Iodine/iodide ratio and dosing

[maroun.c]

Trying to better understand the relationship between iodine and iodide in a reef tank and whether dosing any is fine if total iodine level in water is low? Or should we worry about a specific ratio.
How about using potassium iodide (lugol solution) to raise both if both are low? Any idea about every the specific concentration of iodine, iodide and potassium in lugol so solution or is it best to use separate additives for each?
Thanks .

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

Well, I'm not sure what you mean by "iodine", but there is no, or nearly no, I2 in the ocean. In the ocean, it is a mix of mostly iodate (IO3-) and some iodide (I-) for a total of 0.06 ppm total I.

IMO, maintaining iodide/iodate has not been proven to be clearly useful, but if I were to dose it (and I did for many years), I'd use I-.

The I2 in Lugols (a part of it is I2 and part I-) is unnatural and reactive. That said, many folks use it without apparent problem.

I- and IO3- will equilibrate with each other over time in the water.

This has more:

Chemistry And The Aquarium: Iodine in Marine Aquaria: Part I ? Advanced Aquarist | Aquarist Magazine and Blog
http://www.advancedaquarist.com/issues/mar2003/chem.htm

 

[maroun.c]

Thank you.
Now to go read the link which will for sure remind me how much I struggled in chemistry years back

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

You're welcome. I'm happy to explain anything that needs it.

 

[Kungpaoshizi]

Newer research is pointing to corals actually needing iodine. Now if they have a survival mechanism to account for +/- too much, that's in question.. Just thought I would add that. Many things that were unknown are becoming known between newer types of research and genetic analysis. Neither in the areas of pure chemistry.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

Newer research is pointing to corals actually needing iodine. Now if they have a survival mechanism to account for +/- too much, that's in question.. Just thought I would add that. Many things that were unknown are becoming known between newer types of research and genetic analysis. Neither in the areas of pure chemistry.

Do you have any links to research showing corals need iodine?

 

[marke]

Newer research is pointing to corals actually needing iodine. Now if they have a survival mechanism to account for +/- too much, that's in question.. Just thought I would add that. Many things that were unknown are becoming known between newer types of research and genetic analysis. Neither in the areas of pure chemistry.

I would love to read some research like that! We have been doing research with I. From what we have seen so far: Its difficult to test for, Seems to not stay in the water column long. Overdosing can be an issue for those that just blind squirt without testing. We have seen neither positive nor negative effects. At the present time the research out is not clear? So please---- I would like to read something that says it helps? By the way please dont add without testing. We are continuing our research. Our research is showing potassium if depleted or came in low with cheap salt, can make a difference!
Give me some good reading material PLEASE