Iodine Additions..What's the real deaL?

[VIC]

It is time to discuss the dreaded topic of Iodine additions. I want to share the experience that I had concerning same. I make a 15 gallon a week water change on my 275 gallon reef tank. Using Instant Ocean as my salt, I register a .04 Iodine level in the make-up water. (I use a Salfert test kit). We all know that Ocean water is .06 as a rule but you can run a successful reef tank on .04-.06 depending on the corraline and coral load. I am running a calcium reactor which means I do not have to add trace elements due to the frequency of the water changes as well as the abuility of the reactor to replace elements. Here is the new absolute I have discovered. Most reef hobbyists think that a regular schedual of water changes will replace the correct Iodine levels. Depending on your stock, this is not correct. Testing weekly for I2 is necessary for your tank to thrive. I am dosing with Lugol's solution and here is the question. How much per gallon weekly is the standard? Remember, when you dose I odine, you do not want to overdue it because it will set your algae off and running.
Any assistance on this topic would be appreciated. Also, what is the average percentage of Iodine in your tanks?
Vic

[reefhead]

According to Dr. Ron Shimek and Eric Bournmen this is a stupid and useless addition.

If you feed your fish and corals a balanced diet you dont need to add any additional elements.Most hobbiest do water changes to Dilute the build up of elements, as I do.

if you would like to post this at Dr.Ron's forum at Reefcentral.com here is the link Dr.Ron @ Reefcentral.com

here is the Food and Additive study done by Dr. Ron http://www.animalnetwork.com/fish/data/foods.asp


cheers,
Joe

[VIC]

I appreciate the input regarding "stupid and useless additions" but if you read the article it states that your water concentrations should be a little below sea water. My concentrations of iodine are below .01% and natural seawater is .06%. The article also stated that all information should be looked at on an individual basis. As my reef tank is large and is loaded with corals, I would say that iodine additions might be nesessary. I feed 3x daily so additions of Iodine are my only choice as the iodine is depleted quickly. Thanks anyway.
Vic

[icemark]

VIC,

You shouldn't be skimming and using Iodine, as the skimmer will pull it right out.

I completely agree with reefhead, Eric and Ron, that its not needed with regular water changes.

[Biomanjcs72]

Golden Pearls are Loaded with Iodine, feed your microfeeders with that, and your Iodine levels will be good. But to answer your question, the rule I used to use when dosing Lugol's back in the dark ages was 1 drop/ten gallons weekly. If you dose too high, you'll kill stuff too. I'd go with the Golden Pearls, they're safer... HTH....

[organicreefer]

i would hardly call iodine additions stupid or useless,its just stupid and useless to try and generalize like that,every tank is unique.iodine is a necessary element ,and as long as vic is testing and keeping track of his additions he should be fine.if he wasnt testing, i might have a different opinion.
vic ,i wouldnt say testing weekly for iodine is necessary for youre tank to thrive either,i have never tested ,or added ,and dare i say my tank(just past a year old)is thriving(other than a little bryopsis )

[reefhead]

let me correct myself before I offend some members.

its stupid and useless in my case


regards.
Joe

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

Iodine supplementation is not necessary unless one desires to maintain natural levels of iodide. There is no other way to do it. Not water changes. Not feeding (Ron proved this for us, though he doesn't see it that way).

FWIW, I do like to maintain NSW levels, and do supplement it.

What does it help? I don't know if it helps anything. OTOH, why not?

The exact same argument can be applied to temperatures and salinity. It is obvious that natural salinities are not necessary for a nice tank. So why use it? Same with temps in the 80's and not the 70's..

[ravenmore]

I think it might actually be usefull for some inverts. I seem to recall a discussion about brittle cleaner shrimps....their antennae and even legs would occasionally break off. I was told this was due to low iodine levels.

I am really not a big fan of additives - most artificial salts have much higher than natural sea water levels of elements. If I had an invert with the above problems, I might look at my iodine levels and supplement though.

-Mike

[Reinhold]

Oops, sorry about that.

The question really is, do you NEED to approximate nature's iodine level in the home reef aquarium? I think there are enough successful reefers not using any iodine supplementation (myself included) that one can say it is not necessary.

I used iodine supplements, until I ran out one dayand never bothered to replace the bottle. I did notice less algae when I stopped iodine. If my corals are growing wildly and happily (yes, happy corals) without it, why add it?

[Ironreef]

Most test kit for iodide/iodine aren't very accurate. I wouldn't worry. Alot off ppl never dose with no problems.

[VIC]

Thanks for the input bro's. Let me throw this past you. I have a cup coral that is experiencing tissue recession and chilli sponges that wont open. Also, my shrooms could look better. Keep in mind that I have 450 lbs of rock in the system and mt coraline algae is kicking. My water parameters are "on the head" Could a lack of Iodine be the cause as all of these animals look better a day of two after water changes when the I2 level is about .04%. I am doing 15 gallon changes a week on a 275 gallon system. Feedings are 2x a day with frozen food and every other day with DT's and golden pearls on a drip line for 24 hours.
What do you guys think?
thanks
vic

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

Perhaps the I- level in the added water is 0.04 ppm, but when added as a small amount to a larger tank voilume, the concentration won't change much from what it is in the tank to start with.

FWIW, I- in seawater is more like 0.02 ppm, though it varies a lot. Total iodine species come up to about 0.06 ppm, which includes iodate which often at a higher concentration than I-.

I can at least two possible reasons for the effect that you see:

1. Some nutrient is added that these corals like (anthing from iodide to iron).
2. When you add the water you stir things up a bit, and more suspend food hits the corals.

[reefhead]

My .02


Your corals like the lower levels of Iodine, as seen when you do water changes.

How long have you been dosing iodine?

if its been since the tanks inception, I would stop dosing to observe the effects.

MO ofcourse


Joe

[VIC]

Reefhead,
I only started adding Iodine a week ago. I only added it because of a cup coral that is shriveling up. What do you suggest
Vic

[Duncan]

Vic,
Just my two cents worth. I have been dosing Lugols in my systems for many years now, and I have got to tell you that I see many good things going on, as opposed too without additions. I dose 1 drop per 25 gallons twice a week in my 300. I have stopped dosig on occasion to examine any changes, and I do see a definate loss in color in my stonies. Now, I am not going to be as bold and arrogant as a couple of other, "experts," uh I mean, fellow reefers from other boards, and tell you that the I2 is the cause for the noticable difference. In my system, I believe that it is a good regimen for me to adhere too. But, only take in the information you get from your experiences in the reefworld, and boil down the B.S. and sift out what works best FOR YOU SYSTEM, and you will be much better off. As usual all of the above is IMHO.

Duncan.