Test kits for Iodine and Iron?

[tava716]

Hey all! How was your thanksgiving? I purchased soem iodine and some iron a couple of days ago and am following the directions on the bottles. Do I need to be testing (with a test kit)? If so, what should the perameters be? does anyone know of a good brand of test kit? I am also going to start adding calcium.

Tank is 11 months old. Figured it was tiem to start dosing these 3 things.

Any advise/education would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks gang!

James

 

[DonW]

You really dont need to dose iron or iodine. I'd skip both. I would be testing ca and alk.

Don

 

[fishermann]

The only Iodine kit I have ever used that works is by Salifert. I have never heard of anyone dosing iron. Frequent water changes is all that is really needed.

 

[Kensn]

Yea, better not dose anything unless you are testing current levels....

 

[tava716]

I was told that Iron and Iodine are good for the inverts (starfish, clams, shrimp).

 

[NaH2O]

Here's some reading:

Iodine in Marine Aquaria: Part I

Iodine In Reef Aquaria: Part II

Iodine Coral's Prey Response by Eric Borneman and Ron Shimek (Discusses Iodine).

Q and A on the Iodine Article by Eric Edelman.

Adding Iodine To The Reef Tank

Iron: A Look at Organisms Other than Macroalgae by Randy Holmes-Farley

Iron in the Reef Aquarium

 

[tava716]

Wow! Thanks Nikki! I will check this out!

 

[fishermann]

If you do regular water changes, you well get everything you need and won't have to worry about all these levels and test and polluting your tank.

 

[Ed Hahn]

If you do want to dose Iodine make sure you do not overdose and test before and after you dose wait at least 4 hours before testing again. Like someone said above Salifert test kits have a very good reputation. The owner of Salifert company is a very good person and readily backs his product and is willing to communicate if you have any questions. What else could you ask for in a supplier of test products?

 

[tava716]

Thanks for the info guys! Right now I use "Instant Ocean". Does anyone prefer the "Reef Cyrstals" over the regular Instant ocean salt?

 

[My2heartboys]

Thanks for the info guys! Right now I use "Instant Ocean". Does anyone prefer the "Reef Cyrstals" over the regular Instant ocean salt?

We currently use Instant Ocean--and from what I hear some of the larger aquarium type attractions use it as well. Yeah, I fight some calcium issues as well as mag and stront---but I have figured that these are going to be constant problems and I just dose accordingly.

Anne

 

[tava716]

Cool. THanks!