Brightwell Lugols Iodine overdose

Scubabum · Dec 3, 2017

This morning I was attempting to do my weekly dosing of 2 drops of Iodine into my Reef. while dosing the rubber bulb cracked and dropped approx half the glass tube of Iodine into the tank. I ran a test using the Red Sea Pro Iodine test kit and it was higher than the max .09. I did a 15% water change and currently mixing some more water, added carbon. Any other suggestions or thoughts on what to do?? So far I'm not seeing any negative affects. Thanks in advance.

Randy Holmes-Farley · Dec 3, 2017

Not much you can or should do (IMO). The I2 in it has likely already done whatever it will do oxidizing organics (including organisms), and there's not substantial evidence that there will be a problem from elevated iodide or iodate beyond possible browning of corals.

Scubabum · Dec 3, 2017

Randy Holmes-Farley said:
Not much you can or should do (IMO). The I2 in it has likely already done whatever it will do oxidizing organics (including organisms), and there's not substantial evidence that there will be a problem from elevated iodide or iodate beyond possible browning of corals.

Appreciate the answer. Fingers crossed it turns out well.

rosshamsandwich · Dec 4, 2017

Randy Holmes-Farley said:
Not much you can or should do (IMO). The I2 in it has likely already done whatever it will do oxidizing organics (including organisms), and there's not substantial evidence that there will be a problem from elevated iodide or iodate beyond possible browning of corals.

Hi Randy, How come the Lugol's solution that I use, turns from dark brown/orange to clear in a day... Is it less effective once it turns clear??

Randy Holmes-Farley · Dec 4, 2017

DEATH BY SNU SNU said:
Hi Randy, How come the Lugol's solution that I use, turns from dark brown/orange to clear in a day... Is it less effective once it turns clear??

You mean in the bottle? Or in aquarium water?

Iodide (I-) is colorless. Iodate (IO3-, the other form in seawater) is also colorless. I2 is colored purplish (or other colors when it dissolves). Lugols is a mix ofI- and I2, with the I2 existing really as a combination molecule: as I3-.

In general, color isn't a useful indication of potency for iodine supplements..

rosshamsandwich · Dec 4, 2017

Randy Holmes-Farley said:
You mean in the bottle? Or in aquarium water?

Iodide (I-) is colorless. Iodate (IO3-, the other form in seawater) is also colorless. I2 is colored purplish (or other colors when it dissolves). Lugols is a mix ofI- and I2, with the I2 existing really as a combination molecule: as I3-.

In general, color isn't a useful indication of potency for iodine supplements..

Yes in aquarium water. Does that mean when you dose iodine that it turns into iodide or iodate in our aquariums?

drawman · Dec 4, 2017

@Scubabum good luck let us know how it goes!

rosshamsandwich · Dec 4, 2017

Overdose tends to harm fish before it harms corals, if I'm not mistaken?

Scubabum · Dec 4, 2017

It's been a little over a day. I did my waterchanges, added carbon and so far tank is looking well.

Randy Holmes-Farley · Dec 5, 2017

DEATH BY SNU SNU said:
Yes in aquarium water. Does that mean when you dose iodine that it turns into iodide or iodate in our aquariums?

Yes (assuming you dosed I2 in the first place, many people dose just iodide (including me when I dosed it). All forms that last in the water are colorless (iodide, iodate, organoiodine compounds).

You don't want I2 in the water anyway. It is reactive and toxic.

rosshamsandwich · Dec 5, 2017

Randy Holmes-Farley said:
Yes (assuming you dosed I2 in the first place, many people dose just iodide (including me when I dosed it). All forms that last in the water are colorless (iodide, iodate, organoiodine compounds).

You don't want I2 in the water anyway. It is reactive and toxic.

Perfect thank you!

Randy Holmes-Farley · Dec 5, 2017

You're welcome.

Happy Reefing.

rosshamsandwich · Dec 8, 2017

I dose a little iodine in my system and lo and behold I got weirdly molting shrimp!!!!

Randy Holmes-Farley · Dec 9, 2017

DEATH BY SNU SNU said:
I dose a little iodine in my system and lo and behold I got weirdly molting shrimp!!!!

It is known to induce that. I'm not certain of why, but some have suggested it is a benefit in that they "need it", and others have suggested it is a way for the shrimp to get rid of something they do not want.