question for lugol's users

[Heyoo]

Hi,

I've been using lugol's solution in my 90 for a month or two now. Prior to that, I was using Kent's iodine or Tech I. Everything (leathers, xenia, hammer, candy, etc) look great.

I was reading Borneman's "Corals" book last night, specifically the section about star polyps (pachyclauvaria). He made a comment that several people using lugols have had star polyps close up, or even die off. I've had a rather small colony of star polyps in there for 3 years - and it has always looked healthy. It has grown, but not "like weeds", like most people claim. I can't comment on the effects of iodine (lugol's or others) about its growth performance, but the colony does look healthy.

Have any of you lugol's-users out there experienced star polyp problems like Borneman suggests? I don't know if I should quit using it, or keep it up, since everything seems to be doing well.

thanks
JJ

[Rick O]

I'm just wondering why you add iodine?

[Heyoo]

Originally posted by Rick O
I'm just wondering why you add iodine?

Uh oh .

I've always been told that iodine/iodide is useful in a system containing soft corals, zooanthids, and xenia in particular. I've got all three in my 90. I did buy a seachem iodine test kit... and its absolutely frusterating. So I dose the stuff a bit on the conservative side.

Are you suggesting that I'm wasting time and money with this stuff? I'd be glad to stop, but the tank has been doing well. If it ain't broke...

[chewie]

I don't know either way about the lugols, I stopped adding it to my tanks along time ago. I only use it to dip new frags in.

About the Green star polyps, keep your calcium/alkalinity up and they WILL grow like weeds.

Jon

[Heyoo]

Originally posted by chewie
I don't know either way about the lugols, I stopped adding it to my tanks along time ago. I only use it to dip new frags in.

About the Green star polyps, keep your calcium/alkalinity up and they WILL grow like weeds.

Jon

Good point there... that tank has been doing well - but lack of growth (of star polyps and LPS) is probably a good indicator of my KH/CA levels... and highlights the fact that I'm not adding enough...
I've only recently stepped up the dosing to more appropriate levels.
thanks!
JJ

[Rick O]

Originally posted by Heyoo
I'd be glad to stop, but the tank has been doing well. If it ain't broke...

Yep Ive been taught that the hard way and on more than one occasion (sometimes I'm a slow learner). I've never added iodine nor tested for it. I used to have all softies and they were fine. But I do regular water changes and at the time was dosing B-Ionic so I suppose they were getting all the iodine they needed from the IO.

[ShirleyM]

I have Lugol's and add it when I think about it;....about once every couple months or less. I was going to do it regularly for the xenias as I'd heard the same thing, but have never remembered to keep it up. Then I heard to leave well enough alone. so, sometimes I add 4 drops for 120G, and most times I forget.

Shirley

[Junkzoo]

for what it's worth, i add Lugols to my 75 (mebbe 4-5 drops a week) i have 3 types of xenia,,all are huge and growing great, pretty much have reached "weed" status,,and can't give/trade enuf,,soon to be culling it,,,my green stars are also "Bionic",,have to keep the colony high enuf as so it will not bridge across and grow to the other rocks,, i have at least a large softball sized colony now ,(have taken MANY frags to my LFS ex -partners shop.
also have a growth the size of a size of printer paper the bridged across to the back glass need to get a nice large flat fock , and fasten it to it, so i can take it to the shop also,,(last one that size , sold for $250!) can't say it's the Lugols, but it sure ain't hurting!

[ShirleyM]

Jeff...did that encrusting gorgonian ever take off?? The green star polyps are doing great!

[Junkzoo]

Originally posted by ShirleyM
Jeff...did that encrusting gorgonian ever take off?? The green star polyps are doing great!

Shirley, about 70% of the gorgs are opening up daily,,,not as full and bushy as when in your tank,,,but still looking good,,
glad to hear on the stars,,,,

[Junkzoo]

Shirley, speaking of "how they doing",,,how's the xenia going?