Iodine testing and dosing

[Dorinda]

Okay, I've been having trouble with some corals. Hammer, and Duncan are a couple.
My tank is a 75 gallon
2- 165w Viparspectra lights
Test:
Temp. 78.4
Salinity is 1025
Mag. 1350
Alk. 8
Ph 7.8
Nitrate 20
Nitrate o
Phosphate 0 API test kit.( I will get another test kit next time to live fish store)
My tank is 6 months old
I bought a Salifert test kit that shows 0 iodine
So I got J.Crow's lugol's solution 2%.
How much should I dose?

 

[YankeeTankee]

FYI Lugols has I2, which can do some other stuff like oxidize, it also can impact some other trace metals.

If you're set on dosing, I would dose Iodide instead. OR did you mean to write dip and not dose?

I'd like to add that, in my opinion, iodine/iodide dont do much and I would skip it.

 

[Opus]

I put 3 or 4 drops in my 75gal tank once or twice a week. I mainly have zoas and they love the stuff.

 

[Dorinda]

FYI Lugols has I2, which can do some other stuff like oxidize, it also can impact some other trace metals.

If you're set on dosing, I would dose Iodide instead. OR did you mean to write dip and not dose?

I'd like to add that, in my opinion, iodine/iodide dont do much and I would skip it.

I did mean dose. I just don't know why else I would be having trouble with those types of corals.

 

[Reefnjunkie]

Only Lugols iodine I know of is for dipping corals not dosing in tank

I dose 2 drops of Seachems “Iodide” per 100 gallons and monitor results via ICP tests, this keeps my tank in the optimal range

Some NO3 and PO4 will help feed your corals- I cant trust API tests for much other than ammonia

 

[Dan_P]

Okay, I've been having trouble with some corals. Hammer, and Duncan are a couple.
My tank is a 75 gallon
2- 165w Viparspectra lights
Test:
Temp. 78.4
Salinity is 1025
Mag. 1350
Alk. 8
Ph 7.8
Nitrate 20
Nitrate o
Phosphate 0 API test kit.( I will get another test kit next time to live fish store)
My tank is 6 months old
I bought a Salifert test kit that shows 0 iodine
So I got J.Crow's lugol's solution 2%.
How much should I dose?

You might be better off seeking help growing coral rather than assuming low iodine is the issue. Low phosphate could actually be the problem for a new super clean system. Not feeding the coral sufficiently another possible cause.

 

[nkyreef]

If it's one thing I've learned about dosing is don't dose what you haven't tested first. I have used the Lugols to get my iodine up. That was after I sent in an ICP test to see where my numbers actually were. I can't find my numbers right now but I only used 6 drops over 3 days to get my iodine to recommended levels.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

I did mean dose. I just don't know why else I would be having trouble with those types of corals.

I don't think iodine is at all likely, but it is easy enough to try. I'd get a commercial supplement and follow the directions on it. I'm not a fan of Lugols. For folks reporting results with Lugol's, I wouldn't assume the result relates to the presence of iodine rather than other effects of the more complicated material.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

Only Lugols iodine I know of is for dipping corals not dosing in tank

I dose 2 drops of Seachems “Iodide” per 100 gallons and monitor results via ICP tests, this keeps my tank in the optimal range

Some NO3 and PO4 will help feed your corals- I cant trust API tests for much other than ammonia

Many people do use Lugols for dosing, possibly since some folks get it cheap from a drug store, and partly because some hobby resellers push it for this purpose. It's not my favorite additive as the chemistry is complicated.

 

[Xclusive Reef]

what is the best iodine test kit?

 

[Cory]

what is the best iodine test kit?

Probably not a hobby kit. Icp is likely best.

 

[Little_Red_Ryan_Hood]

I did mean dose. I just don't know why else I would be having trouble with those types of corals.

I would guess it is your phosphate level. 0 phosphate is not good IMO. Feed more or dose phosphate to raise your levels to .03.

 

[X-37B]

I use salifert to test for iodide & iodate. l just tested last weekend and it was .03. .03-.06 is good. I target .06.
I increased my DSR trace which has iodine and will test tomorrow.
I test once a month and adjust accordingly.