Iron test?

[Koan]

Is there a better iron test available besides Seachem?

The test says that chelated iron can take a while to react. But after 90 minutes it's still telling me maybe 0.02 iron, if I squint after adding what should be 0.15 iron from a standard BurrAqua micro dose

 

[Countrykingdom09]

I once was considering buying a iron test kit, because I was using a separate iron fertilizer, to dose the tank with. The main I saw was Fluval. Then seachem. I am not saying I have experience with the Fluval Iron Kit, but the only con I have seen (reviews) is that it takes a long time, but most do ig.

 

[Koan]

The main I saw was Fluval

Appears to be discontinued

 

[Countrykingdom09]

Appears to be discontinued

Oh really? Huh, I looked at it online, did not notice that!

 

[Countrykingdom09]

The only other one I see (unless this one is discontinued too, even though from my research it is not) is the Sera FE kit.

Idk if it is any good, but yeah thats the only one I have found.

 

[Kwyet]

It’s expensive, but Hanna has a colorimeter for it.

 

[gnatster]

Hanna has a checker available.

 

[Koan]

Missed that Does anyone use the Hanna checker?

I their High Range Nitrate checker for sure, adjusted for fresh water.. is the the iron tester worth the investment?

For that matter does anyone test for iron at all?

 

[Kwyet]

I have it, but I use it so rarely that the reagents expire.

 

[ElleDee]

Are these iron tests specific to Fe2+ vs 3+? The presence of iron and the availability of iron are two separate questions, especially in the main water column.

 

[Naturescapes_Rocco]

From my understanding (tying in to what ElleDee said) iron is actually quite difficult to test for in our aquariums. Different forms, lifespans vs consumptions, binding with other elements that will either 1) remove it from testing ability but leave it still viable for plants to uptake OR 2) binds with other elements and leaves it useless to plants to uptake.

 

[Kwyet]

The Hanna checker measures Total Iron, including 2+ and 3+. Beyond that, I don’t know anything.

 

[Koan]

Thanks!

Summary: the Seachem Iron test is not useful for us, the Hanna Iron Checker is an option

 

[gnatster]

the Hanna Iron Checker is an option

Hanna has a less expensive kit; the resolution is not as fine.

Lamotte also has a test kit

 

[Koan]

Looks like the Hanna titration test only resolves down to 1 ppm, and LaMotte down to 0.50 ppm.

Way too high for us

 

[Kwyet]

This is the info for the low range Hanna checker (colorimeter):

 

[Pepere]

Is checking iron levels useful? Does it check for total iron or just bioavailable iron.

Doesnt iron bind into compounds that are unavailable to plants fairly quickly?

Would an iron test just detect bioavailable iron?

Would anything be gained over dosing small amounts of micros daily to an Fe proxy of 0.45 weekly with a weekly deep water change?

That is what I do currently but I am always open to change.

 

[JacksonL]

This is the info for the low range Hanna checker (colorimeter):
View attachment 15068

My understanding is that it will only detect ferrous iron, which means it won’t pick up the chelated iron we mostly use.
The JBL test kit is good, it takes 10 minutes to fully change colour.
make sure you buy a kit with plenty of time before the use-by date. They have a tendency to have a short lifespan and once the reagent oxidises slightly it is gone.