Water conditioners for planted tanks

[George Pontis]

Most of the water conditioners that I see for sale have some statement on the
label about how they detoxify heavy metals. From what I read here I assume that
this means they will bind up the iron that plants need.

One conditioner that does not say this is Fritz Chlorine Remover ("Aids in
eliminating Chloramines"). This brand is not common in our area.

Which water treatments are popular in the planted tank community ?

[Victor Martinez]

George Pontis wrote:
> Which water treatments are popular in the planted tank community ?

I use Seachem Prime, no problems with my plants.

--
Victor Martinez
Owned and operated by the Fantastic Seven (TM)
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[George Pontis]

In article >, says...
> George Pontis wrote:
> > Which water treatments are popular in the planted tank community ?
>
> I use Seachem Prime, no problems with my plants.
>

The Seachem page on Prime says:

"It will also detoxify any heavy metals found in the tap water at typical
concentration levels."

Maybe they have only a small amount of the agent that captures heavy metals, which
is quickly overloaded by addition of iron. Do you supplement with iron and monitor
the levels ?

[Victor Martinez]

George Pontis wrote:
> is quickly overloaded by addition of iron. Do you supplement with iron and monitor
> the levels ?

I supplement iron whenever I remember too, which is not very often... :)
I don't monitor it at all. I do have fluorite in my substrate and mostly
root-feeders, if that makes a difference.

--
Victor Martinez
Owned and operated by the Fantastic Seven (TM)
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[Victor Martinez]

George Pontis wrote:
> Maybe they have only a small amount of the agent that captures heavy metals, which
> is quickly overloaded by addition of iron. Do you supplement with iron and monitor
> the levels ?


I got this response from Seachem:

Prime will bind heavy metals from solution when you are treating new
water. In a plant tank the impact would actually be beneficial as it
would reduce any iron from a ferric form to a ferrous form which the
plants are able to use more readily. Prime is fine to use in a plant
tank and as far as the iron goes it would be helpful to the plants.

--
Victor Martinez
Owned and operated by the Fantastic Seven (TM)
Send your spam here:
Email me here:

[George Pontis]

In article >, says...
> George Pontis wrote:
> > Maybe they have only a small amount of the agent that captures heavy metals, which
> > is quickly overloaded by addition of iron. Do you supplement with iron and monitor
> > the levels ?
>
>
> I got this response from Seachem:
>
> Prime will bind heavy metals from solution when you are treating new
> water. In a plant tank the impact would actually be beneficial as it
> would reduce any iron from a ferric form to a ferrous form which the
> plants are able to use more readily. Prime is fine to use in a plant
> tank and as far as the iron goes it would be helpful to the plants.

That is a pretty definitive statement, I would not hesitate to use Prime based on
that. Thanks for asking and posting the response.

Your use of flourite further improves the situation. Everyone says that flourite
is an excellent substrate, but I have not yet adjusted to the concept of using it
on that scale. I've potted some plants with it and am watching them side by side
with similar plants in the simple gravel.