Iodine for coralline growth??

[imow]

Is iodine replenished with water changes??

 

[rotorh60]

I too was told the same thing about iodine, and how it would help my shrimp and softies. So for two months I dosed iodine, and in reality, i didn't notice any difference. So I stopped dosing it, and I have not noticed any difference in my tank, and everything is growing like weeds! Now every ones' tank is different, and the needs of the tank is based upon the type of corals/critters in the tank. So try it if you want, and if you do not see a noticable change in the tank, then stop the addition of that suppliment. Water changes and attention to the tank will lead you on the right path to success. It's a trail and error type of thing IMHO.

What will work for my tank would not work 100% of the time for yours. So go ahead and experiment, you really don't have anything to loose, and you might stumble onto a perfect regime of supplimests for your tank. HTH

 

[Mickes]

FWIW... Once in a while I'll notice the spots of Coralline on the glass starting to bleach white. Every time I've dosed the tank with Iodine and it recovered within a day. The one time I did let it go, all of the Coralline on the glass did die off and some of the rocks started to bleach when I added the Iodine it recovered. I also noticed a growth spert in one of my Acros every time I added the iodine to the tank...

 

[Acropora]

I have re-started dosing Iodine after stopping for over a year.I have mostly SPS and clams and did not notice any change to the corals.( I always dip my SPS corals in a diluted Lugol's solution when first purchased).However, I did notice the recession of my coraline algae.I have began dosing Iodine once again for the last few months now and have noticed improved coraline algae growth. I also wouldn't recommend dosing high levels. I will continue to dose it because it is relatively cheap and does seem to help the coraline algae growth.I also just purchased a small piece of pulsing zenia, which could also use the Iodine boost. Anthony.

 

[SPC]

I think the main problems with dosing Iodine is that few people use an Iodine test to see what levels they are at, and therefore it can build to toxic levels. If I put something in my reef it is to try and match natural sea water, the only way I can do this is by testing.
Steve

 

[cstar]

Just as big a problem as testing or not testing is the fact that dosages are small (difficult to get an accurate reading) and iodine doesn't stick around in the tank for long so it's hard to know how stable your level is- so testing is almost worthless.

I do dose but only about two drops every other day as a refresher on the weeks that I don't do a water change. I can't say that I recommend it or not. I do it because I lost a crab once due to a failed molt, haven't had that problem again since I started dosing.

 

[clamfoot]

Most of what I've read concerning the dosing of iodine points to the same conclusion, the dangers of over dosing far outweigh the results of not dosing at all. Iodine dosing has not really been around that long, however fantastic reef tanks were kept long before iodine dosing became a fad.

 

[Jenemone]

I have been doing regular water changes - and I thought that this practice would replenish the iodine levels. It is only a 29 gallon tank.

What confuses me is that you can overdose with iodine, yet iodine is used up so quickly. How can it be present long enough to reach toxic levels?

Jen

 

[Jenemone]

I visited a reef store that I never knew existed until this week. Very nice tanks, lots of healthy fish, and a coral tank that was out of this world.

Anyway, I was chatting with the person helping me, and she said to double the normal dose of iodine for several weeks and the coralline algae will really take off. After a few weeks, drop back to the normal dose.

I don't even add iodine on a regular basis. And, I thought that you could easily overdose the tank with it (which is why I stopped adding it). Her coral tank was covered in pink coralline.

Anyone heard of this practice?

Also, I only have burgandy coralline growing in my tank. Why isn't mine pink?

Jen

 

[Glenn]

There are many many types and colors of coralline algea. Some live at different depths and places around the world. Maybe you just don't have any of the pink stuff in your tank.
As far as the iodine goes, I'm not sure if it promtes growth or not. In my experience, blasting your tank with excessive chemicals achieves nothing other than helping the store owner send their kids to college. I use iodine but don't try to nuke the tank with it. Remember all these cemicals are just "trace" elements in natural sea water.
As long as you make sure the calcium levels and ph in your tank are kept up the corraline algea WILL grow.