Difference between Lugol's and over counter iodine?

[gfox]

Randy could you tell me the difference between Lugol's and over the counter iodine.What is a stronger dose.Lugol's says you can dose once a week 1 drop for every 25 gallons.Is there test kits for iodine available to the public?

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

I'm not sure what you mean by over the counter iodine.

Do you have a better name or a link?

 

[gfox]

I'm not sure what you mean by over the counter iodine.

Do you have a better name or a link?

Walgreens Iodine Tincture USP 2% iodine

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

There are many iodide test kits available (e.g., Salifert), but I should give my usual opinion that I consider supplemental iodine to not be useful for a reef aquarium.

The differences between Lugols and the tincture of iodine are that:

Lugols contains potassium and the tincture is sodium
The tincture is half ethanol. Lugols has none.

A typical Lugols is 5% I2 and 10% KI
The tincture is 2%I2 and 2.5% NaI.