Are FerroTabs by JBL shrimp safe

[TheSteels]

Can anyone tell me whether the JBL Ferro tabs (plant ferts) are shrimp safe please? The ingredients include copper but JBL state that it is suitable for invertebrates. We are new to keeping shrimp and after our fishless cycle is complete would love to introduce some Red Cherry Shrimp or Japonica/Amano. Has anyone any experience with the FerroTabs?

Warmest wishes
Glenda

[hyoushoku]

Hi Glenda,

Do you mind sharing why you need Ferrotabs?

Here is the composition I got from their manual:
"4.52 % water-soluble K2O; micro nutrients as a complex of EDTA:
0.08 % B; 0.05 % Co; 0.23 % Cu; 1.02 % Fe; 0.62 % Mn; 0.02
% Mo; 0.23 % Zn"


If you compare the Cu % vs Fe and Mn %, it is quite high; I don't have red plants, thus I only dose Cu at 0.3% of Fe level but Ferrotab is at 22% of Cu (almost 73% more than my dosing) when compared to Fe. Shrimps need Cu too but they only need very small dosage. I don't think Ferrotabs will kill shrimp but it seems like designed for red color plants with high Cu level. If you are dosing high Cu level, you can accidentally overdose it. As such, I will not recommend you using it.

[TheSteels]

Hi Hyoushoku,

We were recommended them for our specific plants, one of which is Rotala routundifolia. As this is our first tank we were looking for the most straight forward way of fertilising the plants and tabs seemed a pretty fool proof method as they didn't require any measuring other than tank volume. We have the Fluval Edge 46 litres. We of course would like to have a good healthy tank for all the inhabitants - fish, shrimp and plants!

Warmest wishes
Glenda

[hyoushoku]

Hi Glenda,

Rotala Rotundifolia does need some iron and a little copper but not really a lot. I kept them before and I know.

What I would suggest you to do is to fertiliser it with normal fertiliser and if your Rotala Rotundifolia is not red enough, then you increase your dosing of iron and copper. By the way, fertilising with Ferrotabs is not enough because it only has potassium and trace minerals.

Are using CO2 injection and bright lighting for this tank?

[TheSteels]

It has 42 HIGH OUTPUT LEDS, 7600 K (to quote the manufacturer)! No we're not using CO2 injection and we've only just planted so the Rotala is only just turning pink! aP1010035.jpg this is our tank

[hyoushoku]

Oh.... This tank.

For this tank, it has low light (especially no CO2) and your fertilisation should keep to as minimal as possible. Or else, it will be overloaded.

[TheSteels]

At the moment we are fishless cycling and I'm doing a 50% water change every other day, but eventually will be doing a smaller water change weekly. What fertilisers would you recommend that are fish and shrimp safe? Or are the FerroTabs ok - one once a week?

[hyoushoku]

What kind of fertiliser is easily accessible? If you can give me a list, then it will be easier for me to recommend.

Do you plan to keep fish in the tank too? The type of fish food and shrimp food will dictate of the type of fertiliser needed too.