Iodine?

Should i be adding Iodine once a week? my lfs sold it to me when I bought my mushrooms...now someone told me big no no.

 

If you don't have an iodine test kit definitely no.
If you change water weekly then you will not need it.

 

I've been adding some, but it seems to do much of nothing...I think if you just keep up with water changes and your parameters are good they should come out.

 

I am of the opinion that if you cannot test for it, then dont add or mess with it.

 

i was adding Iodine weekly for my green striped mushrooms, but I wasnt testing for Iodine, and since it can harm your corals if you overdose, I decided to stop adding it. I have not seen any difference in adding iodine or not adding it. Like under the sea said, If your doing regular water changes I wouldnt worry about it.

 

big no no

LFS scammed you.

 

um....no no and no. water changes will take care of your trace elements.

 

Yeap, no iodine use here. Too easy to overdose, routine water changes should be enough. I have seen some sytems that where dominated by zoanthid gardens in such numbers that hobbyist felt they needed to dose iodine, same with some tanks with huge populations of mushrooms. But for the average hobbyist it is just something else they push, that you do not need.

 

Some will say no because they hear of overdosing. I have used it for years with no problem. If you were to try Lugols, then yes you could over dose more easily. I would suggest using Kent Iodide. When used as directed it is very safe as it is a less concentrated form. The testing thing is ambiguous. I have a test but all Iodine tests are only marginally accurate.

 

Some say no because we do about 1 water change a year and have never dosed Iodine. My mushrooms reproduce faster than I care for them to - to be honest.

It apparently isn't needed as an additive and has the potential to destroy. I wouldn't bother.

EDIT: Not that I am disagreeing with UncleJed mind you.