CloudIX
Active Member
I have been doing alot of reading about Iodine. Some say it's needed and notice a difference in the softie's other say its not needed at all. I want everyone opinion on this, do you dose it, do you see an improvement?
Iodine, Do you dose it?
- Thread starter CloudIX
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Luckfish
Active Member
I don't dose it because I don't currently have a test for it. Additionally I'm sure the recommended levels are highly dependent on stocking of the tank so I’d be nervous about trying to follow recommendations.
What have you learned about benefits and risks of over dosing?
What have you learned about benefits and risks of over dosing?
OP
OP
CloudIX
Active Member
Well i got a test for it this weekend and checked my tank, it was a little on the low side. From digging into it, over dosing is toxic. So if you don't test for it you should not dose it. As far as the benifits, some say they notice an improvement and others not. That's kinda why I'm asking. The ones that do notice and improvement is normally in color and size of the corals.
OP
OP
CloudIX
Active Member
If you no longer test for it, how do you know that your not overdosing it?
KJAG
Rogue
Rest assured, I didn't just start tossing it in the tank before hours of careful research and experience using it sparingly. Not to parrot Randy H. Farley as knowledge of my own, but here's a quote he had on the topic. I found it interesting.
"Unfortunately, there is not very much toxicity data available for any of these iodine species on marine organisms. Aquarists are left not knowing exactly how high the iodide and iodate levels can get before becoming problematic. Phytoplankton growth is apparently not inhibited at iodate levels up to 1.3 ppm iodine (iodide, which they made from the iodate was also presumably high).17 These authors concluded “there is little interaction between iodine processing and the metabolic activity of cell growth.†Several species of phytoplankton were shown to be uninhibited by iodide and iodate at greater than 12 ppm, though iodide (but not iodate) began to inhibit one species (C. antiqua) at levels below about 0.13 ppm.18
In the subsequent sections, it is made clear that macroalgae often thrive at elevated iodide or iodate levels, sometimes better than at natural levels. Whether this extends to other organisms in marine aquaria is not known."
Its perfectly fine to stay within the limits that have been determined as being acceptable, but even with a test kit, ( still have my Salifert I2 Profi kit) you're left not really knowing what the threshold is, and if you can obtain better results by going beyond that threshold. The reason I stopped testing is that the Salifert kit will color change directly after the "acceptable" limit, without giving you exact results beyond that. Each system/ salt mix etc is different though so whatever works for you upon your own analysis is fine. I've personally seen zero negative effects from my dosing regimen.
"Unfortunately, there is not very much toxicity data available for any of these iodine species on marine organisms. Aquarists are left not knowing exactly how high the iodide and iodate levels can get before becoming problematic. Phytoplankton growth is apparently not inhibited at iodate levels up to 1.3 ppm iodine (iodide, which they made from the iodate was also presumably high).17 These authors concluded “there is little interaction between iodine processing and the metabolic activity of cell growth.†Several species of phytoplankton were shown to be uninhibited by iodide and iodate at greater than 12 ppm, though iodide (but not iodate) began to inhibit one species (C. antiqua) at levels below about 0.13 ppm.18
In the subsequent sections, it is made clear that macroalgae often thrive at elevated iodide or iodate levels, sometimes better than at natural levels. Whether this extends to other organisms in marine aquaria is not known."
Its perfectly fine to stay within the limits that have been determined as being acceptable, but even with a test kit, ( still have my Salifert I2 Profi kit) you're left not really knowing what the threshold is, and if you can obtain better results by going beyond that threshold. The reason I stopped testing is that the Salifert kit will color change directly after the "acceptable" limit, without giving you exact results beyond that. Each system/ salt mix etc is different though so whatever works for you upon your own analysis is fine. I've personally seen zero negative effects from my dosing regimen.
OP
OP
CloudIX
Active Member
I did read that same thing that you quoted Chemistry And The Aquarium: Iodine in Marine Aquaria: Part I — Advanced Aquarist | Aquarist Magazine and Blog (here is the link for all who want to read this)
What did you notice as far as improvement when you started using it?
What did you notice as far as improvement when you started using it?
KJAG
Rogue
Specifically, richer coloring in all LPS.My Favias especially got much deeper coloring.
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KJAG
Rogue
Two Part(ESV) but will be switching to Bulk Reef shortly. I like Reef Crystals personally
solar
Valuable Member
No i cant find the product i used to use atm my tank is pretty empty so no need to dose anything.
If i ever get it stocked i will dose calcium iodine and coral vital again.
Only reason i stopped is cause i sold the tank years ago.
If i ever get it stocked i will dose calcium iodine and coral vital again.
Only reason i stopped is cause i sold the tank years ago.
Dowtish
5000 Club Member
I dose it when I remember to. I started dosing it when I had lots of shrimp and crabs in my tank for molting purposes. Now I have no shrimp and maybe 2-3 hermits total. My wrasses saw them as dinner or they were removed because I got sick of the larger hermits knocking things over. But anyways, I still dose very small amounts here and there because I dont have a test for it, and I dont want to overdose.
RacinRevo0818
Active Member
I have heard the test kits are really hit or miss? Travis from PZ says he doses 1 or 2 drops daily to 50 gallons. What is everyones dosing recommendations? Ive been adding 1 drop of Aquavitro Vibrance which is iodide not iodine. I think there is a difference but unsure of what they are. It says contains no toxic iodine on bottle.
