How do I raise Iodine without raising potassium?

[Staghorn]

I recently got back an ICP that showed my iodine is basically bottomed out and my potassium is super high. I usually dose Lugols which contains potassium iodide as due many other iodine supplements. Is there a way to dose iodine without the potassium? Should I be worried about these high potassium levels? Please let me know what your experiences are.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

Sodium iodide is always a fine way to go, but I will note that the amount of potassium coming from potassium iodide is always too small to detect and is no concern (unlike other potassium products such as potassium nitrate).

 

[Staghorn]

Ok. I’ve done a couple water changes and will continue dosing Lugols. Thanks

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

Bear in mind that Lugols is not just potassium iodide, but contains I2, which can react with trace elements such as iron and change the chemical form.

 

[TokenReefer]

Bear in mind that Lugols is not just potassium iodide, but contains I2, which can react with trace elements such as iron and change the chemical form.

Do you have a good source that explains this?

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

Do you have a good source that explains this?

Not in a reef oriented discussion.

But I2 is an oxidizer, and with two primary forms of dissolved iron (ferrous, Fe++, and ferric, Fe+++), I2 (Lugols) can oxidize ferrous iron to ferric iron. One concern is that unless it is bound to organics, the ferric form is less soluble in seawater and may precipitate.

The balanced equation is:

2Fe++ + I2 --> 2 Fe+++ + 2I-

Similar things can happen to other trace elements that are not fully oxidized.

 

[TokenReefer]

Interesting. Thank you for the explanation.

 

[TokenReefer]

Not in a reef oriented discussion.

But I2 is an oxidizer, and with two primary forms of dissolved iron (ferrous, Fe++, and ferric, Fe+++), I2 (Lugols) can oxidize ferrous iron to ferric iron. One concern is that unless it is bound to organics, the ferric form is less soluble in seawater and may precipitate.

The balanced equation is:

2Fe++ + I2 --> 2 Fe+++ + 2I-

Similar things can happen to other trace elements that are not fully oxidized.

When it precipitates is the main concern that it's no longer available or is there harm from the ferric form itself?

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

Just not available. In any case, I don't know if this is a real problem or not. It might even be a benefit for other trace elements. I just want folks to understand that Lugol's does more than just add iodine. :)

 

[TokenReefer]

I see. It's always good to know about things in my opinion. Thanks for the insight as always.

 

[Staghorn]

I actually dose small quantities
Lugols and iron at the same time. My iron levels are OK but iodine was just lower than normal this time around

 

[Staghorn]

And as mentioned above, I did know that Lugols was only part potassium iodide, I just really don’t know how much that would affect the potassium level because it was high this time around as well.