PLEASE HELP (iodine and iodide)

[liljason951]

Hey guys,
I called up the aquarium to ask about Iodine and Iodide but im still confused.
They say that iodine is toxic and it kills reefs. So why are there products such as Red Sea Iodine?

And some people say they are both the same. So why are there Red Sea Iodine and Seachem Reef Iodide?

Which should I use? And do I use both?
Please help me on this, with a detailed explanation.

Any help is truly appreciated.
Thankyou,
Jason

[Reefnut Shop]

Hey guys,
I called up the aquarium to ask about Iodine and Iodide but im still confused.
They say that iodine is toxic and it kills reefs. So why are there products such as Red Sea Iodine?

And some people say they are both the same. So why are there Red Sea Iodine and Seachem Reef Iodide?

Which should I use? And do I use both?
Please help me on this, with a detailed explanation.

Any help is truly appreciated.
Thankyou,
Jason

Iodine comes in different molecular forms. While not a complete answer, this quote describes a little bit the differences in form and toxicity:

The various forms of iodine have very different chemical properties, and they should not be confused with each other. In addition to the three forms mentioned above, aquarists also frequently encounter molecular iodine (I2). Lugols’ solution, for example, contains a mixture of I2 and I-. It is the I2 form in particular that is the basis for the widespread belief that iodine is “toxic.” The I2 form, and that form in combination with other forms, it is a potent antibacterial agent that has long been used for disinfection. The naturally occurring inorganic forms (iodide and iodate) have little in the way of antimicrobial activity.12 Even a 30,000 ppm solution of iodide (240 mM or half a million times more concentrated than in normal seawater) is only weakly antibacterial13 In mixtures containing I2 and other forms, it is the amount of free I2 that is important for antimicrobial activity.14

Source: Chemistry and the Aquarium (http://www.advancedaquarist.com/issues/mar2003/chem.htm)

Personally, I am of the belief that it is not a necessary supplement. I feel this way about most supplements, because almost all are replenished through regular water changes. However, if you choose that it is something you want to dose, I would greatly recommend always having the proper test kit for the form you use and use it religiously when dosing (true for any supplement, do not blindly dose anything!).

[Doctor_Reef]

Agree with Reefnut....I don't dose anything without testing first.....

[liljason951]

so do i use both red sea iodine and seachem reef buffer?
or just one?

or do i have to even add them?

[icereefer]

like reefnut has replied if your doing your water changes you really shouldn't have to dose,unless you have a very heavy coral load in your tank. and if you do have a heavy load with low iodine test if you run your iodine over .06 ppm yes it would be toxic to your corals. this is why it's important mostly doing Iodine you test as you dose. if your not testing it's best to just stick with your random water changes.
Jim