New to iodine auto dosing

[ddc0715]

Ok i have been testing for iodine for about a month now. Seems to always be at.03 according to my redseas test kit.so i dose according to the red seas chart iodine chart to bring my 180tg up to a .06. Approx. 11mls. I never retest after manually dosing, since i was not ready to auto dose it. Well now i am. So my question is this i will dose and retest to determine consumption but generaly speaking how fast dose this get used up. I know i manully dose once a week and test once a week and it always seems to be at .03. I just dose about two hours ago and plan on testing after dinner to see if the recommend chart dose amount raised it up to .06

 

[Terry Mattson]

My iodine slowly depleted over 4 months or so even with water changes, .01 .... brought it back to .05 to .06. Now I add 2 drops a week to maintain. Brightwell iodine.

 

[The Aquatic Arsenal]

You should test for iodide everyday for two weeks to get a good idea of daily usage. After that, you should be able to setup for dosing based on the amount you need daily.

 

[Terry Mattson]

I guess one question your randy is can you add a few drops as needed to dosing reservoirs, calcium or alkalinity

 

[ddc0715]

Well. Testing to determine consumption may be hard. according to my red sea test kit im either low at .03 or normal at .06 or high at .09. An suggestions on how to track consumption. Does not seem possible.

 

[ddc0715]

Ok well just tested im at .06, i will retest in 24 hrs and so on until i drop to .03 or lower

 

[Terry Mattson]

Ok well just tested im at .06, i will retest in 24 hrs and so on until i drop to .03 or lower

I would suggest waiting a week then retest, 7 days between test. Record. Dose as needed. Wait 7 days, record dose as needed. The iodine test works but at such a low range the chance of some variance is likely. Took me about 4 weeks to dial in. I now check iodine levels once every 4 or 5 weeks. Again, I am now dosing 2 drops a week.

 

[ddc0715]

I have already tested dosed and retested 7 days later. And the results are the same. I drop from .06 to .03 in 7 days. I need to determine when the drop takes place right? Its obvisly happen so.e where between day 1 and 7.

 

[The Aquatic Arsenal]

It would be a steady decrease over that time.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

I don’t consider iodine dosing useful for most people, but it is often rapidly consumed by algae and possibly other organisms.
I wouldn’t agonize over exactly how and when you dose it. Once or twice a week is likely fine, and I’d suggest trying to see if it is actually helping something in your tank.