if this is true, what does it mean when I get lots of beard algae on some of
the leaves (the green fluffy stuff, and some that looks like spider web
strand) while my anubias and sword plants look yellow?

it seems like if I increase the iron to feed the swords/anubias, I'll get
more of the green fluffy stuff?

linda

"Dave Millman" wrote in message
...
jduprie wrote:

Hi folks,
I'm in the process of setting up a new tank (125 Gal, fresh,
planted),
and was wondering if hiogh iron levels will be a problem. The current
level
is .640 mg/L (yes thats not a typo). Ph is 7.8, and hardness is 59
(Calcium
carbonate). The only thing that seems out of whack is the iron... I have
a
water softener (ionic collumn) that brings the iron levels way down, so
I
*could* just use the softened water, but its a lot easier (plumbing
wise) to
use the untreated water......

High iron can be a contributor to green thread algae. When my tank is
nutrient
limited (low in Nitrate or traces), I can induce a bloom of the stuff by
increasing Iron to 0.2ppm. But when my tank is not nutrient limited, the
algae
is much less likely to appear, even with high iron.