iodine in planted aquaria

[ctyank]

I have about 40 Amano shrimp in my 135G planted tank. I've heard they are A LOT happier with iodine supplements.

Any suggestions on available products and dosing?

newbie Chris

[Timmain42]

I use Kent Reef Iodine at 1/2 dose for a marine tank. Aside from the occasional jumper/escape artist, my Amanos are doing great and molting on a regular basis. I even have pregnant ones, but no place to raise the fry. :(

EDIT:: Let's see if you're the Chris I think you might be-

How much does it cost to get an Amano shrimp @ DNA? :)

[ctyank]

Timmain,
You have the right Chris. :D

Thanks for the feedback!

[Timmain42]

NP. How're all the red plants doing? I hear you have a LOT of light.

[ctyank]

Well, they haven't died. The Rotala Wallichi is algae encrusted. The R. Macandra is weak. The R. Magenta is ok.

I think the lighting is the problem. I bought the VHO bulbs from AZ Aquatics. I expected Aquasun (10000 K). But they sent me Actinic white (12000 K). And then they told me that is what they use. But I think this is a bad bulb for planted aquaria.

[Timmain42]

Hm. We have a couple different trains of though on that here, one being that any amount of straight wattage is fine (kelvins don't matter) and another strong contingent of those who believe that 6700k is where it's at.

12000k DOES sound like it's a little high. I haven't seen a freshwater tank w/ Atintics YET that hasn't had a problem or two.

[RTR]

Color temperature and color rendering index is an endless discussion. To the plants, delivered photons matter, most can and will manufacture accessory pigments to capture whatever light they can get. But the range of ~5000K to ~6700K is probabaly closest to what they see in nature.

To me the color temp selection is mostly personal choice, but there may have to compensations in handling (power provided, etc) and the farther you are away from that standard range, the more likely you are to have to juggle things a bit.

Edit: I use iodine supplements also, but probably a bit less than your dosage. My Amanos do bred successfully. I have no proff that the iodine supplement is critical for this, but it at least does no harm.

[ctyank]

Thanks Timmain and RTR!

Can I ask one clarifying question? Everything else being equal, is a 10000 K bulb better than a 12000 K bulb in planted aquaria?

I ask because I want to be able to go back to my vendor and tell him he sent me the wrong bulbs. They cost me $150, so I'd like to correct the error.

Thanks again!

[Timmain42]

:signedYES: for the 10k. I put two 18k NO bulbs on a tank yesterday (not by choice, o' course) and it looked.... alien.

Let's see what others say...

[RTR]

In general I agree, but it really depends on the particular tube - most 10-12000K tubes I've seen are way too cool in color for me, but I have seen some that were not.