benefits of iodine?

[calebjk]

I have a BTA that appears to be doing well, he is accepting raw shrimp on a weekly basis and has 2 true percs hosting in it.
I hear about people adding iodine for their anemone, so what benefit is there to adding iodine, and should you add iodine when the anemone is healthy.
Also, is there any detriments to iodine and if so how do you avoid them.

Thank you.

 

[mnestroy]

Bump.. I'm curious too...

I've read Iodine is helpful for Anemones, but do you need to buy a test kit and stuff? I have Iodine and it says a cap full per week...

 

[Rod Buehler]

I dont believe that there is any proof anywhere that anemones need iodine.

Iodine is toxic in levels that are above NSW, and since its such a hard element to test for. (accurately at least). It is especially toxic to the microcritters/pods.

Iodine quickly converts to iodide in our tanks(making it even harder to test for)

There is plenty of iodine in the salt mixes (if you do water changes) and many/most of the foods have iodine in them.

I have not added Iodine in over 12 years, and all of my anemones do well. I have a few "hard to keep" anemones, and some have been around for well over a decade without iodine supplements.

 

[Slakker]

So is it not necessary to dose Iodine for shrimps/crabs?

 

[traveller7]

I have to agree completely with Rod.

I can't recall ever dosing iodine to a tank, but have used it for dips/baths/swabbing/etc.

fwiw: My long term anemones, LPS, softies, fish, etc., don't seem to miss the lack of iodine supplementation.
fwiw2: Have had scarlet cleaners, peppermints, etc., breeding consistently for years without iodine supplementation.

 

[JamesJR]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=9668678#post9668678 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Slakker
So is it not necessary to dose Iodine for shrimps/crabs?

I have found it to be totally unnecessary even for crabs or shrimps.
I used to use it, but have stopped altogether and my tanks have done just as well. After years of messing with all these chemicals and tests I only dose Calcium, alkalinity and magnesium on a regular basis. I occaisionally dose Iron and silicates. Makes the tank a lot cheaper and simpler to run.

 

[Slakker]

Cool...I guess I'll stop with my half-dose of Kent's Iodine.

Thanks for the input

 

[Rod Buehler]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=9668678#post9668678 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Slakker
So is it not necessary to dose Iodine for shrimps/crabs?

Many people believe that the reason that shrimps sometimes molt more frequently than others, is to rid themselves of the excess iodine.