Iodine deficiency

[aimed]

So I’m using the balin method, with trace, which should add iodine, but my icps always come back as zero. I also can’t grow any macro algae. I started dosing two drops of Lugol's Solution - Advanced Iodine, and my macro algae took off like mad. Coral seems a little happier, and everyone seems okay. I was reading here that it’s basically poison though, so I switched to sea chem reef iodine, 4ml a day. After a week the macro algae started to die, to almost nothing. Going back to Lugols and the algae took off again so clearly still deficient. Did I calculate the sea chem dose wrong, or what am I missing? I take it the tropic Marin doesn’t provide enough iodine but it’s definitely on the label too.

 

[purpfish]

Did you send an icp after using the seachem? It’s not as potent I don’t think but it definitely works I have to to use 1 drop a day in my 32

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

Can you post the icp?

What type of macroalgae?

 

[aimed]

Can you post the icp?

What type of macroalgae?

Sea lettuce, chaeto, sea grape. Attached icp.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

Thanks.

FWIW, in my testing, both chaeto and caulerpa racemosa (perhaps what you call sea grape) grew just fine without supplemental iodine:

Chemistry And The Aquarium: Iodine In Reef Tanks 2: Effects On Macroalgae Growth

Randy discusses how iodine affects iodine growth in his aquarium.

reefs.com

 

[aimed]

Did you send an icp after using the seachem? It’s not as potent I don’t think but it definitely works I have to to use 1 drop a day in my

Thanks.

FWIW, in my testing, both chaeto and caulerpa racemosa (perhaps what you call sea grape) grew just fine without supplemental iodine:

Chemistry And The Aquarium: Iodine In Reef Tanks 2: Effects On Macroalgae Growth

Randy discusses how iodine affects iodine growth in his aquarium.

reefs.com

I thought they should have too, especially with the ballin method adding at least some iodine, but that and iron is the only thing I started dosing / doing different. Very odd.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

I thought they should have too, especially with the ballin method adding at least some iodine, but that and iron is the only thing I started dosing / doing different. Very odd.

Iron? That's a huge boost to macroalgae!