Lugol's Solution for Use by Advanced Reef Aquarium Hobbyists
Overview
Brightwell Aquatics Lugol's is an extremely powerful iodine/iodide solution. It should only be used by advanced aquarists. Sizes / 30ml
Technical Background
Brightwell Aquatics Lugol’s is an extremely powerful iodine solution. It should only be used by advanced reef aquarists to dose iodine as well as to create a dip for corals and their allies.
The importance of iodine in a reef aquarium cannot be overstated. Presence of iodine is vital to hermatypic invertebrates (i.e., corals, clams, and their allies that harbor zooxanthellae) because it is used to detoxify excess oxygen produced by zooxanthellae. This oxygen irritates sensitive tissue. Corals and clams that appear to shrivel or close under intense lighting are attempting to shade their zooxanthellae crop to reduce the rate of oxygen production. Iodine (as the iodide ion) essentially bonds with oxygen to form non-toxic iodate, relieving the need to shield zooxanthellae and enabling the host organism to open fully.
The predominant form of iodine in seawater is iodide. The natural seawater concentration of all iodine species combined is approximately 0.06 ppm, classifying it as a minor element. Even in this small concentration, iodine is required for survival of fishes, crustaceans, macroalgae and kelp, and hermatypic invertebrates alike. Iodine binds rapidly with latent organic material and is passively removed by aggressive protein skimming and the use of organic-adsorption products such as activated carbon and specialty resins. The combined biological and chemical depletion of iodine necessitate that its concentration be monitored and the aquarium supplemented as needed. The rate at which iodine is extracted from the water is determined by the stocking density of reef-building livestock, type of lighting, and other biological, physical, and chemical conditions. Once the rate of iodine uptake in the aquarium has been determined, the proper dosing rate of this product can be easily calculated.
Instructions and Guidelines
Determine the iodine concentration in the aquarium using an accurate test kit before supplementing. Each ml of Brightwell Aquatics Lugol’s will increase the concentration of iodine (“”) in 1 US-gallon (3.785 L) of water by 34 ppm, or approximately 1.7 ppm per drop. Add this product at the maximum dosage of 1 drop (1/20th ml) per 35 US-gallons daily to maintain a concentration of 0.05 ppm. Always try to maintain the within a range of +/-0.02 ppm. Determine the required daily dosing rate (recommended to weekly dosing) by measuring the aquarium's at the same time each day over a one- to two-week period. Estimate the volume of water in the entire aquarium system; divide the daily decrease in by 1.7; multiply this number by the volume of water in the system to get the daily dosage required (drops) to maintain a stable .
Caution: Keep out of reach of children. Not for human consumption. Contact poison control center if ingested.
MediCoral Coral Dip for New Coral Additions and to benefit Established Corals
Overview
Safe for all varieties of corals and their allies, including colonial and solitary polyps.
Triple-acting formulation provides short- and long-term benefits to dipped corals.
Formulated to prepare corals for addition to a pre-existing aquarium, as well as to benefit corals showing signs of tissue damage or degradation.
Gently oxidizes areas of damaged coral tissue to help halt, or prevent onset of, tissue degradation.
Discourages pathogens from establishing themselves in areas of damaged tissue.
Not a medication; contains no antibiotics or heavy metals.
Over 50% stronger than competing products.
Formulated by a marine scientist.
Sizes / 30ml
Technical Background
Experienced hobbyists are well aware of the delicate nature of the soft tissue that constitutes the living coral polyp, particularly in the case of stony corals. Inspection of a bare stony coral skeleton often reveals a very convoluted and sharp structure; when coral tissue is inadvertently pressed against such a structure, the resulting local tissue damage can create an entry way for infection and/or infestation by organisms that would otherwise be combated by the coral’s immune system. Physical damage to coral tissue is not an uncommon event during shipping and/or handling, and is an unavoidable result of fragmenting when the cutting site is not bare skeleton (again, in the case of a stony coral; cutting soft corals and polyps will always result in tissue damage). A colony or individual may also experience stress as a matter of changing chemical or physical conditions in the aquarium, often leading to weakening of the immune system, with the afore-mentioned infection/infestation as a possible result.
Instructions and Guidelines
To prepare solution, add 1.0 ml (~20 drops) of MediCoral per 1 US-gallon (3.785 L) of seasoned aquarium saltwater in a clean plastic or glass container, then immerse coral completely as follows: Small-polyp Stony Corals: 7 - 10 minutes; Large-polyp Stony Corals: 6 - 9 minutes; Soft (“Leather”) Corals: 8 - 11 minutes; Colonial and Solitary Polyps: 5 - 8 minutes. Discard solution when finished, then rinse coral in clean aquarium water and place coral into aquarium system. Process may be repeated daily as desired/required. If coral shows signs of irritation from being immersed, remove from solution; subsequently, coral may be placed into solution for less time, or strength of solution may be diluted. Solution may be increased in strength if hobbyist feels that there is reason to do so; do not exceed 150% recommended strength of solution (e.g. 30 drops per 1 US-gallon of water). It is suggested that new coral acquisitions be temporarily located in such a manner that the tissue around their base (where the soft tissue gives way to the bare skeleton) may be visually inspected for the first 1 - 2 weeks of ownership; doing so will enable the tissue to be monitored for signs of degradation and/or undesirable organisms (e.g. “stowaways”) that may have escaped detection during initial inspection. Failing to inspect new coral additions for signs of tissue degradation and/or infection as they arrive from outside sources can have a disastrous impact on an entire reef system.
Caution:Keep out of reach of children. Not for human consumption. Contact poison control center if ingested. Detailed information on this product and its’ use can be found on our website.