Iodine coral dips -what is iodine supposed to kill?

[sen5241b]

Iodine dips, from what I've heard, do not kill nuisance algae or other pests. What does iodine kill? Bacteria only? I've some people doing both an iodine dip and a hydrogen peroxide dip to kill nuisance algae.

[jaddc]

Iodine (Lugol's) is a disinfectant (or antiseptic, depending on where it goes), and it kills microbial organisms (e.g. bacteria). 

 

Lugol's also provides free iodine. For corals and macroalgae, free iodine enhances color and other features (up to a point, and then it is lethal). So people use Lugols to get rid of bad bacteria and help the coral recover (great to use right after fragging when bacteria can infect to fresh cut tissue).

 

Hydrogen peroxide is an oxidizer and you also use it as a disinfectant (it works in a different way than iodine).

 

It can kill macroalgae. Here is just one example: http://www.malawicichlidhomepage.com/aquainfo/algae_peroxide.html

[Coral Hind]

The iodine can make the corals slime up and the extra slime can slough off some pests like red bugs and flatworms. Some pests are also bothered by the dip enough that they bail off the coral or can be easily blown off with a turkey baster. I would use something like Coral RX over iodine or hydrogen peroxide as both of those can cause the corals to brown out for a few months.

[jaddc]

The iodine can make the corals slime up and the extra slime can slough off some pests like red bugs and flatworms. Some pests are also bothered by the dip enough that they bail off the coral or can be easily blown off with a turkey baster. I would use something like Coral RX over iodine or hydrogen peroxide as both of those can cause the corals to brown out for a few months.

 

+1 on CoralRx