When is a good time to start adding iodine and Ca for a softie collection, or even at all. Alot of articles say that this would improve health. I have a low bio load in corals right now. 1 blue mushroom rock, 1 green mushroom rock, 1 large green button polyp, and 1 decent sized mat of star polyps in a 44g. I'm slowly stocking but don't know what to look for if they need iodine or Ca supplements. I do ~10% water changes weekly. Should I just continue to do that and wait for the corals to grow more? Thanks for any advice.
should iodine and Ca be added?
- Thread starter stilmas
- Start date
i'm a newbie just starting a polyp/shroom collection myself. in my limited experience, i'd say get a RedSea Calcium test kit and Salifer Alkalinity kit and then dose B-ionic.
as far as the iodine goes...i just don't know. if i could find a test kit that i could actually READ, then i'd be alot more confident dosing. unfortunately, i bought a big bottle of iodine before i knew what i was doing so now i just add a four or five drops every other week. this is probably stupid of me, but i've got two shrimp so maybe i can get away with it.
now that i think about it, do softies even need calcium? somebody help me out here.
as far as the iodine goes...i just don't know. if i could find a test kit that i could actually READ, then i'd be alot more confident dosing. unfortunately, i bought a big bottle of iodine before i knew what i was doing so now i just add a four or five drops every other week. this is probably stupid of me, but i've got two shrimp so maybe i can get away with it.
now that i think about it, do softies even need calcium? somebody help me out here.
Thanks Tracey,
You just inspired me to use my Kent R/O Right for top off water too, I have never thought of that. How much do you use per gallon? I know when I do water changes I use it first after purifying the water. I use 1 tsp. per 5 gallons. Does that sound correct? Or should I not even use it for the saltwater mix? Well, thanks again for all your advice.
You just inspired me to use my Kent R/O Right for top off water too, I have never thought of that. How much do you use per gallon? I know when I do water changes I use it first after purifying the water. I use 1 tsp. per 5 gallons. Does that sound correct? Or should I not even use it for the saltwater mix? Well, thanks again for all your advice.
Just to let you know, Iodine supplement is still a debatable subject. There is no direct evidence suggesting that iodine supplement is actually required when you do regular water changes.
I do dose both on regular basis. I dose Lugol's. But it doesn't matter how much I dose (even 2 droppers full), my I2 level still remaines within .06 acceptable limit. Anything other than Lugols doesn't even register on the test kits. I dose only to make myself happy. but I really don't see much difference before and after dosing.
I do dose both on regular basis. I dose Lugol's. But it doesn't matter how much I dose (even 2 droppers full), my I2 level still remaines within .06 acceptable limit. Anything other than Lugols doesn't even register on the test kits. I dose only to make myself happy. but I really don't see much difference before and after dosing.
<blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">quote:</font><hr>Originally posted by Katspaw:
<strong>
Iodine will improve shrimp shedding the extoskelton, as well as being great for anyone who keeps anemones as well. In the ocean iodine levels are at .06 but become depleted in our own systems rather quickly. If you use an R/O system that cleans the water 99.9 % pure, then you are not adding any elemnts back in with top off. You will on water changes becasue the elements are in the dryed salts we use. I use Kent's R/O prep in my top off water. Now I run a calcium reactor to keep my tank water at 450+ ppm in calcium and 11 on alk. Most test kits that I use are Salifert's. they seem to work the best. Iodine only shows about two to three hours after dosing. So testing for it is almost impossible. Hope this helps.</strong><hr></blockquote>
Iodine additions are a hotly debated topic. I disagree that uncontrolled iodine additions "will improve shrimp shedding the extoskelton". I say uncontrolled because we (as hobbyists) have no accurate means of measuring levels. In fact, overdosing iodine can force a premature molt, possibly causing the death of the poor shrimp (or crab).
If you do water changes, run a reactor, or feed the tank, you are adding iodine. Iodine is great for cuts, but I think I'll skip adding it to my tank. Do a search for "iodine" and check posts by Shimek, Borneman, and Farley (possibly Bingman as well) for views from the experts on the subject.
FWIW I run a reactor, add RO/DI water for topoff, and feed the tank. No other additives necessary.
As far as calcium/alkalinity goes, you need to test the water regularly to determine if and how much B-Ionic or other product you should be adding. Red Sea kits are notoriously inaccurate. People have good luck with Salifert, but personally I use LaMotte kits.
IMO, IME
[ November 13, 2001: Message edited by: MiNdErAsR ]</p>
<strong>
Iodine will improve shrimp shedding the extoskelton, as well as being great for anyone who keeps anemones as well. In the ocean iodine levels are at .06 but become depleted in our own systems rather quickly. If you use an R/O system that cleans the water 99.9 % pure, then you are not adding any elemnts back in with top off. You will on water changes becasue the elements are in the dryed salts we use. I use Kent's R/O prep in my top off water. Now I run a calcium reactor to keep my tank water at 450+ ppm in calcium and 11 on alk. Most test kits that I use are Salifert's. they seem to work the best. Iodine only shows about two to three hours after dosing. So testing for it is almost impossible. Hope this helps.</strong><hr></blockquote>
Iodine additions are a hotly debated topic. I disagree that uncontrolled iodine additions "will improve shrimp shedding the extoskelton". I say uncontrolled because we (as hobbyists) have no accurate means of measuring levels. In fact, overdosing iodine can force a premature molt, possibly causing the death of the poor shrimp (or crab).
If you do water changes, run a reactor, or feed the tank, you are adding iodine. Iodine is great for cuts, but I think I'll skip adding it to my tank. Do a search for "iodine" and check posts by Shimek, Borneman, and Farley (possibly Bingman as well) for views from the experts on the subject.
FWIW I run a reactor, add RO/DI water for topoff, and feed the tank. No other additives necessary.
As far as calcium/alkalinity goes, you need to test the water regularly to determine if and how much B-Ionic or other product you should be adding. Red Sea kits are notoriously inaccurate. People have good luck with Salifert, but personally I use LaMotte kits.
IMO, IME
[ November 13, 2001: Message edited by: MiNdErAsR ]</p>
I too dose with Lugol's Iodine. And I will argue the point on it's effectiveness. One of the adminstrators over at ReefTalk has a beautiful bubble tip anemone that drops babies every three months it seems. He believes it is because of the iodine he doses. And hey if the ocean contains it natuarlly, I am sure that it is benefical for the animals that live their. I know that when I wasn't dosing it, my shrimps didn't grow as quickly as they do now. It is my understanding that it helps them to make their new skeltons. So if you can see this, god only knows how it is helping in other ways within your tank.
As far as dosing the top off with R/O prep, I dose it as per the package instructions. One other element that I test from time to time is magnesium. Magnesium is the element that helps the corals to obsorb calcium that they need. Think about it. If they don't have the ability to obsorb calcium then all the calcium in the world isn't go to help them. I have never had to dose magnesium, but I like to keep an eye on my levels ever other months are so. But then I house 45 corals in a little 90 gallon tank and ten of then are huge
And levels can change within days easily.
Tracey
As far as dosing the top off with R/O prep, I dose it as per the package instructions. One other element that I test from time to time is magnesium. Magnesium is the element that helps the corals to obsorb calcium that they need. Think about it. If they don't have the ability to obsorb calcium then all the calcium in the world isn't go to help them. I have never had to dose magnesium, but I like to keep an eye on my levels ever other months are so. But then I house 45 corals in a little 90 gallon tank and ten of then are huge
Tracey
<blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">quote
I'm sure that is the cause. He's stressing the hell out of that anemone and causing it to reproduce unnaturally. That rate of reproduction is not from healthy growth, it is a sign of stress.
I'm sure that is the cause. He's stressing the hell out of that anemone and causing it to reproduce unnaturally. That rate of reproduction is not from healthy growth, it is a sign of stress.
I add Ca, makes the skimmer work better (or at least that my understanding). I've been hesitant about the iodine thought. I've heard mixed things on it. I did start adding small amounts periodically because my leather finger became very pale in color but gains it back every time I add iodine. So I use him as an indicator if I need to add alittle more.
<blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">quote:</font><hr>Originally posted by Katspaw:
<strong>Hi Guys,
I dose iodine and have a calcium reactor. My tank has mostly SPS but I have softies and LPS too. I dose one drop iodine per gallon for the total gallon within the system. 110 system 11 drops. I do this weekly.
Tracey</strong><hr></blockquote>
if you follow this fomula, shouldnt it be 110 drops ?
IMHO I wouldnt want to count about 225 drops on my tank daily.
<strong>Hi Guys,
I dose iodine and have a calcium reactor. My tank has mostly SPS but I have softies and LPS too. I dose one drop iodine per gallon for the total gallon within the system. 110 system 11 drops. I do this weekly.
Tracey</strong><hr></blockquote>
if you follow this fomula, shouldnt it be 110 drops ?
IMHO I wouldnt want to count about 225 drops on my tank daily.
randy holmes-farley
Advanced Reefer
- Location
- Arlington, MA
Stilmas:
On the less contentious topic of calcium:
Some soft corals need calcium. They may not use it as fast as many hard corals, but they do have calcium-containing spicules inside of them, and need calcium for this purpose. You won't have to add it as rapidly as in an SPS dominated tank, but you should keep it at NSw levels as you would for a hard coral. Also, coralline algae in such a tank might use up the calcium fairly fast.
And, of course, along with calcium you need to supplement alkalinity.
On the iodine topic, I'll just leave it here with: I add it to maintain NSW levels as best I can. In fact I do that most things, except iron where I intentionally overdose compared to NSW.
On the less contentious topic of calcium:
Some soft corals need calcium. They may not use it as fast as many hard corals, but they do have calcium-containing spicules inside of them, and need calcium for this purpose. You won't have to add it as rapidly as in an SPS dominated tank, but you should keep it at NSw levels as you would for a hard coral. Also, coralline algae in such a tank might use up the calcium fairly fast.
And, of course, along with calcium you need to supplement alkalinity.
On the iodine topic, I'll just leave it here with: I add it to maintain NSW levels as best I can. In fact I do that most things, except iron where I intentionally overdose compared to NSW.
Thanks for the advice. As far as I know, the LFS that I go to is very good at reef and marine aquaria, have a few nice displays to prove their knowledge, they say to use Ca supplements after stocking or growth levels are up there, but didn't say anything about iodine. I hear alot about B-Ionic and am thinking about trying that. For now I will stick to the water changes for replenishment until my corals grow some or I add more. I also need to get test kits to start using B-Ionic, which I will be doing shortly. I'm a computer tech by trade and I firmly believe in, "if it aint broke, don't try to fix it!" But it get's hard when you think that you may be able to do a little "better" like squeezing that 2% more performance out of your aging PC! Also, I feed my filter feeders brine shrimp and it seems to do ok. I just ordered some DT's Phytoplankton and it should be here today. I was more or less concerned about feeding the LR since I don't have a refugium, but I will see how the corals like it. A little off the subject, but your Brine shrimp link led me to that! Thanks in advance for any other additive advice!
Hi Guys,
I dose iodine and have a calcium reactor. My tank has mostly SPS but I have softies and LPS too. I dose one drop iodine per gallon for the total gallon within the system. 110 system 11 drops. I do this weekly.
Iodine will improve shrimp shedding the extoskelton, as well as being great for anyone who keeps anemones as well. In the ocean iodine levels are at .06 but become depleted in our own systems rather quickly. If you use an R/O system that cleans the water 99.9 % pure, then you are not adding any elemnts back in with top off. You will on water changes becasue the elements are in the dryed salts we use. I use Kent's R/O prep in my top off water. Now I run a calcium reactor to keep my tank water at 450+ ppm in calcium and 11 on alk. Most test kits that I use are Salifert's. they seem to work the best. Iodine only shows about two to three hours after dosing. So testing for it is almost impossible. Hope this helps.
Tracey
I dose iodine and have a calcium reactor. My tank has mostly SPS but I have softies and LPS too. I dose one drop iodine per gallon for the total gallon within the system. 110 system 11 drops. I do this weekly.
Tracey
<blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">quote:</font><hr>Originally posted by Randy Holmes-Farley:
<strong>On the iodine topic, I'll just leave it here with: I add it to maintain NSW levels as best I can. In fact I do that most things, except iron where I intentionally overdose compared to NSW.</strong><hr></blockquote>
Thanks for responding Randy, I already knew your position when I included your name in my suggested search. Wanted to provide differing view points.
Just a few quick questions. What is your dosing procedure, and what test kit(s) do you use to determine if your dose is correct?
TIA
<strong>On the iodine topic, I'll just leave it here with: I add it to maintain NSW levels as best I can. In fact I do that most things, except iron where I intentionally overdose compared to NSW.</strong><hr></blockquote>
Thanks for responding Randy, I already knew your position when I included your name in my suggested search. Wanted to provide differing view points.
Just a few quick questions. What is your dosing procedure, and what test kit(s) do you use to determine if your dose is correct?
TIA
BTW, I just ordered some B-ionic and Salifert Ca and Alk Test kits. Since I don't have any sps or alot of softies, should I do less of a dosage than is directed? It says to add daily, should I maybe go every other day, or just test and keep the levels up? Thanks again!
I've been running a cal reactor for 5 years now, I don't do very many water changes either. My reef is almost 10years old and heavily stocked. For around the last year I haven't added any iodide. Although I will use Lugol's as a dip of new animals or if I wanted to add iodide. The other problem with adding iodide is finding a test lit that works. Personnally I couldn't tell you if helps.
Bill
Bill
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