Iodine and my cleaner shrimp.

[wildeone]

All of my snails and hermits are doing well, so I scooped up a cleaner shrimp (Lysmata amboinensis) from the LFS. I know they require some iodine in the water to assist with molting. I don't have an Iodine test kit, and I don't want to dose what I don't test, but I read that iodine is difficult to test for and is almost undetectable with a test kit anyway. Anyone dosing iodine, and how are you handling it?

Thanks!

[Jimm]

I don't dose it. There's enough in my salt mix for the load that I have. I have a few things that are supposed to need iodine, shrimp, xenia, zoanthids, etc. No problems yet without dosing it.

[Scott]

I have not dosed any iodine and my cleaner shrimp doesn't have any problems molting every 2-3 weeks. Can't remember exactly how long I've had it, but I think the first pic I have of it is from early October 2005.

[gwen_o_lyn]

I agree- don't waste your money. As long as you do water changes, you will be fine.

[AquaEd]

I dose with iodine, but I do not test for it (oh no!) I like to live on the edge, but I do add calcium and dose for that, so I make up for it. I will not recommend anything, as each system is different with different requirements.

[wildeone]

Well, I jumped the gun and bought Iodine (online :-( ) today. So I will let it gather dust and see what happens. I never thought of the salt mix having Iodine in it. It just goes to show ya that "you don't know what you don't know." Thanks All!

[Rob]

well i will jump in..
i dose iodine, and you are right about the test kits, they are not all that helpful..
so basically, i dose half the recommended amount.
but when this bottle is out, i will likely stop using it..

[wildeone]

I thought thats what you said in the podcast, 1/2 the recommended amount. I will see if my shrimp molts within the next 3 or 4 weeks and then go from there. By the way, when they molt is it easy to see the shell or tell that they molted?

[Scott]

yeah, you'll be able to see the molt (unless it's hidden in some cave). this is where not having your rock against the back glass would come in handy....to get the molt out.

I'll usually see the molt in the tank and pull it out if I can reach it. The last time my shrimp molted, it left it in the cup I have the leather frags in!

[Reefbaby]

I dose iodine, when I think of it. I have TropicMarine iodine supplement and dose every other day, rather than every day. Not only do shrimps/crabs need it in order to properly molt, but from what I've heard, some corals, such as fungia will have better coloring as well.

[ZeroKoolNYC]

Does anyone use the Reef Crystals in their aquarium. I just started using it for the extra trace elements and essentials chemicals ie: iodine, calcium, etc. etc. for my reef tank. Instant Ocean never gave me any issues so and I have been using this fine for about 1 month with no issues. I will keep everyone posted as to the molting of my cleaner shrimp.

[Rob]

i have been using it a few months.
most noticeable change is the increase in Calcium, need to add less after water changes

if you have a Ca reactor and stuff its probably not needed for that, but it does have more of the trace elements

[fat walrus]

i reached a level of sucess that i never had when i switched to reef crystal. Rob is right about the calcium, it was much more stable in calcium, ph an kh also seemed to hold much better. i will not use anything else now. and that thing about iodine, i used to skip it entirely, until i bought a iodine test kit, and found my levels to be progressively lower with the age of the different tanks. i guess water changes just can't replace the amounts consumed over time.

[wildeone]

All good information. I appreciate the help once again. I think now I may dose with iodine (since I have it) at half the recommended dosages.

[gwen_o_lyn]

I have "heard" that trying to get your hermits/shrimp to molt speeds up their life and they die faster..... not sure if it's true, just something I've read.