iodine

[DEADFISH1]

I have a Finger leather that shrinks up just after adding iodine, I don't add that much, just a half of a lid once or twice a week in a 58 gal., is the leather telling me that he likes it or is he saying STOP THAT!? 8O

the only other thing I'm adding is the Kent Tech CB A&B, I started using it a couple of weeks ago and wishing I had started sooner, that stuff's great.

 

[2poor2reef]

I have never found an accurate way to test for iodine levels so I don't supplement with it. There are some soft corals that I understand are very sensitive to it. I have been told that iodide is toxic at levels not much above those found in natural salt water.

 

[Anonymous]

hi.
I agree. My philosophy is that if you can't see what you doing, better find way to not do it. Will you top off a tank with a garden hose if you can't see the water level?

With reasonable water change frequency, you be pretty much on the save spot with Iodine level. Rather the soft corals need active Iodine dosing or not is a matter of argument, particularly for Xenia.

 

[DEADFISH1]

speaking of Xenia's, I have some Red Sea Xenia's in my 7 gal. bow front, I very rarely ever add Iodine to the 7 Gal. but when I do it's only a couple of small drops, the Xenias will close up almost immediately, I took it as if they liked it but now I'm wondering if they didn't, has anyone ever noticed this characteristic and understand what's going on?

 

[Anonymous]

hi.

the Xenias will close up almost immediately, I took it as if they liked it

Totally off topics, but do you talk to your partner/spouse during intimate time? :wink:

 

[DEADFISH1]

hi.

the Xenias will close up almost immediately, I took it as if they liked it

Totally off topics, but do you talk to your partner/spouse during intimate time? :wink:

no and yes, no I don't have normal conversation but I do like to turn it into a theatrical event, if you know what I mean.

Seven, are you trying to sump this? 8)

 

[Anonymous]

iodine, I don't add that much, just a half of a lid once or twice a week

The only context I have ever heard "lid" used in terms of measurement is an old Cheech & Chong drug bust skit.

I agree that if you can't measure the iodine, you shouldn't put it in there. I bought an iodine test kit and found I couldn't use it reliably. I am a Chemistry professor, so I think I can safely say that if I can't do it, no one else can either.

It might be useful for detecting massive iodine overdoses, but that is about it.

I would believe what your leather coral is trying to tell you. Don't dose it. YOu can introduce plenty of iodine with partial water changes.

 

[Mabu]

I added some iodine to my tank and immediately a cactus calurpa started to disintegrate. I no longer supplement iodine to my tank and I think it's better like that.

 

[DEADFISH1]

ok, "cap" then, I know caps work, Kent uses caps for measuring in their instructions.
"(Cap on 16 oz. bottle equals 5 ml, Cap on 64 oz. and gallon equals 10 ml)"

ok, it sounds like I need to toss out the Iodine, who's Idea was it in the first place to use this stuff, I mean who determined that it was a good Idea to use it, and why does Kent have so much product to add to your tank when you need so little, if you read the contents on their bottles it would appear that some of their product is the same but with a different label.?
why, why, why?

I think I already know the answer to this. :roll:

 

[Anonymous]

there are so many products from so many companies for so many things because THEY ARE IN A BUSINESS TO MAKE MONEY.most of the additives are completely unnecessary, to say nothing of affecting your tank(s) in ways you may not be aware of, or can't test for.stop using the iodine, for at least awhile, and see how your corals look- if they're o.k., then it's obvious you don't need the stuff.remember, too that just because a coral grows faster (like a product may claim to be able to do), that doesn't necessarily mean that the coral is doing 'better'(healthier)(could be forced metabolism increase,-one example)

 

[Anonymous]

hi.

Seven, are you trying to sump this?

No. I was just curious that maybe you confuse pain with ecstasy on everyday life. :wink:

...who's Idea was it in the first place to use this stuff...?

Usually it started when someone says,"Umm... there are some dirty under your fingernails, and it means that your soft corals lack Iodine..." Then the person went to the LFS and read the label, feeling that that the additive will be even more beneficial to the buyer than the corals, and brought it.

 

[DEADFISH1]

hi.

Seven, are you trying to sump this?

No. I was just curious that maybe you confuse pain with ecstasy on everyday life. :wink:

...who's Idea was it in the first place to use this stuff...?

Usually it started when someone says,"Umm... there are some dirty under your fingernails, and it means that your soft corals lack Iodine..." Then the person went to the LFS and read the label, feeling that that the additive will be even more beneficial to the buyer than the corals, and brought it.

oh, I get it, everything seems brighter now,
thank you Seven for enlightening me.

 

[danmhippo]

I2 bashing all of the sudden now, huh?

I think I better keep quiet.........

 

[RicardoMiozzo]

I2 is yet to be proved as something usefull above NSW levels, that are quite low compared to all product labels say are necessary. years ago I thought that, to give my animals the best, I should try all products I considered interesting. Now I use calcium hidroxide, fish food and a calcium reactor. Simple, nice and easy.

 

[Marcosreef]

It is beleived that Iodide (I), is rapidly used up by macro algaes in the aquarium. (In as little as a couple of days, from what I have read and understand).

If choosing to maintain NSW levels of Iodine, Iodide is a better choice. (Has less of a disinfectant quality than Iodine, and thus safer.)

Iodine/Iodate test kits are good to indicate overdose, which is unlikely when using Iodide, conservately.

I prefer to add it indirectly such as by using B-Ionic daily while maint. calcium and alk.

Regards, Marco

 

[JeremyR]

I don't think you can maintain nsw levels of iodide, because you can't accurately test for it at our level. I haven't added it in years (except via b-ionic in the reactorless tanks). I do feed dulse to the tangs which has alot in it, but I don't know how that works out to the water after they eat it, digest it, poop it.. etc. Hehe. But even tangless tanks I never add it.

 

[Anonymous]

1. We add iodine every time we feed the fish.

2. We replenish iodine every time we do partial water changes.

3. I have nothing against Iodine. But you have to recognize that as a mild oxidizing agent you can do as much damage as with adding bleach from a bottle if you add too much. I'm not saying don't add it. I am saying the test kits aren't reliable, so add it with extreme caution.

4. The idea that you need to dose Iodine is in Delbeek and Sprung, who state that they have seen it help prevent crashes with Xenia and mushrooms and clams tend to look better when they dose iodine.

So I guess my advice is don't overdose, and you are at a real risk of overdosing if it is hard to measure. FWIW I don't dose any trace elements. I rely entirely on fish food and partial water changes. The trace elements in Instant Ocean, for example, are at concentrations above those found in the ocean, so as long as you do frequent small partial water changes, you should be able to keep them around at least at some reasonable concentration.

 

[RicardoMiozzo]

I can say any form of bottled I2 is useless.
One posting below says exactly what I think;
I2 above NSW levels is nonsense. It is yet to be proved that it can be of any help in aquaria. We add I2 when feeding the fish, and I2 in the quantities found in NSW is an oxidizing agent of tertiary importance - and I am being generous.
Monitoring ORP constantly, and adding I2 proves that to increase ORP in 1 mV with Iodine is very difficult - dose should be so high that we go back to nonsense idea.
To say more - I have not found any improvement in coral health when I dosed Iodine frequently, as many other liquid suplements.
My tanks are now kept with partial water changes, kalkwasser and fish food. One of the tanks has a calcium reactor and coral growth is impressive. It's been in use for the last 4 months, and with it I could feel a deep diference.

 

[Mouse]

AOTS Says:

I agree that if you can't measure the iodine, you shouldn't put it in there. I bought an iodine test kit and found I couldn't use it reliably. I am a Chemistry professor, so I think I can safely say that if I can't do it, no one else can either.

Man i am so glad you said that, ive been trying for ages to use my iodene test with no joy. Infact ive allmost run out of the reagents and i still think i faild to get even one decent result. They are a pain :lol:

 

[Anonymous]

I bought an Iodine test kit, made one attempt to try to read through the instructions and saw what a PITA it is to use, and placed it safely in the remotest corner of the fish stuff closet. I will continue not to dose Iodine. Strontium - same story.