Iodine question

[mrdc]

Is iodine what's needed for a shrimp or crab's new shell to harden? I bought an iodine test and I didn't detect any. I recently lost an emerald and two cleaner shrimps and have been trying to figure out what happened to them. I saw the emeralds empty shell but that's all I saw. The other emerald molted a month ago and is still around. The peppermint, porcelan and pistol shrimps are around also. Is there any other benefit to adding iodine?

 

[birdy]

be careful with Iodine it is easy to overdose. What brand of test kit did you get. I have never tested or dosed for Iodine, regular water changes should keep the levels where they should be, if you do add Iodine, do so carefully and use your test kit to keep the level low.

 

[mrdc]

It's a seachem test. I figured water changes would handle it also. I have a water change coming up on Thursday so I will test for iodine again.

 

[merredeth]

Originally Posted by mrdc
Is iodine what's needed for a shrimp or crab's new shell to harden? I bought an iodine test and I didn't detect any. I recently lost an emerald and two cleaner shrimps and have been trying to figure out what happened to them. I saw the emeralds empty shell but that's all I saw. The other emerald molted a month ago and is still around. The peppermint, porcelan and pistol shrimps are around also. Is there any other benefit to adding iodine?
I use Kent's Essential Elements and that has iodine in it. By doing weekly water changes and adding Essential Elements, I haven't found a need to dose with additional iodine.
Just something to think about.
Denise M.

 

[mrdc]

Thanks. I also have the same product but I have held off on using it until I get my calcium up. I noticed last night that it has iodine in it so I think once my calcium is up, I will add reef essentials after each water change.

 

[bang guy]

Originally Posted by mrdc
Is iodine what's needed for a shrimp or crab's new shell to harden?
No. Shrimp and Crabs do not require Iodine for any reason.
Is there any other benefit to adding iodine?
Not that I know of. Be very careful if you use it. Even a slight overdose can kill shrimp.

 

[merredeth]

Originally Posted by mrdc
Thanks. I also have the same product but I have held off on using it until I get my calcium up. I noticed last night that it has iodine in it so I think once my calcium is up, I will add reef essentials after each water change.
Actually, Kent's Essential Elements adds calcium as well. Granted, at 2.000 mg per ounce isn't much, but I don't think it is going to be significant when it comes to worrying about overdosing a tank on calcium.
Denise M.