Peterpiper

I have read that you should add a Iodine supplement to your SW tank. We use Red Sea Coral Pro Salt. Not sure if the sea salt has iodine in it.. Does anyone use a iodine supplement?
Have read that skimmers remove the iodine quickly form the water too.
Any information would be great.. thanks

sgould

I add iodine once per week, mostly because I have some coral and shrimp that use iodine. If none of your inhabitants are dependant on iodine, you are probably adding enough back into the system through regular water changes that supplements are not necessary. As a general rule, I believe iodine is more of a concern in a reef system than in fish only or FOWLR.

Peterpiper

Thanks Sgould. Got 2 peppermint shrimp now due to aiptasia, They done a great job on the aiptasia. Have read that the srimp require the iodine to molt. Thinking of getting a test kit for iodine.

Mike

If I recall correctly natural sea water levels of iodine are 0.03 to 0.06 meq/L. I supplement with iodine when my iodine test kit (assuming it's giving me a correct reading) is lower than 0.03 meq/L. I use Lugols solution and when I do use it, I only use half the recommended dosage (1 drop per 50 gallons instead of 1 drop per 25 gallons).

Some folks don't add iodine supplements at all, some think they can contribute to algae growth, some feel they are necessary for molting as you've mentioned and various other uses. I agree completely with sgould in that if you're performing regular partial water changes your water parameters should stay pretty good for keeping a fish only tank or fowlr and you could run your tank just fine without supplementing at all.