Re: Trying clay balls with FeSO4.

To: Aquatic-Plants at actwin_com
Subject: Re: Trying clay balls with FeSO4.
From: Kenneth J McNeil <mcnei002 at maroon_tc.umn.edu>
Date: Mon, 5 Jun 1995 16:11:39 -0500 (CDT)
In-Reply-To: <199506040739.DAA04170 at looney_actwin.com>



> As someone who wants to do things right but who's always ready to save
> a buck, I'm wondering whether it would work to buy plain undyed modeling
> clay and some ferric sulfate, mix the ferric sulfate in the clay, form
> it into little balls, let it dry, then plug them into the substrate?
>    What do you all thing (I mean think)?
> Steve Black
> blacks at rosnet_strose.edu

I tried your idea in my 45 gallon tank using chelated iron. What a mess. 
Clay in with 2" sand covered with fine gravel.  Everytime I pull a plant
up out of the substrate I get a big cloud of gray clay that stays
suspended in the water for days. I highy recommend not trying it.  The
plants in the tank are growing well though. 

Ken