Where to keep Element Levels

[zacdl]

OK I am ready to start adding Calcium and Alk and Iodine.

I have Seachems for the Iodine and C-Balance for the other two.

I have test kits ready its just I dont know where the levels need to be before I start.


What should my goal levels be?

I was thinking Alk is 3-4
Calcium is around 400

Iodine I have no clue.

 

[zacdl]

Anyone?

 

[zacdl]

OK I know some of you know where to keep my iodine at...

 

[melosu58]

Im just one of those that dont check my iodine. I do weekly water changeswhich replenishes iodine in my tank. But I dont know what level to keep it at. Sorry

 

[zacdl]

Thats what I thought but someone told me I needed to dose for iodine. But I have no CLUE if I need to or not without knowing where to keep it at.

 

[melosu58]

I know this is bad advice but I dont check for the few suuplements I do add but I always put less in than whats called for. That way hopefully I wont have to worry about an overdose. But like I say that`s bad advice because I really dont know. I would not reccomend that to any one.

 

[steve-s]

Water changes will keep iodine et al.. where it needs to be. You do not need to dose it. As far as your alk and Ca, keep them <<balanced>> and within NSW values and you'll do just fine.

FWIW, Seachems test kit does not detect total iodine, only iodine/iodide. It does not detect iodate which can lead to potentially high numbers if the sytem does not have animals (algaes primarily) that can easily use it up.

Cheers
Steve

 

[zacdl]

I am using a Red Sea test kit or something along with a Seachem (Seachem is just the basics)

 

[steve-s]

Red Sea's Ca test kit is "okay" but they do not make an iodine kit AFAIK. Seachem is good for alk and Ca as is Salifert. I would recommend those two as the more accurate vs cost available in the market. If you do go forward with the iodine additions (which I don't recommend), get the Salifert test kit, it reports total iodine which is the only accurate means of testing.

Cheers
Seve

 

[Ximat]

I asked about iodine recently and got a pretty firm "Don't Dose it"

Your water changes will replenish it. Your right on for Alk. And i've been told you want Calcium 400-450 although i've seen people that keep it as high as 500

 

[zacdl]

This Red Sea came with a "sample" of iodine. Looks the same size as the rest of their stuff to me.

Anyway where SHOULD the Iodine be at so I can test and see if it is too low?

 

[zacdl]

OK I just tested my Alk (With the Seachem) and CA (With the red sea)

Alk is 6 and CA is 500.

Isnt this a bit high?

 

[lando]

Alk is 6 and CA is 500

It is a bit on the high range. As Steve mentioned, keeping them balanced is the key. I try to keep my ALK at 3.6-4 and CA at 420-450.

 

[steve-s]

Anyway where SHOULD the Iodine be at so I can test and see if it is too low?

If you had the proper test kit that could measure all forms of iodine, 0.06 ppm.

Cheers
Steve

 

[ellisz]

Have you started dosing already? Alk and Ca that high without dosing would make me suspect of the test results.

 

[schoeplein]

As for iodine it helps significantly with Xenia growth - I dose, it grows. I don't dose - it still grows, just not the rapid-duplicating-monster.

If you can test for it - as Steve said above, total iodine levels - add a half-capful and test it in two hours. Keep it at that level. But then again -- 30g tank... I'd be too scared to dose anything with that little water. :| Unless you're interested in Xenia growth, or you just dont want your test kit to go to waste () -- dont dose iodine.