Iodine test: differences?

[ced]

I found two iodine tests, for which I can't really see the difference, except that one is 3 times more expensive than the other:
both are from companies that make great tests (by great I mean precise and quick), one from seachem ($14), the other from Salifert ($36).
Seachem measures iodine and iodide, Salifert claims that it's not enough, and includes a iodate test. But Salifert indicates also that iodine is mostly iodide plus iodate (which means for me that knowing the iodine and iodide concentrations is enough to know the iodate concentration).

In short, is the seachem iodine test fine enough?

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

Most of the iodine in natural seawater is in the form of iodate, followed by a smaller amount of iodide. If I were to dose iodine (I don't, and I don't typically recommend it), I'd dose iodide.

I do not recommend that people dose iodine, and if you choose to, to not dose it to maintain a specific level with a kit. The reason is that I do not have high confidence in these kits, nor do I think that supplemental iodine is important for the organisms that most people keep.

All that said, if I wanted to know what was in the water, I'd pick to know iodide and iodate independently, and barring that, to know the total of iodide and iodate. I'm not entirely sure what the current Seachem test tests for, and waht they mean by "iodine".

There really shouldn't ever be any molecular iodine (I2) in a reef aquarium.

These articles have more info:


Iodine in Marine Aquaria: Part I
http://www.advancedaquarist.com/issues/mar2003/chem.htm

Iodine in Reef Tanks 2: Effects on Macroalgae Growth
http://www.advancedaquarist.com/issues/april2003/chem.htm

 

[ced]

Sorry, Iodine means iodide (at least, most iodine additive bottle I saw contain mostly iodide).
I agree that the less additives, the better.
I am adding iodide because people in my area recommended it to me, also I have a red open brain for which iodide is recommended.

Also, if the iodide level decreases in my tank, that means that someone is using it, so why not adjusting it to its regular level?

I guess iodine for Seachem means the same as iodine for Salifert.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

Sorry, Iodine means iodide (at least, most iodine additive bottle I saw contain mostly iodide).

That isn't necessarily what it means to the Seachem kit, however. Salifert and Seachem tested for different things in the past. I am not sure if that is still the case or not.

I am adding iodide because people in my area recommended it to me, also I have a red open brain for which iodide is recommended.

It isn't important to supplement to keep open brains, IMO. I've got one that I've had for many years. In fact, there is no evidence that any organism that we keep benefits from supplemental iodine.


Also, if the iodide level decreases in my tank, that means that someone is using it, so why not adjusting it to its regular level?

It is converted into organoiodine forms primarily by bacteria and algae. But in my tests, at least the macroalgae did not grow any faster having it vs not having it. My biggest concern is overdosing based on an inaccurate test kit.