Beccs410 Posted June 13, 2021 Share Posted June 13, 2021 Hello all! I just bought my first few red plants and I know they like a little extra iron (usually a little more than what is in Easy Green from what I understand). Anyway, I also know that water differs in the amount of minerals it contains, and too much iron=BBA. Yuck! So, I'm on the hunt for some accurate tests for Iron, Potassium and Calcium. I don't want to overdose my iron and I'm looking at adding some Amano Shrimp to one of my tanks (want to make sure I have enough calcium) and bunch of java fern to my other tank (which, I understand, loves A LOT of potassium). I've seen that Sera's are pretty highly rated...I'm a Seachem junkie so I've looked at theirs too...but I want to know what our community trusts and uses!! So I'd love everyone's two cents on which brand of tests are your go to for these nutrients!! 😃 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Koi Posted June 13, 2021 Share Posted June 13, 2021 I like using the API GH/KH test kit. Since GH measures both calcium and magnesium you won't really know how much calcium is in your water but I think it still serves the same purpose for what you are looking for. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Beccs410 Posted June 14, 2021 Author Share Posted June 14, 2021 On 6/13/2021 at 5:28 PM, Koi said: I like using the API GH/KH test kit. Since GH measures both calcium and magnesium you won't really know how much calcium is in your water but I think it still serves the same purpose for what you are looking for. I use that test as well in my weekly water parameter checks. I add Seachem Equilibrium at water changes to add minerals because my tap water is so soft (GH of barely 3 and KH of barely 2) as well as Alkaline Buffer (I know I could use Wondershell or crushed coral but I’m a control freak and add the Seachem products to reach specifically desired GH and KH of 7 and 4 respectively, based on my fin babies’ preferences). But, I am more looking to get into the weeds (pun intended) beyond just general hardness and carbonate hardness, especially since I am running a higher tech set up in one tank with known pickier plants for the first time. Particularly with the Iron; definitely don’t want to accidentally overdose my way into a BBA outbreak. 😁 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Colu Posted June 14, 2021 Share Posted June 14, 2021 (edited) API do copper test kit and I think they do lron test kits Edited June 14, 2021 by Colu 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Beccs410 Posted June 14, 2021 Author Share Posted June 14, 2021 On 6/13/2021 at 6:41 PM, Colu said: API do copper and I think they lron test kits I use their copper one when I need to dose Coppersafe! All of my current basic parameter tests are the liquid API kits, but I find some of the color charts a little difficult to discern which makes me want to look elsewhere for Iron and Potassium testing. I like to branch out too, though, just in case there is something better and/or more accurate that I don’t know about, so I figured ask the experts what you guys use! I’m new to higher-tech planted tanks so thinking about providing and balancing micro and macro nutrient levels feels like rocket science to me right now 😆 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Colu Posted June 14, 2021 Share Posted June 14, 2021 (edited) Seachem do an iron test kit am not sure how good it as I have never tested for iron in my tank Edited June 14, 2021 by Colu Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Koi Posted June 14, 2021 Share Posted June 14, 2021 Not that I fully understand how iron works, it seems to me iron is a little hard to test accurately (or at least I've given up on trying out different test kits). I've noticed that testing even a few hours after dosing, iron isn't present or isn't being detected. Since you mentioned that you are a Seachem Junkie it would be safe to assume you are using Flourish Iron?. If so, luckily for you Seachem uses a form of iron that is readily usable for plants... the bad news is that it's very unstable and precipitates out quickly which I think plays into being difficult to test. If I can offer some advice, a little bit of iron will go a long way. I've had better results dosing smaller amounts of iron more frequently throughout the week than if I were to dose that same amount of iron once a week. I'm guessing by hi tech you mean co2 injection? Looking at your gh/kh it sounds like you have quite the ideal setup, would love to see your tank! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ARMYVET Posted June 14, 2021 Share Posted June 14, 2021 I had a similar question where I asked about Iron testing and Cory himself gave me the perfect answer.....Here is the link to that conversation, 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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