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Hi all!

I have a question about Iron Deficiency in Aquaponics.

I have noticed that most of my new growth in my AP system has mainly yellow leafs with green veins.  Looking online, I see this is a sure sign of Iron Deficiency.

So my questions are 2 fold...

1. Is their a way to actually test for low iron?

2. What supplements do you suggest to add to my system if this is truly the problem, and can you tell me where I can find them at?

Thanks!!!

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Yes Hagen makes a test.

Sequestrene Iron Chelate 330 has made a huge difference for me.  I highly recommend it.  Other products may be EDHA which are not recommended. 

Bob you might be thinking of EDTA...Ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (which has a couple of major drawbacks)

EDHA chelate doesn't exist (as far as I'm aware of)...however...

EDDHA (ethylenediamine-N,N'-bis(2-hydroxyphenylacetic acid) does exists and is the preferred most quality/non-toxic/most effective regardless of pH (well almost) chelate of choice...It's the ..."Pardon me Sir, is that Grey Poupon..." of the Fe-chelate realm...

So where do you buy the stuff at?

Can you get it in the valley? or do you order it online?

@Vlad - You're right, I should have double checked... Too many letters to remember..

@Russell I inserted links.


Vlad Jovanovic said:

Bob you might be thinking of EDTA...Ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (which has a couple of major drawbacks)

EDHA chelate doesn't exist (as far as I'm aware of)...however...

EDDHA (ethylenediamine-N,N'-bis(2-hydroxyphenylacetic acid) does exists and is the preferred most quality/non-toxic/most effective regardless of pH (well almost) chelate of choice...It's the ..."Pardon me Sir, is that Grey Poupon..." of the Fe-chelate realm...

So is it not available locally?

@ Russell

You should be able to find Sequestrene at the best plant nurseries locally.  If you just ask if they have a chelated (say Key-lated) iron product they will have what you are looking for.  When I first started using it 20 years ago on my bushes the neighbors even commented they were so green. 

Sequestrene is a DTPA chelate product (which is way better than the EDTA stuff on the market). Russell, whatever you decide to buy...in addition to adding it to your system's water, you may want to foliar feed the iron a couple of times as well. Plants seem to respond quickest to iron when foliar fed. They should green right back up.

This is the one i use: http://www.gro-well.com/lawn-garden/fertilizers/kerex-chelated-iron...

I usually buy it from Baker's Nursery.

Product Specifications
* Total Soluble and Elemental Iron = 18.7%
* Soluble Iron = 8.8%
* Derived from: HEDTA, EDDHA, sodium ferric etylenediamine, di(o-hydroxphenylacetate).
* KeRex contains Sequestrene brand chelated iron sold by the agriculture division of CIBA GEIGY corporation.

Stephanie B. said:

This is the one i use: http://www.gro-well.com/lawn-garden/fertilizers/kerex-chelated-iron...

I usually buy it from Baker's Nursery.

How much do you add to your system per gallon of water?

Also, how do you foliar feed the iron to your plants?

I replenish every three weeks at the rate of 0.002 %.

You will have to measure the water in your system as litters and then figure out how much 0.002% is and take into account the percentage of iron in the product you purchase.

For example I would add 126 grams of 6% DTPE every three weeks to a 1000 gallon tank (3758 liters)

Here's another thought for us simple-minded folk who feed garden scraps to our fish. I try to toss in high-iron veggie scraps, like spinach and chard. It may not fix all the problem, but it's as natural as you can get. :)

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