Dosing Lugol's Iodine

ygon · Sep 9, 2014

Wondering if anyone does this regularly and what kind of results they've had? I have been trying this now for a couple of weeks. The Iodide and Idodine levels in my tank were undetectable. So I have been adding to my tank per the lugol's instructions. So far I have seen my Darth Mauls and SC Untouchables which always looked scrunched up in my tank finally starting to open up fully. I have also noticed my red cap grow faster then ever before. I also had a my rbta split, this may or may not be a coincidence. Would love to hear what experience other have had with this?

Randy Holmes-Farley · Sep 10, 2014

Some people do it, but less now than in the past.

I expect the coral results may be coincidence, but perhaps not. If you like the results, I'd suggest keeping dosing of it for a little while, assuming the benefits appear to remain, then stop dosing and change nothing else and see what happens.

I personally don't think that iodine/iodide/iodate is normally a useful supplement, but if I were to dose, I would dose it as iodide, not Lugols.

Lugols contains unnatural and reactive I2, and there's no reason to add that as a source of iodide, IMO. You can add the natural forms directly using sodium or potassium iodide, which is inexpensive enough.

FWIW, I (and many others) dosed iodide for many years, then stopped and saw no important difference in any creatures we keep. Not corals, not shrimp, not anything we observed. That said, there are some folks who are convinced it is useful.

Iodine is rapidly depleted form aquaria as algae take it up fairly fast. may tank would go from NSW levels to undetectable in just a couple of days, so dosing a NSW level once or twice a week is usually a reasonable plan.

ygon · Sep 10, 2014

Where could I find sodium or potassium iodide, do you know of any brands that are safe to use in our tanks?

Thanks

Randy Holmes-Farley · Sep 10, 2014

ESV potassium iodide sold by BRS and others is a fine choice.

Warner's iodide is also likely good, along with many others.

I'd avoid any time release products, since it isn't clear at all what they really are.