Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

Many of our plants are suffering from inter-veinal chlorosis (yellowing between the leaves veins). The research I have done indicates an iron deficiency and that I should add chelated iron... Specifically Yates chelated iron.

My question is; have you folks used this with success and what rates and frequency have you dosed at?

I have added 1 level teaspoon per 600 litres.

Cheers Wal

That's the correct course of action Wal...

Most deficiencies, especially Iron are a direct result of pH lockout.... what's your pH??

pH is 7.8. It has naturally dropped from 8.2.

What is the dose rate and frequency for the chelated iron?

i'll let someone else post the ratio's they use as ive never had to use it, but the best place for you to dose it is probably the sump when its full.

I just guestimate 1-2tsp into the sumo fir about a 800l system. Have been known to slip but only had to do it about 3 times so far, and the last one just incase

I do 1 tsp per 1000L per month until plants look better

I'm the same as Simo, I use 1 teaspoon per month in my 1000l system.

Hello there. I do not know what Yates chelated iron is. The chelated iron I have been able to get comes in liquid form with the % written on the label. I cannot remember the % right now, but if someone could post the % of chelated iron in this Yates formula, that should allow me to figure out how much of the chelated iron I have I should use. Thanks very much!

Hi FB,
I'm away from home at the moment but check out these.
http://www.yates.com.au/products/fertilising/specialised/yates-chelated-iron/ This the Yates page for chelated iron.

And this page is the the data safety sheet, all I can see on it is it has 100% chelated iron.
http://msds.orica.com/pdf/shess-en-cds-020-000000020597.pdf

I hope these help?

has anyone used Molasses instead of Yeates chelated iron?

http://www.ehow.com/how_6677217_make-ch ... asses.html

Its a dollar a litre up here as animal feed.
You would probably need to soak iron in it or haves some iron in the system somewhere it could react with??
Not 100% sure on the science

Snags,
I tried chelated iron - it did not work at all and I don't recommend.

Sorry - double post

Thanks. Mine comes in liquid form and the label reads 4% iron, 96% chelating agent. That doesn't seem like very much. The bottle is 500ml and my system is 4000L or so. I really don't know how much to add. I added some two weeks ago and things turned around, but now my cukes and spinach are yellowing again. Just added some more ths AM.

I think that's the best way to do it, just add it as needed. Maybe keep a record of how much you add and for how long it lasts. This way you can adjust your dosage, you don't want to be adding every 2nd day but once a month is a good average.

I don't think you can over do it? I added too much the 1st time, all it did was change the water colour and I still have a stain on the PVC pipes.

Keep in mind that if your pH is a little high, then no amount of adding iron will do any good. See chart below..