which tend to be present in most water sources, except for very soft water. Iron is a heavy metal and toxic to life forms, so it's best dosed in combination with other nutrients, not individually.

Edit. Worth noting that CO2, or carbon, is a micro nutrient, and in a high-tech setup, it's unlikely to be present in sufficient balance with intense lighting and daily fertilization.

[starlord]

Iron in high doses can be toxic, I agree, but my doctor didn't seem too concerned when I was taking it for anemia. I think the key is to use hardy fish and gradually figure out the right amount of iron to add. I'm not too worried about micros and macronutrients in tap water, I think most of it is sufficient. However, iron levels are usually too low in natural setups, and that's where dosing comes in. Plus, the food we feed our fish and the decor we use can also impact nutrient levels - I've started using some iron-rich rock from a rockery that's got a great rusty look to it.

After the initial nutrient burst from the dirted tank's substrate or the potted aquarium plant's soil has worn off, iron can help give things a boost. And let's not forget the constant supply of fish poop, which is always a bonus. By the way, I found an iron test kit online for $13, I think I'll order that to keep an eye on levels.

[shakinStevens]

I've noticed a lot of low-tech vs high-tech comparisons using the dirted tank method, and it's interesting to see how close the gap is. What strikes me is that low-tech tanks rarely get iron dosing. I'm convinced that with some hardy fish and consistent iron dosing, low-tech would give high-tech an even run for its money. Assuming both are using top-notch grow lights, of course. The thing is, dosing iron is a breeze compared to dealing with empty Co2 bottles - taking them to a welder's shop and all the hassle that comes with it. Iron really is underappreciated for the impact it has in low-tech tanks.

Iron and manganese rarely show up in tap water, likely due to their chemical similarities. Copper, on the other hand, is commonly present, a result of widespread copper piping in homes and by utilities. Historically, lead or zinc-coated iron pipes were used, and many brass fixtures contained zinc, so it was present in tap water back then, but now it's often deficient in many areas.

The remaining micro metals, molybdenum and nickel, are required in extremely low concentrations - just 1 part per billion. I'm guessing most tap water has sufficient amounts of these, although they're rarely reported in water quality reports.

The main issue with these nutrients is they oxidize easily, becoming insoluble and unavailable to plants when combined with phosphate or molybdenum.

[starlord]

Just started adding a teaspoon of iron daily to my 240-gallon tank a few days ago, and I'm blown away. My Hygrophila angustifolia, those long, thin-leafed plants, just started showing color at the base of the leaves today. Had to Google it to find pics, and let me tell you, it's a rare sight. I'll grab a photo later and share it.

[shakinStevens]

I've noticed a lot of low-tech vs high-tech comparisons using the dirted tank method, and it's interesting to see how close the gap is. What strikes me is that low-tech tanks rarely get iron dosing. I'm convinced that with some hardy fish and consistent iron dosing, low-tech would give high-tech an even run for its money. Assuming both are using top-notch grow lights, of course. The thing is, dosing iron is a breeze compared to dealing with empty Co2 bottles - taking them to a welder's shop and all the hassle that comes with it. Iron really is underappreciated for the impact it has in low-tech tanks.

Iron.

[TwinTankman]

New copper pipes tend to leach more copper into the water, whereas older pipes have built up a protective coating over the years from hard water flowing through them. This coating, essentially made up of mineral deposits, helps prevent copper from contaminating the water.

We run our water frequently and avoid letting it sit in the pipes for extended periods. When we replaced some pipes a couple of years ago, I opted for a non-copper alternative since I use tap water directly in my tanks and don't use dechlorination. Our well water does contain some iron, but I have a few tanks that require a boost of copper and other trace elements – specifically those with heavy plant growth and a lot of shrimp and snails. I switched to SeaChem Equilibrium about a year ago, as it provides a broader range of essential nutrients beyond just iron. In my experience, adding iron helped but didn't entirely solve the issue; I've found that underdosing it is the way to go.

[shakinStevens]

If a low-tech or natural planted tank needs iron, it's likely to require other micro nutrients as well. Using a comprehensive liquid fertilizer, like I did, provides a balanced mix of nutrients, including iron. The only exception is mcoras, which tend to be present in most water sources, except for very soft water. Iron is a heavy metal and toxic to life forms, so it's best dosed in combination with other nutrients, not individually.

Edit. Worth noting that CO2, or carbon, is a micro nutrient, and in a high-tech setup, it's unlikely to be present in sufficient balance with intense lighting and daily fertilization.

When Tom Barr developed the EI dosing method, CSM+B was his go-to micro. This product had a couple of issues - it only contained about a day's worth of zinc and iron, and its EDTA was only stable at a pH below 6.5, which meant it didn't last long. As a result, Tom had to dose it every other day to get the desired effect. It seems he also wasn't aware that nickel and chlorine are micronutrients, which tap water often provides.

Regarding macronutrients, Tom apparently thought nitrogen, potassium, and phosphate were the only ones that mattered. However, calcium, magnesium, and sulfur are also crucial. I've found that excess iron can bind with phosphate and become insoluble, so when Tom was dosing an NPK solution, he was also adding calcium, magnesium, and sulfur from his tap water. This worked for him despite the deficiencies in Ca, P, Mg, S, Ni, Fe, and Cu.

In my experience, if you have no deficiencies, dosing once a week is effective at moderate nutrient levels.

[shakinStevens]

If a low-tech or natural planted tank needs iron, it's likely to require other micro nutrients as well. Using a comprehensive liquid fertilizer, like I did, provides a balanced mix of nutrients, including iron. The only exception is mcoras, which tend to be present in most water sources, except for very soft water. Iron is a heavy metal and toxic to life forms, so it's best dosed in combination with other nutrients, not individually.

Edit. Worth noting that CO2, or carbon, is a micro nutrient, and in a high-tech setup, it's unlikely to be present in sufficient balance with intense lighting and daily fertilization.

That can happen but it's all about the chemistry of your water. My home is about 40 years old and I found I have 50 PPB of copper leaching from the pipes when I measured it. Luckily I never used it in my tank. 50 ppm of copper in one liter of water isn't a lot, and the pipes will probably still be fine 50 years from now. Water utilities have to monitor for copper contamination, and the max allowed is about 1.3 PPM. Occasionally they do find homes with Cu levels close to the limit. Most people probably have a Cu level of about 10 PPB, which is about what plants need. And yes, if your fertilizer has no copper and there's no copper in your water, you'll have a copper deficiency. It happened to me too.

[starlord]

Tom Barr's formula is effective because he's using CO2, just like everyone else running high-tech setups with CO2. It's the same principle - CO2 makes all the difference. In low-tech tanks, the rules are different, but iron is like the CO2 - it can bring about noticeable improvements in a short span of days.

I've come to realize that frequent water changes can be detrimental to low-tech tanks. It disrupts the water's basic parameters and tank stability. I now advise low-tech enthusiasts to adopt a more conservative approach to water changes. On the other hand, I firmly believe that lighting should always be more than standard in low-tech setups.

As for my own approach, I've been using EDTA iron with zinc. It's possible that Tom Barr was using a similar formulation all those years ago.