Iodine
- Thread starter Cory
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anthonys51
Active Member
You don't need to dose iodine.
clsanchez77
Active Member
No, I would not recommend that at all.
Regarding Iodized and other commercial salts, the impurities are way to high.
Regarding Iodine, the hobby is very split on this. It is not necessary. Having said that, I measure and dose iodine. When I let it slip, it becomes evident as the algae in my tank transitions from the really nice macros to more nuisance. When I get the iodine up, the macros start to take over. Could be anecdotal. But I have been doing this for a very long time and have never noted any harm in doing so. And yes, Im an odd duck for liking an assortment of macro algae in my reef tank.
Regarding Iodized and other commercial salts, the impurities are way to high.
Regarding Iodine, the hobby is very split on this. It is not necessary. Having said that, I measure and dose iodine. When I let it slip, it becomes evident as the algae in my tank transitions from the really nice macros to more nuisance. When I get the iodine up, the macros start to take over. Could be anecdotal. But I have been doing this for a very long time and have never noted any harm in doing so. And yes, Im an odd duck for liking an assortment of macro algae in my reef tank.
anthonys51
Active Member
You are just start my out in this hobby cory. It's nice you want to read and dose everything But just add live rock to your tank Cycle it and add corals. My advice is don't add any fish for 3 months. Let the tank mature a little first before you add the waste machine. Do 10 percent water charges once a week buy a good ato and test the day before the water change. If levels are stable your ok if not ask on here Whst to do. You are over thinking this.
Randy Holmes-Farley
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Iodide supplements are cheap. I'd go that route instead. 
The iodine in iodized salt is about 45 mg/kg. Assuming you want to add the full NSW amount (0.06 mg/L iodine), then you'd need to add 0.06/45 = 1.3 grams of salt. That 1 L only contains 35 grams of total salts, so adding an extra gram every time you need to dose will add a lot to salinity and also skew the mix toward NaCl.
The iodine in iodized salt is about 45 mg/kg. Assuming you want to add the full NSW amount (0.06 mg/L iodine), then you'd need to add 0.06/45 = 1.3 grams of salt. That 1 L only contains 35 grams of total salts, so adding an extra gram every time you need to dose will add a lot to salinity and also skew the mix toward NaCl.
Randy Holmes-Farley
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clsanchez77
Active Member
They do. Just looked and mine includes Calcium Silicate as the anti-caking agent. Ironically, I am dosing silicate to my tank now....so maybe the iodized salt is not as problematic as I always thought it would be
I typically maintained 1 ppm silicate but have been slipping lately.
OP
OP
Thanks guys. Im thinkkng of following Glenf tank and he doses iodine. Was just thinking of a cheap supplement i already suspected sodium would raise, so I wont dose it.
clsanchez77
Active Member
Honestly, I just use Seachem Reef Iodine, potassium iodide I believe. It's not 'expensive' so I don't concern myself with the cost. I don't use very much either as I only maintain about half the recommended concentration, around 0.02 to 0.03.
