Iodine dosing

G

Gant

I've read different things about dosing with iodine. Some warn of the dangers of overdosing. Others seem to add a double (or higher) dose.

I have a 29g (fairly new) tank with some iodine loving animals. I don't have any fish yet. I run a moderate skim, and I lose about 1/2 gallon a day to evaporation.

I followed the recommended dosage--three drops a week--on my iodine according to water volume, skim level, and tank inhabitants. Yesterday the leather and xenia looked bummed out, so I added a drop (not scheduled). It was if I had fed these things steroids. In ten minutes, the leather went from a depressed mass to an upright, firm polypy looking thing. Same for the xenia.

My questions are:
1) Can I harm my tank by increasing the dosage to an "as needed" basis (regular schedule plus sight)?
2) Will this harm the fish I'll eventually get?
3) Does iodine deplete/get used up rapidly?

Thanks,
Reincarnated Newb
 
I wouldn't does it at all if you're not testing for it.

I've never dosed iodine because I don't feel that there's any need for it.

If you insist on dosing it, get a test kit.
 
There can be harm in overdosing anything. I would agree with testing for it before dosing and usaully do that myself with most other mineral supplements. But at IMAC last April one of the speakers was the head chemist for the Shedd Aquarium in Chicago. Actually iodine was brought up by him, he said there was not a test kit available that accurately tested for iodine. That even at the Shedd Aqaurium they have problems with iodine, knowing if there is the right amount in their tanks. So I dose it myself without testing, but I do not even come close to dosing what it says on the labels. I maybe dose it about once a month.
 
If I remember correctly, the problem with test kits for iodine is that they either test for iodine, iodide, or iodate, and in a reef tank, the balance of each is what's important.. same for the supplements.

That being said, I do dose kent's supplement at 1/2 the recommended dosage.
 
I dose lugols solution, one drop a day in the evening. I started out slowly dosing one drop every three days and eventually moved to my current regimen. Softies including xenia and leathers love it, my started growing much faster and looking much healther after I started dosing. Macro algae and inverts like it too, shrimp seem to grow faster and molt more often. I read an article by Anthony Calfo on the benefits of Iodine and he stated he dosed small amounts daily.

Here is a thread from same topic

http://forum.marinedepot.com/Topic28632-13-1.aspx
 
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