Dosing iodine?

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

Any test kit you would recommend. My understanding is that there aren't any affordable tests available with any accuracy. Therefore I dose at a low dose but don't test.

https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/an-accurate-and-precise-method-for-measuring-iodine.962654/

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

Thanks a lot Randy for the detailed explanation.

You’re welcome

Happy Reefing!

 

[Sophie"s mom]

here's @rtparty useful comparison across many salt brands.
https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/the-ultimate-salt-test.949805/

IO and IO-RC have plenty of iodine - above target values of ~0.060ppm (IO/RC around 0.20 ppm in that test - and I also measure my IO to be between 0.10-0.20ppm) , however even people who use those salts find iodine depletes in their systems, so people may still supplement iodine, even if their salt is "above target value" for iodine.

So you could increase your water changes if they are very low and increase iodine input that way, but it still may not get you up to a typical target value.

my suspicion is that iodine levels may be more relevant to corals in how it affects the behavior of other elements - rather than Iodine being needed directly by corals.

Thank you for this! I am just learning all I can about keeping corals! I have had fish in the past but never corals until now.

 

[jimk60]

Thank you for this! I am just learning all I can about keeping corals! I have had fish in the past but never corals until now.

I also am using reef crystals. I dose Brightwell iodine in a mixed reef. Seems to make a difference to me but as others have said it's hard to tell how much

 

[North Borders]

I have an SPS dominated tank, and hand dose iodine daily. My acros start to show signs of stress after an about a week of no iodine dosing.

How big of a tank and what and how much do you dose?? I consistently get low iodine readings on my ICP tests and feel like I'm always playing catch up.

 

[braaap]

What's your dosing regimen like? I have 85 gal total volume and I do 3 drops of Lugol every week.

I dose ME Coral Iodine. 3 drops a day in a 55 gallon system. If I remember. I’m out of town for a week. I won’t be dosing and the tank will be fine. I will see a decline when I get back but a week of dosing and it will look good again.

 

[North Borders]

I dose ME Coral Iodine. 3 drops a day in a 55 gallon system. If I remember. I’m out of town for a week. I won’t be dosing and the tank will be fine. I will see a decline when I get back but a week of dosing and it will look good again.

Thanks for the reply! What do you notice in your coral when you go without dosing iodine for a bit?

 

[braaap]

Thanks for the reply! What do you notice in your coral when you go without dosing iodine for a bit?

Depends on the coral. Almost all my wife sees a noticeable color difference. I’ve tested it by not dosing and usually about 5-9 days she complains that something is wrong. But for sure extensions/expansion etc. Acans look fluffy. SPS extension is noticeable. Plate coral fluffy ness. It’s 100% a thing if your wife notices it when you don’t dose to test it haha

 

[North Borders]

Lol yeah --mine will be like "your tank looks like ****"

 

[vabben]

How big of a tank and what and how much do you dose?? I consistently get low iodine readings on my ICP tests and feel like I'm always playing catch up.

120 gallons, I dose 10 drops a day. I just got an ICP back and my iodine is slightly elevated to 102.4. I'll probably back my dosing down to 8 or 9 drops a day.

 

[steveschuerger]

I use SeaChem iodine in my tank. About ⅛ of a capful for a 90 1-2 times a week.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

I use SeaChem iodine in my tank. About ⅛ of a capful for a 90 1-2 times a week.

Did you see any effect when starting dosing?

 

[North Borders]

Hey Randy, wondering if you could clarify the significance of iodine levels in a reef system? ATI's ICP lists it as a "critical" level if it's low even though it falls into their trace element category. I'm unsure of what biological process it impacts.

 

[braaap]

Hey Randy, wondering if you could clarify the significance of iodine levels in a reef system? ATI's ICP lists it as a "critical" level if it's low even though it falls into their trace element category. I'm unsure of what biological process it impacts.

I'm back in town. Noticeable (to my wife) difference in extension and color. Dosed 6 drops of ME Coral Iodine last night. Today the tank is looking like it should.

Randy doesn't believe in dosing because "He did it for a long time and then stopped and saw no difference."

Meanwhile there are plenty of studies and many major players in the industry recommend it. Lots of people see a difference while using it as well.

 

[Pod_01]

Meanwhile there are plenty of studies

Can you provide link to these studies? If there is no link a name of the study would help.

I have been unable to locate studies that shows link between I and corals…

 

[braaap]

Can you provide link to these studies? If there is no link a name of the study would help.

I have been unable to locate studies that shows link between I and corals…

Many, many supplement producers will break down Iodine use in a coral on their sites. Just have to google it.

But here is a scholarly study. They mainly use it for age dating but they specifically state they see it heavily in the bone structure and it is used for gas exchange in the corals. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0265931X17308354?via=ihub

And another. Talks about the relationship of Iodine with coral and other elements. https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/marine-science/articles/10.3389/fmars.2023.1264380/full

I don't think there is a long term study of dosing iodine specifically in aquaria. But it has been proven time and again that stable iodine levels in aquaria does help with coral growth and coloration.

My ICP showed low Iodine. I dosed. My tank EXPLODED with growth. That was my only change. That right there is enough for me.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

Hey Randy, wondering if you could clarify the significance of iodine levels in a reef system? ATI's ICP lists it as a "critical" level if it's low even though it falls into their trace element category. I'm unsure of what biological process it impacts.

No, sorry I cannot. While many folks claim it is important for various corals, there’s no known use (or need) for it by most organisms we keep. Iodide is easily oxidized to iodate, so it may have antioxidant benefits. Certainly there are some well understood uses in some organisms, such as certain gorgonia, where organic forms are critical, but these exact uses are not seemingly in most corals.

Dosing it has mixed reviews. Some claim it is critical, and others see no effect. I saw no apparent effect.

It may indirectly impact the chemical nature of trace elements such as iron through redox reactions.

I discuss many of these issues here:

https://reefs.com/magazine/chemistry-and-the-aquarium-iodine-in-marine-aquaria-part-i/
And

https://reefs.com/magazine/chemistr...in-reef-tanks-2-effects-on-macroalgae-growth/

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

I'm back in town. Noticeable (to my wife) difference in extension and color. Dosed 6 drops of ME Coral Iodine last night. Today the tank is looking like it should.

Randy doesn't believe in dosing because "He did it for a long time and then stopped and saw no difference."

Meanwhile there are plenty of studies and many major players in the industry recommend it. Lots of people see a difference while using it as well.

Yes. Many mixed reviews from a big effect to no effect.

I suggest folks experiment for themselves and see if there is utility in their own tank.

If there is, keep it up. If not, no need to keep doing it.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

Many, many supplement producers will break down Iodine use in a coral on their sites. Just have to google it.

But here is a scholarly study. They mainly use it for age dating but they specifically state they see it heavily in the bone structure and it is used for gas exchange in the corals. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0265931X17308354?via=ihub

And another. Talks about the relationship of Iodine with coral and other elements. https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/marine-science/articles/10.3389/fmars.2023.1264380/full

I don't think there is a long term study of dosing iodine specifically in aquaria. But it has been proven time and again that stable iodine levels in aquaria does help with coral growth and coloration.

My ICP showed low Iodine. I dosed. My tank EXPLODED with growth. That was my only change. That right there is enough for me.

Of course, I note those sorts of ideas and uses in my article as well. They do not suggest any widespread use or need by most organisms we keep.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

I wonder what would happen if a single reefer combined every additive that is claimed by someone to cause growth to explode. The 1950’s movies the blob comes to mind. lol