[Gabe]

My plate coral isnt doing so well and I heard Iodine is a generally good additive for the reef. I have a bottle which is about a year and a half old. Does anybody dose iodine? Should I start to? And is my year and a half old bottle spoiled, harmful or expired. Please any info on iodine supplementing, pros and cons would be helpful. Thanx

[tendar]

Iodine is tough question. Ive had reefs for almost 2 years and never used iodine directly but have add other products that contain some. Some people live by iodine so its hard to say how much is really needed.
I do monthly water changes and just use sealab 28 for calcium for the last 2 years and have never had any problems. I do believe that iodine is needed but think that betweeen water changes and what suplements I use cover most required additives.
I have watched a few people add iodine every few days and have had better success in my tanks with out than they have but that is just me.

[Reeffantic]

Iodine is almost necessary for soft corals. I am not sure how effective it will be on hard ones.

[Ninong]

Iodine is important for a lot of things for a lot of reasons but what if the ordinary food that you feed your tank already adds enough iodine? That is the opinion of Dr. Ron Shimek who has measured the iodine content in common foods. It is something to consider. Here is a link to his article: http://www.animalnetwork.com/fish/data/foods.asp

For obvious reasons, you do NOT what to overdose iodine.

[bongobrian]

Iodine is critical.. it's the natural antisceptic for corals. Iodine is also added to a lot of high quality salt mixes as well as food. I still dose iodine weekly. You might also look into doing an iodine dip with the coral you are having probs with. Good luck.

[Elmo18]

I also think Iodine is necessary. I dose Lugol's Iodine one every 2 weeks. I do water changes (about 25 percent or so) monthly so I basically just doze once each month.


- Ilham