Testing and dosing for Iodine, Iron and Potassium?

[ceastman]

Who is testing and dosing for Iodine, Iron and Potassium? Just curious.

I have read that activated carbon removes iodine

[jolt]

I test iodine and dose lugol's.

[FarmerTy]

I test for iodine and potassium... both red sea kits. IMO, I really see no reason to test either for most reefers as long as standard water changes are being conducted.

[ceastman]

the key being "long as standard water changes are being conducted" im not as good about doing water changes as I should be.

[Reburn]

I test for all 3 with the Red Sea color test kit and dose all 3 with the Red Sea colors program. I have laid off on testing iron though. It always seemed to come up 0 and my triton test showed very elevated levels. I think it was also what was pushing my P04 down to 0. I limit my iron dosing to once a month now.

[victoly]

I wouldn't spend time with it, honestly. I'm not super well read on the chemistry there, but I believe that several of those compounds exist in multiple ionic combinations (e.g., ferric/ferrous iron). I was not a fan of the red sea kits for K/Fe/I. The detection limits, accuracy and test methods were subpar IMO. I have used hanna iron photometers, but they only test for ferrous iron, and I'm not even sure they're designed for marine use. Couple that with the hobby not having a great hold on what the effects (positive & negative) that certain dosages of those chemicals have, and I tend to stay away from trying to reach target levels of K/Fe/I. Water changes, and if you were feeling super diligent, a mult-compound trace supplement.

[nori4dori]

@JimH. Based on your testing, how often and how much do you end up dosing lugols? Whats your water change regimen if you don't mind me asking.

[jolt]

@JimH. Based on your testing, how often and how much do you end up dosing lugols? Whats your water change regimen if you don't mind me asking.

I am dosing 1 drop of lugol's per week. I change 5% water per week (1.5 gallons) and iodine consistently tests around 0.3ppm using red sea kit. I use instant ocean regular salt mix.

[Timfish]

There's a vague memory of having a iron test kit way back in the dark ages but I have no recollection of actually testing for iron and certainly not the other two.

[+brian.srock]

For all the young people here when Timfish is referring to the dark ages he means biblical time.

[Timfish]

HEY MODERATORS I"M BEING FLAMED!

[BBMarlin]

I dose lugols at recommended dosage every week. I have found that it helps with increased blue coloration in my acros. I do not test for it. 5% weekly water change.

-brett