Iodine Test - Necessary?

[absolut_vodka]

As above. I was just wondering because only salifert produces this test kit apparently so its really expensive and really hard to find. Owner of the shop where I bought the elegance and yellow anemone tells me that they are not doing well coz iodine levels in my tank is too low.

Is there anyway to tell if that is true, w/o actually using the test kit?

[dradttg]

I have been dosing iodine twice a week but my elegance is still not doing too well. However, my xenia (which is suppose to depend on iodine) is doing very well.

For elegance, I would suggest moving it a bit to try out difference locations. I tried that and my elegance seem to perform slightly better.

[surfedelic]

Usu not necessary if coupled with frequent water change unless you are keeping alot of shrimps. If you does - you have to be careful not to overdose which will poison the water.

[bawater]

seachem makes iodine test kits too.

But iodine test kits are not cheap and not the most accurate. although they give you a better understanding of where your levels roughly are.

0.2ppm-0.4ppm is a guideline to stay within, 0.6ppm is considered still safe. Try not to exceed these levels. Overdose of iodine is not a good thing and can turn toxic. It is needed in small amounts for soft corals and macro algae.

elegance may do better on the sand bed as they come from lagoon environments with nutrient rich substrates.

[absolut_vodka]

hmm... so i better buy and test the iodine levels since its dangerous when its too high? i'm not sure if its because of the iodine level or because my cleaner shrimps are always 'disturbing' the elegance but its really sad to see the elegance become like that...

all other corals seem to be doing fine though