Iron supplements--why manganese?

[Aquarist007]

"Kent Marine Super Chelated Iron Supplement with Manganese provides bio-available iron to all reef inhabitants. Although present in salt mixes, iron is rapidly used up in the system, and removed through precipitation. Super Chelated Iron Supplement supplies needed iron, manganese, potassium and minor trace minerals for proper growth and health of caulerpa, coralline, and other calcareous marine algae, and those invertebrates which have symbiotic algae living in their tissues."

What's the purpose of including manganese?

[Percula9]

I think it's good for symbiotic algae and it may improve the availability of the iron for uptake. I guess you will have to wait for Randy to come back from vacation to get a more complete answer. I use the kent product my self and have been happy with the results.

[Aquarist007]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14919086#post14919086 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Percula9
I think it's good for symbiotic algae and it may improve the availability of the iron for uptake. I guess you will have to wait for Randy to come back from vacation to get a more complete answer. I use the kent product my self and have been happy with the results.

thanks I use it too---I just wasn't aware of the manganese it it until it was pointed out to me by another hobbyist.

[Tomoko Schum]

Terrestrial plants need a trace amount of manganese to absorb and utilize iron. I suppose that the addition of manganese may be based on the same idea.

Tomoko

[HighlandReefer]

Randy's response to the use of iron and manganese can be found in this thread:

http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=1573952&highlight=Manganese

From this thread:

"The sulfate may be suitable, but an organic iron form, such as ferrous gluconate from Seachem (Flourish) or from a drug store (Fergon tablets in the US) are possibly better. I'm not sure manganese is useful and I do not use it.

I discuss iron here:

First Iron Article: Macroalgae and Dosing Recommendations
http://www.advancedaquarist.com/issues/aug2002/chem.htm

Second Iron Article: Iron: A Look at Organisms Other than Macroalgae
http://www.advancedaquarist.com/issues/oct2002/chem.htm"

[Aquarist007]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14921013#post14921013 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by HighlandReefer
Randy's response to the use of iron and manganese can be found in this thread:

http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=1573952&highlight=Manganese

From this thread:

"The sulfate may be suitable, but an organic iron form, such as ferrous gluconate from Seachem (Flourish) or from a drug store (Fergon tablets in the US) are possibly better. I'm not sure manganese is useful and I do not use it.

I discuss iron here:

First Iron Article: Macroalgae and Dosing Recommendations
http://www.advancedaquarist.com/issues/aug2002/chem.htm

Second Iron Article: Iron: A Look at Organisms Other than Macroalgae
http://www.advancedaquarist.com/issues/oct2002/chem.htm"

thanks Cliff----this statement from the first article answers the question:

"Since many hobbyists do not have access to the chemicals required to make iron(II) citrate, I’d advise buying a commercial iron supplement. There are a number available that seem appropriate and are not very expensive. Some commercial supplements combine manganese with iron (such as Kent’s product), presumably because the scientific literature has demonstrated that phytoplankton also scavenge manganese from the water column. I’ve not experimented with manganese, but it is probably fine to use if you cannot find a pure iron supplement. "

[HighlandReefer]

Your welcome. ;)