How important is Iodine to Invertebrates?

[blackBRUSHalgae]

My shrimps population is really suffering, which seems to be the result of low iodine in their diet. My tank is very heavily planted with high lighting, chiller, CO2 24/7 and EI dosing. The rest of my fauna is doing great, but not for my shrimps, which consists of yamato and cherries. The cherries seem to die while molting and my yamato turned opaque white when they die.

I read up the net and the results only narrow down to iodine. Couple of places mention about dosing half the dosage of Kent marine iodine once every week. Any ideas?

Many thanks!

[Quixotic]

Yes to saltwater inverts, undecided for freshwater. Care to share the links where you managed to narrow down the cause to iodine deficiency?

[blackBRUSHalgae]

Hi Quixotic,

you can try google with this string: shrimp molting iodine

I can't remember the URLs, but there was 3~4 links that I read is about fresh water shrimps and iodine.

[kaym]

Feed the shrimps well and their source of food should contain enough iodine for healthy growth. Amongst the food i use are Hikari Crab Cuisine and Algae Wafers.

[blackBRUSHalgae]

Feed the shrimps well and their source of food should contain enough iodine for healthy growth. Amongst the food i use are Hikari Crab Cuisine and Algae Wafers.

The problem is that my 100cm 50G tank is heavily planted, and it is almost impossible to feed the shrimps.

[kaym]

Dont tell me theres not even an inch of free space in your tank, where you cant just dump some shrimp food in.

Any part inside your tank, where theres food, the shrimps will come to it.