LGND Florebit Ferrum Fe™
Highly concentrated (10,000 mg/L) iron
source for the planted aquarium
Ferrous 13.2% iron
Ferrum-EDTA is better suited to foliar
feeding than Ferrous gluconate
Price range: £ 9.80 through £ 56.97
- EUR: 13.03€ - 75.77€
Overview
Legend Florebit Ferrum Fe™ Iron is an essential micronutrient for almost all living organisms as it plays a critical role in metabolic processes such as DNA synthesis, respiration and photosynthesis. In plants, iron is involved in the synthesis of chlorophyll and is essential for maintaining the structure and function of chloroplasts. Moreover, many metabolic pathways are activated by iron and it is a constituent of the prosthetic group of many enzymes. It is a component of some proteins and plays a role in cellular respiration. Iron is an immobile nutrient and plants cannot transfer Fe from old leaves to feed new growth.
Legend Florebit Ferrum Fe™ In terms of its mobility, iron is an intermediate element, therefore the symptoms of its deficiency first appear in young leaves, but sometimes also in older ones. Plants absorb iron in the form of Fe(2+) or Fe(3+) ions. This element should always be supplied in chelated form, otherwise, it will be precipitated into the water in the form of insoluble oxides and hydroxides that are not absorbed by plants.
The optimal dose depends very much on the type of chelator used, the hardness of the water and the intensity of the light. All these parameters can have an effect on the stability of the iron chelate. In general, the higher the pH, GH and light intensity, the higher the iron doses must be. Some aquarists even dose up to 1 ppm of Fe per week.
Thus, Fe deficiency is first seen as the yellowing of new leaves and poor pigmentation of colored plants. Contrary to what most enthusiasts believe; supplying excess iron does not stimulate additional pigmentation in red plants. Regular dosing to keep it at a sufficient level is more important. Although abundant in most well-aerated soils, the biological activity of iron is low because it primarily forms highly insoluble ferric compounds at neutral pH levels. Iron plays a significant role in various physiological and biochemical pathways in plants. It serves as a component of many vital enzymes, such as the cytochromes of the electron transport chain, and is therefore required for a wide range of biological functions. The effect of Florebit Ferrum Fe™ can thus be maximized if Legend fertilizers (Essential™, Heaven™, Avalon™, Elysium™) are additionally used.
Legend Florebit Ferrum Fe™ is a highly concentrated (10,000 mg/L) ferrous iron gluconate supplement. Plants are able to much more easily derive a benefit from Flourish Iron™ because ferrous iron gluconate is already in the ferrous form so they do not expend energy reducing it. Despite what other manufacturers may intimate, gluconate is not harmful to plants or fish. In fact, ferrous gluconate is better suited to foliar feeding than is iron-EDTA owing to the relatively weaker iron-gluconate bonding vs. iron-EDTA bonding. In addition, ferrous gluconate has the added bonus of being a source of carbon.
Recommended dose: 1 mL of Florebit Ferrum Fe™ / 30 litres of aquarium water.
Available volumes: 100 mL, 250 mL, 500 mL, 1 L, 5 L.
Directions
Dosage
1 mL of Florebit Ferrum Fe™ / 30 litres of aquarium water.
Use guidance
Shake well before use. Dose into a high-flow area of the aquarium or pre-mix with aquarium water for more even distribution. Maintain stable CO2 (if used), good circulation, and consistent maintenance for best results.
FAQ
Why do I need to use Florebit Ferrum Fe™ if I'm already using Heaven®?
A: Iron is an important nutrient in the planted aquarium. In order to maintain an adequate iron concentration it should be dosed on a fairly regular basis (daily). Heaven® should be dosed less often (semi-weekly or weekly) since its components are not rapidly depleted. Daily dosing with Heaven® can lead to unwanted algae growth. By having these supplements as separate products, the hobbyist can add Flourish Iron™ every day and not risk unwanted algae growth while still adding the necessary level of Heaven® on a less regular basis.
Can I combine it with other products?
A: Yes, in most planted aquarium routines it can be combined with complementary nutrients. Avoid overdosing and keep parameters stable.
An hour after adding Florebit Ferrum Fe™ to my aquarium I do not get a reading with my iron test kit. Are the plants using the iron or is it precipitating out somehow?
A: I am confident that the iron is being consumed. If it was precipitating out of solution, you would notice a white chalky haze to your water and a white colored coating to your aquarium walls, heater, filter, etc. Our Florebit Ferrum Fe™ is a very different type of iron. Ours is bound to a carbohydrate that is very easily metabolized by your plants. Most of the others on the market are chelated iron supplements and your plants has to expend large amounts of energy to get the iron from the chelate to be able to use it.
When I add Florebit Ferrum Fe™ to my aquarium within a few minutes the water gets very cloudy. What is causing the precipitation?
A: This is a peculiar response. Florebit Ferrum Fe™ does not normally cause cloudiness unless used excessively, and even then the cloudiness is very mild. Since the cloudiness was caused by a white precipitate, as you confirmed by testing, it is not an iron precipitate. It is also unlikely to be a direct carbonate precipitate. I suspect that your water is exceptionally hard (contains a lot of calcium/magnesium) and that you may also have a high alkalinity (carbonate content), and that the addition of Florebit Ferrum Fe™ (by an ion competing mechanism) pushes the calcium/magnesium carbonate in the water beyond saturation, resulting in the precipitation of calcium/magnesium carbonates. Even without the addition of Florebit Ferrum Fe™, do you sometimes see a white (chalky) film on the surface of the water? If so, that would support the presence of high calcium/magnesium. You may want to test your water for calcium/magnesium and alkalinity. If you experience problems growing certain plants, that may also suggest excessive hardness, since many plants prefer soft to only mildly hard water. Do you see any cloudiness when adding bicarbonate? If you have to frequently add bicarbonate, you may be using too much CO2. Regardless, however, I expect your calcium/magnesium hardness is the culprit. While this is nothing to panic about, if it should prove to be the case, I think you would do better to dilute out your water with some kind of soft water, such as DI, RO, or rain water.
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Ingredients
Contains (mg/L)
Safety
Protect from frost and heat. Keep out of reach of children and pets.
Storage: At room temperature. Protect from frost and heat.
Use: For fertilization of ornamental plants in an aquarium only.
See the pack for detailed dosage recommendations.
Note: Official guidance recommendations take precedence.
Do not overdose!