A Community and Forum For Aquaponic Gardeners

Maxicrop with Iron

I know someone in this group has or is using this product. How did you apply as a foliar spray, a media drench? Did you dilute it? How often do you apply?

I have some and would like some other experience. I have media beds. Some of my plants are showing first signs of iron deficiency and I want to use this to address this issue.

I know there have been formula for adding iron to AP but since I have this product that's what I'd like to know.

Thanks in advance for your knowledge support

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Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Michael Welber on April 5, 2013 at 9:29am

I put Maxicrop into the fish tank itself. But I only used it when I was starting up because the fish fertilizer does the job very well and I don't need more. I put iron into the siphons once a month and use a teaspoon. The Maxicrop doesn't bother the fish at all but, again, I only used at start up before the fish were large enough to do the job themselves.

Permalink Reply by Linda Logan on April 5, 2013 at 9:43am

Does your have iron with it or start Maxicrop? When you say you put iron in the siphons, I'm guessing this is a direct line back to a sump?, fish tank? How big is your tank?

Thanks for the reply Michael

Michael Welber said:

I put Maxicrop into the fish tank itself. But I only used it when I was starting up because the fish fertilizer does the job very well and I don't need more. I put iron into the siphons once a month and use a teaspoon. The Maxicrop doesn't bother the fish at all but, again, I only used at start up before the fish were large enough to do the job themselves.

Permalink Reply by Michael Welber on April 5, 2013 at 9:52am

I put the iron in separately in the siphons, into the water that's in there. My system is a two pump one in which the water drains into a sump tank and is then pumped back to the fish tank. The fish tank is 300 gallons and I have three grow beds. Murray Hallam says that iron is the only mineral that needs to be added and, so far, I find that to be true.

Permalink Reply by Jim Fisk on April 5, 2013 at 10:09am

Hey Linda,

I have a "T" in my fish tank drain line that heads to the media beds with an adapter funnel top (same one I use on the siphons) and that is where I put the Maxi + iron. It mixes well with the fish waste water before hitting the GBs and does not enter the FTs. I use that spot for any additive. The MaxiCrop has worked well for me.

Permalink Reply by Harold Sukhbir on April 5, 2013 at 10:43am

Hi Linda,

I make a mixture of local seaweed(from the beach) and 2% iron chelate, my own version of Maxicorp. Since AP is a micro Eco-system, I am careful with any abrupt additions. I feel the best way to add anything, iron, potassium,carbonates, nutrients is in dilute form and over time. I usually "condition" top up water with additives and slowly add to the system, this way you may introduce it at any point in the system. Shocking the system with anything, including nutrient, may not be a good practice, although I'm guilty of doing that in the past

Permalink Reply by Michael Welber on April 5, 2013 at 10:50am

Harold, do you compost the seaweed or wash it off? We have seaweed here too but I am not sure it would be clean enough. Lots of little critters in there.

Permalink Reply by Harold Sukhbir on April 5, 2013 at 12:36pm

Hi Michael,

There are many discussions on the forums about seaweed extract, see this

http://community.theaquaponicsource.com/forum/topics/making-your-ow...

Washing off the salt and sun drying for sterilization if you want to be safe...................Sorry Linda if I'm guilty of Highjacking here

Permalink Reply by Linda Logan on April 5, 2013 at 12:56pm

I broad spectrum of answers is helpful. I'll check the link for seaweed use

Permalink Reply by Jim Fisk on April 5, 2013 at 1:48pm

We used beach seaweed in our gardens on Cape Cod and never had any weed or salt problems. Sea salt is actually a good thing for AP in such small doses. There are a few things I miss about not being on the coast anymore. The traffic is not one of them

I used to get fish heads, etc. from the fish stores and grind them right along with our garbage, leaves, paper, etc. into the compost mix. GOOOD stuff. Now we're limited to our farm wastes.

Yes, I just "dollop" the Maxi every day or so and it has to go thru the GBs before it gets to the sump and then the FTs. Colloidal silver is about the only thing I put directly into the sump and that's only an oz now and then.

Permalink Reply by Linda Logan on April 5, 2013 at 4:45pm

Jim what is the colloidal silver doing? When you say you 'dollop the maxicrop' could you be more specific? I think of dollop as a spoonful of a more solid substance. Why so often? You have a large FT, yes.