Iodine - SPS

[CoralWealth]

If you dose, even if it is only once a week or every other week.

How often do you dose and what do you dose? My iodine is always really low so I am looking into dosing a little bit every once in awhile.

 

[rkpetersen]

I do dose iodine. For corals and also crustaceans, although actual proof that it is of benefit is lacking. I would recommend underdosing, as overdosing is easy to do and can cause immediate problems. If you ever have your water ICP-OES tested, any iodine present above 0 is fine imo and you don't have to be anywhere near the normal seawater level of 60. As an example, for 100 gallons of circulating water, I dose 2 drops of Lugol's solution into the overflow, twice a week. It keeps my iodine level low but detectable (around 10-40), where I want it. :) Also, hobbyist iodine test kits are all bad ime, I wouldn't use them to determine dosing.

 

[jda]

If you are going to dose, then iodide is better than elemental iodine.

Make sure that your test kit is checking for all iodine forms, and not just one. There are a bunch of different kinds both organic and inorganic. You could be adding a different kind than you are testing for. While you need some, it is a Halide and is poison in large doses.

I don't dose anymore, but just offering this just in case. I am a semi-regular water changer and this is enough for me - my shrimp molt and stuff.

 

[CoralWealth]

I do dose iodine. For corals and also crustaceans, although actual proof that it is of benefit is lacking. I would recommend underdosing, as overdosing is easy to do and can cause immediate problems. If you ever have your water ICP-OES tested, any iodine present above 0 is fine imo and you don't have to be anywhere near the normal seawater level of 60. As an example, for 100 gallons of circulating water, I dose 2 drops of Lugol's solution into the overflow, twice a week. It keeps my iodine level low but detectable (around 10-40), where I want it. :) Also, hobbyist iodine test kits are all bad ime, I wouldn't use them to determine dosing.

Thank you, I appreciate it!

 

[CoralWealth]

If you are going to dose, then iodide is better than elemental iodine.

Make sure that your test kit is checking for all iodine forms, and not just one. There are a bunch of different kinds both organic and inorganic. You could be adding a different kind than you are testing for. While you need some, it is a Halide and is poison in large doses.

I don't dose anymore, but just offering this just in case. I am a semi-regular water changer and this is enough for me - my shrimp molt and stuff.

Thank you, what did you dose when you did or do you know what some successful people use?

 

[jda]

Iodide is the best, I guess. I used to use Lugols since it was all that we had. I quit probably a decade ago. I might add it if I did not change water somewhat regularly.

I guess that some lugols is potassium iodide and elemental iodine and some is just elemental iodine. This can be a crapshoot.

Seachem makes an iodide supplement for reef aquariums, IIRC.

RHF has written an iodine article or two... they are dense reads, but worth it if you want to dose. His current advice is not to dose - he used to and quit and saw no difference.

 

[MTBake]

I dose Prodibio Iodi+ every 21 days. One vial in my 40 gal system. My next go to would probably be ATI's iodine supplement. Haven't used it personally but I hear they have instructions on ml per gallon to dose to bring levels up x amount. You will need an ICP test to verify results, imho. I have also used Lugol's without issue in the past.

 

[CoralWealth]

thanks everyone!! I will keep researching

 

[rkpetersen]

I guess that some lugols is potassium iodide and elemental iodine and some is just elemental iodine. This can be a crapshoot.

Lugol's is potassium iodide (KI) in water with a variable amount of molecular iodine (I2) which by itself isn't that soluble in water but which dissolves in water with the help of potassium iodide by forming triiodide (I3-). Note that this is different that, for example, tincture of iodine, which contains I2 dissolved directly in alcohol.

I say 'variable' amount of molecular iodine in Lugol's but in reality almost any Lugol's you buy commercially will be exactly the same, the 15% solution, which is 10% KI and 5% I2, providing 126 mg iodine per ml of solution. I use the Brightwell Lugol's for example, and this is what it provides (although they don't completely spell it out on the label.) It is possible to make Lugol's with more I2 although I haven't seen it but it's always worth checking the iodine concentration with any new purchase.

Fun fact: Lugol's is sold in 30 ml bottles, for hobbyist use, and not larger. Larger sizes are subject to federal regulation as precursors for methamphetamine production.

 

[MTBake]

Lugol's is potassium iodide (KI) in water with a variable amount of molecular iodine (I2) which by itself isn't that soluble in water but which dissolves in water with the help of potassium iodide by forming triiodide (I3-). Note that this is different that, for example, tincture of iodine, which contains I2 dissolved directly in alcohol.

I say 'variable' amount of molecular iodine in Lugol's but in reality almost any Lugol's you buy commercially will be exactly the same, the 15% solution, which is 10% KI and 5% I2, providing 126 mg iodine per ml of solution. I use the Brightwell Lugol's for example, and this is what it provides (although they don't completely spell it out on the label.) It is possible to make Lugol's with more I2 although I haven't seen it but it's always worth checking the iodine concentration with any new purchase.

Fun fact: Lugol's is sold in 30 ml bottles, for hobbyist use, and not larger. Larger sizes are subject to federal regulation as precursors for methamphetamine production.

Thanks for posting this! Good info.

I really had no idea the size was federally limited. Interesting.

 

[CoralWealth]

Lugol's is potassium iodide (KI) in water with a variable amount of molecular iodine (I2) which by itself isn't that soluble in water but which dissolves in water with the help of potassium iodide by forming triiodide (I3-). Note that this is different that, for example, tincture of iodine, which contains I2 dissolved directly in alcohol.

I say 'variable' amount of molecular iodine in Lugol's but in reality almost any Lugol's you buy commercially will be exactly the same, the 15% solution, which is 10% KI and 5% I2, providing 126 mg iodine per ml of solution. I use the Brightwell Lugol's for example, and this is what it provides (although they don't completely spell it out on the label.) It is possible to make Lugol's with more I2 although I haven't seen it but it's always worth checking the iodine concentration with any new purchase.

Fun fact: Lugol's is sold in 30 ml bottles, for hobbyist use, and not larger. Larger sizes are subject to federal regulation as precursors for methamphetamine production.

great information, thanks!

 

[adtravels]

My ice tests often show iodine is low, I read somewhere this is always likely to be the case. ATI recommended I dose their iodine additive. Now I tend to add a ml very 2 weeks or so.

 

[Tuoixuanxanh]

Does dosing iodine help low phosphate and nitrate in some way?

 

[rkpetersen]

Does dosing iodine help low phosphate and nitrate in some way?

Not any way that I can see.

Also, welcome to R2R! :)