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CHOMPERS MFK
07/02/2009, 05:00 PM
Does anyone know the dilution factor to dose with iodine tincture? The non-prescription strength is 2% iodine.

Secondly, what is the concentration in seawater?

HighlandReefer
07/02/2009, 06:40 PM
Iodine in Marine Aquaria
http://www.advancedaquarist.com/issues/mar2003/chem.htm

From this article:

Iodine in the Ocean

Iodine in the ocean takes a wide variety of forms, both organic and inorganic, and the iodine cycles between these various compounds are very complex and are still an active area of research. The nature of inorganic iodine in the oceans has been generally known for decades. The two predominate forms are iodate (IO3-, with the central iodine and three attached oxygen atoms; Figure 1) and iodide (I-). As a curiosity, note the huge size of the iodine atom compared to the oxygen atoms in iodate in Figure 1. Together these two iodine species usually add up to about 0.06 ppm total iodine (~0.5 mM), but the reported values vary over about a factor of 2. In surface seawater, iodate usually is the dominant form with typical iodate values in the 0.04 to 0.06 ppm iodine (0.3 – 0.5 mM).2,3 Likewise, iodide is usually present at lower concentrations, typically 0.01 to 0.02 ppm iodine (0.07 – 0.18 mM).2,3

Organic forms of iodine are any in which the iodine atom is covalently attached to a carbon atom, such as methyl iodide, CH3I. The concentrations of the organic forms (of which there are many different molecules) are only now becoming recognized by oceanographers. In some coastal areas, organic forms can comprise up to 40% of the total iodine, and many previous reports of organoiodine compounds being negligible may be incorrect.4 Later in this article, some of the organoiodine species found in the ocean are discussed in the context of those organisms that produce them.

All of these various forms can be interconverted in the oceans. Phytoplankton, for example, take up iodate and convert it into iodide, which is mostly, but not completely, released.5 One research group has suggested that iodate, looking chemically like nitrate, is taken up by the same pathways, and is internally converted to iodide before being released.6 This process is fast enough that in one local studied, the phytoplankton can convert all of the iodate present to iodide in a month. Iodate is also converted to iodide by bacteria in low oxygen environments of the oceans.7


Marine algae can also take up iodide directly, and apparently do so preferentially over iodate.8-10 This process may, in fact, be a primary way that iodide is depleted from aquaria, but that’s getting ahead of things.

There are also abiotic (nonbiological) transformations taking place in the oceans, with iodide being potentially oxidized to iodate. These abiotic processes are probably not the controlling factors of iodine speciation in the oceans, however, with biological processes predominating.11 In marine aquaria that employ strong oxidants such as ozone, or possibly even UV sterilizers that can promote oxidation, these abiotic factors may predominate.

CHOMPERS MFK
07/03/2009, 12:11 AM
Thanks. That was a good article and very informative.

HighlandReefer
07/03/2009, 02:53 PM
Your welcome. ;)

HighlandReefer
07/03/2009, 04:20 PM
You may find the second article on iodine written by Randy interesting:

Iodine in Reef Tanks 2: Effects on Macroalgae Growth
http://www.advancedaquarist.com/issues/april2003/chem.htm

CHOMPERS MFK
07/06/2009, 02:03 PM
I just thought I'd post the results for anyone who happens upon this thread (before it sinks to oblivion).

For totally depleated iodine, you would use two drops of 2% iodine per ten gallons to bring the level back up to natural seawater (.06 ppm). (To be more exact, it takes 2.04 drops.)

It is best to predillute it and then add it to a high flow area (pump chamber in sump). The drops can be added directly to the beginning of your bubble trap to get some good mixing prior to entering the pump chamber.