Green Star Polyps and Iodine

[GobyJohnKenobi]

I'm wondering if anyone else has had a similar experience.

I'm on my third colony of GSP now.

The first two looked good in the tank at the LFS. I brought them home and put a quart of tank water into a specimen cup with about 3/4 ml of SeaChem's Coral Disinfectant. I let them sit in this for about 10 to 15 minutes and then placed them into the tank.

This is my standard dip for all new corals: mushrooms, zoos, xenia, etc...

After days of waiting only a few polyps of the GSP opened, then a few more, then a few less, then none..... then the mats disintegrated.

On this last colony, after reading what Bourneman wrote about GSP possibly not tolerating Iodine, I simply placed it into the tank.
This colony opened up completely within half an hour and has been thriving ever since.

Salinity and alk have been the same with all colonies. Even placement within the tank has been the same. All three colonies came from different shipments. Honestly. I haven't changed anything else that I can think of, and I doubt if I have become that much better at keeping corals suddenly.

Has anyone else noticed a colony of GSP having a bad reaction to Iodine dipping or supplementation? Would a FW dip be a better alternative? I hate putting anything into the tank without some sort of preventative dip.

 

[GSMguy]

i dose iodine daily the star polyp has no trouble they take a long time to come out and need good flow

 

[tigerjace]

I AGREE

 

[GobyJohnKenobi]

You dose iodine daily?

 

[Gary Majchrzak]

I don't dose iodine and I've never treated GSP with iodine. They're doing better than ever could be expected. What does this all mean? Maybe QT and/or close inspection would be a better option than dipping GSP in iodine.

 

[GobyJohnKenobi]

Thanks for your replies everyone.
GSMguy, no offense meant by my question. I've never considered dosing Iodine, but I'm not against the practice if the tank needs it and responds favorably.

Well, I agree that close inspection and QT are great standard practices. And I understand that everyone manages their tanks differently and doses supplements as their tanks require.

But the point of this thread was my curiosity about whether I caused the demise of otherwise healthy colonies of GSP by dipping them in coral disinfectant containing Iodine. I haven't lost any other variety of coral from this practice, just two colonies of otherwise seemingly healthy GSP.

Maybe third time is the charm.
Anyone with a similar experience after dipping their new GSP?

 

[Ryanqk]

Ive never dipped mine, i just put mine in, but they seem very tempramental and dont want to come out if anything is off with the water. They take a hella long time to open again when they get p*ssed off. I dose iodine in my tank all the time and they never seemed to mind that nearly as much as algae growing on the mat p*sses em off.

 

[PatMayo]

I would not dose iodine. I don't think it is necessary and if you spend some time in the chemistry forum I think you will find that real evidence for the good of iodine is in debate. If water changes are done in a timely manner that new water will replace trace elements that are needed. I never dose anything except magnesium, calcium and alkalinity.

That's my experience and quite frankly a lot other poeple's as well. It's just too dangerous to mess with this stuff.

Regards,

Pat