Strontium/Iodine Test Kits

[Dana Riddle]

All testing I perform use chemistries from the Hach company and results are determined through use of DR890 colorimeter or digital titrator. Many tests are EPA-approved (the only hobby test kit I have is for potassium.) But Hach does not offer reagents for testing strontium or iodine. So, are hobby test kits really accurate enough for Sr and I? If so, which ones?
I'm not entirely convinced strontium is really necessary since it is my belief it is 'mistaken' for calcium and incorporated into a coral's skeleton. On the other hand, iodine likely has benefits. I don't dose either presently but if I begin, I would like to test for their presence.

 

[Eagle_Steve]

I have wondered this as well for Iodine, as we have a tank that gets dosed. We have used the Salifert and the Red Sea kits on my wife's zoa only tank, and they both always read close to the same, but not sure on actual accuracy. I also believe both have a .01 margin of error. I can say, since we have been keeping the tank at .06 (using an average of both kits to use as our number) they have been growing better and have better color.

 

[JimWelsh]

I've played around with the Salifert strontium test kit, and it seems to work as advertised.

 

[Dana Riddle]

I've played around with the Salifert strontium test kit, and it seems to work as advertised.

Thanks Jim!

 

[AdamNC]

For I2 I use the Red Sea Pro Kit from time to time just to make sure I’m not over dosing. Does it really work? Who knows because I have nothing to compare it to but I do dose it with the Red Sea supplements. All my inverts seem happy.

 

[Dana Riddle]

For I2 I use the Red Sea Pro Kit from time to time just to make sure I’m not over dosing. Does it really work? Who knows because I have nothing to compare it to but I do dose it with the Red Sea supplements. All my inverts seem happy.

Thanks Adam!

 

[X-37B]

I do not do water changes so I need to dose.
I use salifert Iodine & Strontium tests.
Run iodine at .04-.08 .06 target. Strontium at 6-10 8 target.
Test once a week.
I use DSR trace and started at the bottom recommended dose.
Have run this on my 25 nano for 1 year.
First thing I observed was a rapid corilline growth. Then coral growth took off.
This has been at .5 ml dosed daily along with esv 2 part and esv strontium dosed .5 ml once a week. This has kept my target goals within range going on 1 year now.
Recently moved about 20 frags to the new 120 so will see if any adjustment is needed.
This has been with no water change in the last 10 months. The salifert tests are accurate enough for me.
Doing the same on the new 120.

 

[Dana Riddle]

I do not do water changes so I need to dose.
I use salifert Iodine & Strontium tests.
Run iodine at .04-.08 .06 target. Strontium at 6-10 8 target.
Test once a week.
I use DSR trace and started at the bottom recommended dose.
Have run this on my 25 nano for 1 year.
First thing I observed was a rapid corilline growth. Then coral growth took off.
This has been at .5 ml dosed daily along with esv 2 part and esv strontium dosed .5 ml once a week. This has kept my target goals within range going on 1 year now.
Recently moved about 20 frags to the new 120 so will see if any adjustment is needed.
This has been with no water change in the last 10 months. The salifert tests are accurate enough for me.
Doing the same on the new 120.

Thanks!

 

[Dan_P]

Thanks!

I think @Rick Mathew will have something to say about iodine testing.

 

[jda]

Salifert is repeatable for Strontium - not sure if it is necessary or accurate, but you can get up/down/stable trends from test to test.

Iodone is tricky... iodate? iodine? iodide? organic? inorganic?

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

FWIW, I continue to be skeptical of the benefit of dosing strontium or iodine, as I have been for more than a decade.

 

[Dr. Dendrostein]

All testing I perform use chemistries from the Hach company and results are determined through use of DR890 colorimeter or digital titrator. Many tests are EPA-approved (the only hobby test kit I have is for potassium.) But Hach does not offer reagents for testing strontium or iodine. So, are hobby test kits really accurate enough for Sr and I? If so, which ones?
I'm not entirely convinced strontium is really necessary since it is my belief it is 'mistaken' for calcium and incorporated into a coral's skeleton. On the other hand, iodine likely has benefits. I don't dose either presently but if I begin, I would like to test for their presence.

My first ICP test(8mo) came back high in I, no water changes, no trace elements added, no nothing, only thing I dosed was food for my children of the sea. whole shrimp, reef roids, whole squid everything blended to mince. So the foods feed had I, and my tank had high levels, but my corals happy....

 

[Daniel@R2R Verified Admin]

Are you planning to do some investigation into the usefulness of Sr and I @Dana Riddle?

 

[Dana Riddle]

Are you planning to do some investigation into the usefulness of Sr and I @Dana Riddle?

It's more a matter of curiosity at this point. Not sure if I could ever get an experimental protocol established given the resources I have.

 

[Rick Mathew]

All testing I perform use chemistries from the Hach company and results are determined through use of DR890 colorimeter or digital titrator. Many tests are EPA-approved (the only hobby test kit I have is for potassium.) But Hach does not offer reagents for testing strontium or iodine. So, are hobby test kits really accurate enough for Sr and I? If so, which ones?
I'm not entirely convinced strontium is really necessary since it is my belief it is 'mistaken' for calcium and incorporated into a coral's skeleton. On the other hand, iodine likely has benefits. I don't dose either presently but if I begin, I would like to test for their presence.

Dana: I cannot speak to the Strontium issue although it might be an interesting project to tackle. As to the Iodine testing…. Because I have been dosing iodine for quite a while now, I have also been looking for a more definitive test. The current test kits at least for me are not definitive enough…So about a year ago I set out on a “quest” to develop a test that would give me a numerical value. I don’t have any laboratory grade instruments so I chose to explore the rout of using an Existing Hanna Checker and developing my own test protocol. Without going into any details I ended up with using the Red Sea Chemistry and the Hanna Nitrite LR Checker (HI-707). The test protocol takes some attention to details like timing and temperature because the Red Sea Test is time and temperature sensitive but after an bit of work I have it down to a fairly accurate and precise results. I am still in the process of validating this with outside testing, some of which I already have (see chart below) but I want to be sure I am on as solid ground as possible before I “publish the results”. The two charts below a more or less a summary of the current state but not the “final” state. I hope to be finished with this project within the next two months…Lord willing.
I used the same test development method that I did with the Nitrate test that I posted on the R2R article located here https://www.reef2reef.com/ams/test-meter-for-testing-nitrates.599/
At least at this point it looks promising. I still have a full Gage R&R to complete and at least one more outside confirmation and if all goes well I will post the results

Also here is a post by taricha on testing for Iodine using Seachem Test Kit and the Hanna Silica Low Range Tester. I have replicated this test and it works. https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/iodide-test-seachem-kit-and-hanna-silica-meter.391003/

Nope this is helpful …

P.S. Testing Service #3 having a consistent .03 ppm every time is suspicious.

 

[Dana Riddle]

Dana: I cannot speak to the Strontium issue although it might be an interesting project to tackle. As to the Iodine testing…. Because I have been dosing iodine for quite a while now, I have also been looking for a more definitive test. The current test kits at least for me are not definitive enough…So about a year ago I set out on a “quest” to develop a test that would give me a numerical value. I don’t have any laboratory grade instruments so I chose to explore the rout of using an Existing Hanna Checker and developing my own test protocol. Without going into any details I ended up with using the Red Sea Chemistry and the Hanna Nitrite LR Checker (HI-707). The test protocol takes some attention to details like timing and temperature because the Red Sea Test is time and temperature sensitive but after an bit of work I have it down to a fairly accurate and precise results. I am still in the process of validating this with outside testing, some of which I already have (see chart below) but I want to be sure I am on as solid ground as possible before I “publish the results”. The two charts below a more or less a summary of the current state but not the “final” state. I hope to be finished with this project within the next two months…Lord willing.
I used the same test development method that I did with the Nitrate test that I posted on the R2R article located here https://www.reef2reef.com/ams/test-meter-for-testing-nitrates.599/
At least at this point it looks promising. I still have a full Gage R&R to complete and at least one more outside confirmation and if all goes well I will post the results

Also here is a post by taricha on testing for Iodine using Seachem Test Kit and the Hanna Silica Low Range Tester. I have replicated this test and it works. https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/iodide-test-seachem-kit-and-hanna-silica-meter.391003/

Nope this is helpful …

P.S. Testing Service #3 having a consistent .03 ppm every time is suspicious.

Very interesting! Thank you!

 

[Rick Mathew]

My Pleasure

 

[Dz1]

FWIW, I continue to be skeptical of the benefit of dosing strontium or iodine, as I have been for more than a decade.

Do you still feel the same on strontium? I ask because it’s the 4-5th major in the ocean

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

Do you still feel the same on strontium? I ask because it’s the 4-5th major in the ocean

Yes. I do not see any convincing evidence of utility of strontium for most organisms. It's a fine thing to maintain at NSW levels if you want, but the fact that it is incorporated into coral skeletons is zero evidence of utility since it gets incorporated into nonbiological precipitation of calcium carbonate at the same rate just because it looks chemically like calcium and accidentally gets into the crystals in its place.

This few organisms that are known to need strontium (at least as of the date that I wrote it) are detailed in this article of mine:

Aquarium Chemistry: Strontium and the Reef Aquarium

This article on strontium is the second of several that delve into a variety of issues involving magnesium and strontium.

reefs.com

FWIW, strontium is the 5th most abundent cation (positive charge) in sewater, and the 10th most abundant ion overall.