Iodine testing (Salifert)

[JG]

I just bought a Salifert Iodine (I2 Profi Test) test kit and I'm a
little confused about the readings.

The Iodide test was hard to judge, the color strip is kinda hard to
compare with the water, but I guess it's close to the 0.03 reading.

But the Iodate test left no doubt, it reads zero. I got absolutely no
color in the test. I tried it twice.

Does this sound right?

I'm not adding any Iodine currently, and wanted to test to see if I
should be.

I did some searching through the newsgroups and it sounds like, in
general, it's very difficult to measure Iodine accurately.
Also, I read some postings from people who were missing their
instructions and the instructions that people repsonded back with are
considerably different than mine.
Did the test kit change recently?

My 125 gallon tank only has one small set of Mushrooms, one shrimp and
two emerald crabs (not including the fish, didn't think it was
relevant) so I'm not too worried about Iodine levels, but I would
like to increase levels if they are low because I plan on adding more
coral ('shrooms, polyps, etc) in the near future.

Should I even bother worrying about Iodine addition?

[Marc Levenson]

Hi JG,

I don't dose Iodine at all. The frozen foods from the LFS contain Iodine
already, and when you do a water change some Iodine is in the mix afaik.

From what I've read, Iodine doesn't last long in the tank.

Marc


JG wrote:

> I just bought a Salifert Iodine (I2 Profi Test) test kit and I'm a
> little confused about the readings.
>
> The Iodide test was hard to judge, the color strip is kinda hard to
> compare with the water, but I guess it's close to the 0.03 reading.
>
> But the Iodate test left no doubt, it reads zero. I got absolutely no
> color in the test. I tried it twice.
>
> Does this sound right?
>
> I'm not adding any Iodine currently, and wanted to test to see if I
> should be.
>
> I did some searching through the newsgroups and it sounds like, in
> general, it's very difficult to measure Iodine accurately.
> Also, I read some postings from people who were missing their
> instructions and the instructions that people repsonded back with are
> considerably different than mine.
> Did the test kit change recently?
>
> My 125 gallon tank only has one small set of Mushrooms, one shrimp and
> two emerald crabs (not including the fish, didn't think it was
> relevant) so I'm not too worried about Iodine levels, but I would
> like to increase levels if they are low because I plan on adding more
> coral ('shrooms, polyps, etc) in the near future.
>
> Should I even bother worrying about Iodine addition?

--
Personal Page: http://www.sparklingfloorservice.com/oanda/index.html
Business Page: http://www.sparklingfloorservice.com
Marine Hobbyist: http://www.melevsreef.com

[Steve Sells]

Iodine changes almost immediately to Iodide due to chemical reaction with
the salt water.

Steve

"Marc Levenson" > wrote in message
...
> Hi JG,
>
> I don't dose Iodine at all. The frozen foods from the LFS contain Iodine
> already, and when you do a water change some Iodine is in the mix afaik.
>
> From what I've read, Iodine doesn't last long in the tank.
>
> Marc
>
>
> JG wrote:
>
> > I just bought a Salifert Iodine (I2 Profi Test) test kit and I'm a
> > little confused about the readings.
> >
> > The Iodide test was hard to judge, the color strip is kinda hard to
> > compare with the water, but I guess it's close to the 0.03 reading.
> >
> > But the Iodate test left no doubt, it reads zero. I got absolutely no
> > color in the test. I tried it twice.
> >
> > Does this sound right?
> >
> > I'm not adding any Iodine currently, and wanted to test to see if I
> > should be.
> >
> > I did some searching through the newsgroups and it sounds like, in
> > general, it's very difficult to measure Iodine accurately.
> > Also, I read some postings from people who were missing their
> > instructions and the instructions that people repsonded back with are
> > considerably different than mine.
> > Did the test kit change recently?
> >
> > My 125 gallon tank only has one small set of Mushrooms, one shrimp and
> > two emerald crabs (not including the fish, didn't think it was
> > relevant) so I'm not too worried about Iodine levels, but I would
> > like to increase levels if they are low because I plan on adding more
> > coral ('shrooms, polyps, etc) in the near future.
> >
> > Should I even bother worrying about Iodine addition?
>
> --
> Personal Page: http://www.sparklingfloorservice.com/oanda/index.html
> Business Page: http://www.sparklingfloorservice.com
> Marine Hobbyist: http://www.melevsreef.com
>
>

[Rick]

Iodine is removed during skimming. I am dosing .5 ml in my 46 gallon every
day and it reads low a lot of the time. (.004 ppm versus .006 ppm in SW)

I agree with the Salifert test kit being hard to use. I found that when you
are adding part 2 that ANY color noticed (mine goes brown) is what they are
telling you.

Also, go ahead and trust the results. In the end it will be a faint color on
the top. It is really hard to notice the film on the top of the water. Look
at it from a 45 degree angle above the water line while the vial is setting
on a white paper.

Also, do the test away from your aquarium. The Actinic lights play hell with
the readings, or rather the interpretation.

If you dose 8 drops (.5 ml) to 10 drops every day per 50 gallons of water,
you should maintain a decent Iodine level if you have a really light
inhabitant load.

-Rick
"Marc Levenson" > wrote in message
...
> Hi JG,
>
> I don't dose Iodine at all. The frozen foods from the LFS contain Iodine
> already, and when you do a water change some Iodine is in the mix afaik.
>
> From what I've read, Iodine doesn't last long in the tank.
>
> Marc
>
>
> JG wrote:
>
> > I just bought a Salifert Iodine (I2 Profi Test) test kit and I'm a
> > little confused about the readings.
> >
> > The Iodide test was hard to judge, the color strip is kinda hard to
> > compare with the water, but I guess it's close to the 0.03 reading.
> >
> > But the Iodate test left no doubt, it reads zero. I got absolutely no
> > color in the test. I tried it twice.
> >
> > Does this sound right?
> >
> > I'm not adding any Iodine currently, and wanted to test to see if I
> > should be.
> >
> > I did some searching through the newsgroups and it sounds like, in
> > general, it's very difficult to measure Iodine accurately.
> > Also, I read some postings from people who were missing their
> > instructions and the instructions that people repsonded back with are
> > considerably different than mine.
> > Did the test kit change recently?
> >
> > My 125 gallon tank only has one small set of Mushrooms, one shrimp and
> > two emerald crabs (not including the fish, didn't think it was
> > relevant) so I'm not too worried about Iodine levels, but I would
> > like to increase levels if they are low because I plan on adding more
> > coral ('shrooms, polyps, etc) in the near future.
> >
> > Should I even bother worrying about Iodine addition?
>
> --
> Personal Page: http://www.sparklingfloorservice.com/oanda/index.html
> Business Page: http://www.sparklingfloorservice.com
> Marine Hobbyist: http://www.melevsreef.com
>
>

[Dragon Slayer]

"Rick" > wrote in message
t...
>
> If you dose 8 drops (.5 ml) to 10 drops every day per 50 gallons of water,
> you should maintain a decent Iodine level if you have a really light
> inhabitant load.
>
> -Rick


I hope you are not referring to 'Lugol's Solution' iodine. 8-10 drops per
50 gallon would surely stress (or even kill) everything in the tank. iodine
is an antiseptic you know.

I myself do not think the addition of iodine is needed in a marine tank. I
over skim my tanks heavily, only add iodine once in a blue moon (only
because I bought the stuff in the first place) and every time it's tested it
shows as undetectable yet everything in the tank thrives. Xenia are pests
in my 180g tank and pulse day and night. shrimps/crabs molt regularly with
no problems or deformities.

just my $0.02 worth
kc

[Dragon Slayer]

"Rick" > wrote in message
t...
>
> If you dose 8 drops (.5 ml) to 10 drops every day per 50 gallons of water,
> you should maintain a decent Iodine level if you have a really light
> inhabitant load.
>
> -Rick


I hope you are not referring to 'Lugol's Solution' iodine. 8-10 drops per
50 gallon would surely stress (or even kill) everything in the tank. iodine
is an antiseptic you know.

I myself do not think the addition of iodine is needed in a marine tank. I
over skim my tanks heavily, only add iodine once in a blue moon (only
because I bought the stuff in the first place) and every time it's tested it
shows as undetectable yet everything in the tank thrives. Xenia are pests
in my 180g tank and pulse day and night. shrimps/crabs molt regularly with
no problems or deformities.

just my $0.02 worth
kc

[Rick]

> I hope you are not referring to 'Lugol's Solution' iodine. 8-10 drops per
> 50 gallon would surely stress (or even kill) everything in the tank.
iodine
> is an antiseptic you know.

Yeah, I was referring to a 10% solution, not straight. Anything you buy in
an aquarium shop should be be diluted. Go to the pharmacy for Lugol's.
Besides being an antispectic for people, it is also a requirement for all
invertabrates.

However it gets into the tank, dosing or water changes, is great.

-Rick

"Dragon Slayer" > wrote in message
...
>
> "Rick" > wrote in message
> t...
> >
> > If you dose 8 drops (.5 ml) to 10 drops every day per 50 gallons of
water,
> > you should maintain a decent Iodine level if you have a really light
> > inhabitant load.
> >
> > -Rick
>
>
> I hope you are not referring to 'Lugol's Solution' iodine. 8-10 drops per
> 50 gallon would surely stress (or even kill) everything in the tank.
iodine
> is an antiseptic you know.
>
> I myself do not think the addition of iodine is needed in a marine tank.
I
> over skim my tanks heavily, only add iodine once in a blue moon (only
> because I bought the stuff in the first place) and every time it's tested
it
> shows as undetectable yet everything in the tank thrives. Xenia are pests
> in my 180g tank and pulse day and night. shrimps/crabs molt regularly
with
> no problems or deformities.
>
> just my $0.02 worth
> kc
>
>

[Richard Reynolds]

"it is also a requirement for all invertabrates."
any chance you can prove that remark ???

--
Richard Reynolds

[Rick]

Well lets see, anemone, crabs, snails, shrimp, clams, urchins, scallops,
lobsters, jellyfish... Is that enough?

Yeah I am sure there is invertabrates that can do without it. But in the
spirit of the remark and considering what people start putting in their
tanks, it's a valid statement.

-Rick

"Richard Reynolds" > wrote in message
news:sBpPb.1824$Se.641@lakeread05...
> "it is also a requirement for all invertabrates."
> any chance you can prove that remark ???
>
> --
> Richard Reynolds
>
>
>

[Richard Reynolds]

>> "it is also a requirement for all invertabrates."
>> any chance you can prove that remark ???

>Well lets see, anemone, crabs, snails, shrimp, clams, urchins, scallops,
>lobsters, jellyfish... Is that enough?

umm NO thats a list of inverts you FEEL need iodine

I simply asked for proof they NEED iodine, all you have done is listed
a few species that MIGHT use iodine

>Yeah I am sure there is invertabrates that can do without it. But in the
>spirit of the remark and considering what people start putting in their
>tanks, it's a valid statement.

its still not a valid statement YET, you still have not listed a
single piece of evidence that anything needs iodine. and considering
what people put in a tank is no excuse for a fairy tale about iodine
requirements.

--
Richard Reynolds

[Rod]

Many people used to think that crustations need Iodine to molt, but I think the
general thought these days are that the crustations are ridding themselves of
excess Iodine when they molt. I know that I havent added any Iodine since
1995-96 and things have been doing great without. took me 5-6 years of adding
antiseptec (iodine) before I realized that I coud save money and have a better
tank without it ;)
Rod Buehler
www.asplashoflife.com

[Marc Levenson]

Rod, my Lugol's Solution is so old that the dropper is no longer useable. The
squeeze bulb rubber is cracked in a dozen places. I rarely use it, except to
treat a sick coral out of the tank on occasion.

Marc


Rod wrote:

> Many people used to think that crustations need Iodine to molt, but I think the
> general thought these days are that the crustations are ridding themselves of
> excess Iodine when they molt. I know that I havent added any Iodine since
> 1995-96 and things have been doing great without. took me 5-6 years of adding
> antiseptec (iodine) before I realized that I coud save money and have a better
> tank without it ;)
> Rod Buehler
> www.asplashoflife.com

--
Personal Page: http://www.sparklingfloorservice.com/oanda/index.html
Business Page: http://www.sparklingfloorservice.com
Marine Hobbyist: http://www.melevsreef.com

[Rick]

Just a few links:
http://www.liveaquaria.com/product/prod_Display.cfm?siteid=23&pCatId=696
"It will not tolerate copper or high levels of nitrates in the
aquarium, but will require correct levels of iodine in the water to
promote proper molting."
http://www.liveaquaria.com/product/prod_Display.cfm?pCatId=1135&cc=1
"They are intolerant of high nitrates or copper levels, and iodine
levels in the water must be correct to promote proper molting."
http://www.liveaquaria.com/product/prod_Display.cfm?pCatId=1650&cc=1
"Proper levels of strontium and iodine are also needed."
http://www.liveaquaria.com/product/prod_Display.cfm?siteid=23&pCatId=626
"Ideal Supplements: Trace Elements, Iodine"
http://www.liveaquaria.com/product/prod_Display.cfm?siteid=23&pCatId=633
"Ideal Supplements: Iodine, Trace Elements"
http://www.liveaquaria.com/product/prod_Display.cfm?siteid=23&pCatId=604
"Ideal Supplements: Iodine, Trace Elements"

Re: John H. Tullock, Water Chemistry for the Marine Aquarium (Page 62
Iodine Section):

....It is removed by protein skimming and by activated carbon
filtration. It is essential to many invertabrates and fish...

Re: Dr. Robert J. Goldstein, Marine Reef Aquarium Handbook (Page 24,
Iodine Section)

....It is used up rapidly and must be replaced for good growth...


Richard Reynolds > wrote in message >...
> >> "it is also a requirement for all invertabrates."
> >> any chance you can prove that remark ???
>
> >Well lets see, anemone, crabs, snails, shrimp, clams, urchins, scallops,
> >lobsters, jellyfish... Is that enough?
>
> umm NO thats a list of inverts you FEEL need iodine
>
> I simply asked for proof they NEED iodine, all you have done is listed
> a few species that MIGHT use iodine
>
> >Yeah I am sure there is invertabrates that can do without it. But in the
> >spirit of the remark and considering what people start putting in their
> >tanks, it's a valid statement.
>
> its still not a valid statement YET, you still have not listed a
> single piece of evidence that anything needs iodine. and considering
> what people put in a tank is no excuse for a fairy tale about iodine
> requirements.