Seachem Flourish Iron

Flourish Iron™ – Ferrous Iron Supplement for Healthy Aquatic Plants

Description

Iron is immobile in plants, meaning that plants cannot redirect iron from older leaves to new growth. As a result, deficiency symptoms first appear on younger or new leaves. Since iron is essential for the production of chlorophyll, an iron deficiency leads to chlorosis, or yellowing, of the younger leaves. In addition, stems may become short and slender. If the deficiency is severe and prolonged, each new leaf will emerge lighter in colour than the previous leaf.

Understanding Iron Forms

When selecting an iron supplement, it is crucial to understand the distinction between the two forms of iron: ferrous (+2 charge) and ferric (+3 charge). Ferrous iron is the preferred form for plants as it is soluble in water at any pH level. In contrast, ferric iron is only soluble at pH levels below 5.5. If the pH exceeds 5.5, common in planted aquariums, ferric iron becomes insoluble, precipitating and settling in the root zone. Once this occurs, foliar absorption of iron becomes impossible.

Challenges with Iron-EDTA

To prevent the precipitation of ferric iron, many products use a chelate of ferric iron, such as iron-EDTA. However, this approach has two drawbacks for foliar uptake of iron:

• Iron-EDTA bonding is strong: This means that only a small amount of the iron will be available to the plants over time.
• Energy expenditure: Plants must expend energy to extract the iron from the EDTA and reduce it to the ferrous form before it can be utilised.

Flourish Iron™ Approach

Flourish Iron™ takes a different approach by using a complex (not chelate) of ferrous iron. This supplement is a highly concentrated (10,000 mg/L) ferrous iron gluconate, which plants can more easily utilise because it is already in the ferrous form. This eliminates the need for the plant to expend energy to reduce the iron.

Contrary to what some manufacturers may suggest, gluconate is not harmful to plants or fish. In fact, ferrous gluconate is better suited for foliar feeding than iron-EDTA because the bonding between iron and gluconate is weaker. Additionally, ferrous gluconate provides the added benefit of being a source of carbon, further supporting plant health.

Key Benefits

• Highly concentrated (10,000 mg/L) ferrous iron gluconate supplement
• Plants can easily absorb ferrous iron without expending energy
• Gluconate provides a weaker bond, making it easier for plants to utilise the iron
• Ferrous gluconate also serves as a source of carbon for plants
• Safer for plants and fish compared to iron-EDTA

Usage Instructions

Flourish Iron™ should be dosed based on the needs of your aquatic plants, particularly when symptoms of iron deficiency (yellowing leaves) are observed. This supplement is ideal for providing a bioavailable form of iron that is easily utilised by plants, promoting healthy growth and vibrant green leaves.