Brightwell Lugol's Solution 30 ml — Concentrated iodine dip for corals and invertebrates - Brightwell

Brightwell Lugol's Solution — concentrated iodine and iodide for coral dip and advanced dosing

The Brightwell Lugol's Solution is an extremely powerful iodine/iodide solution reserved for advanced aquarists. Brightwell Aquatics formulates it for two uses: a targeted disinfection dip on newly acquired corals, and iodine supplementation for a reef aquarium whose ICP reading has dropped below the natural 0.06 ppm benchmark.

Iodine plays a documented role in corals and clams: detoxification of excess oxygen produced by zooxanthellae. Iodine binds rapidly to suspended organic matter and aggressive protein skimming exports it passively — which explains ongoing consumption in an active reef tank.

What Lugol's Solution is for and when to use it

• Disinfection dip on imported corals — a short soak on a newly acquired frag to remove external pests before introduction into the display tank.
• Reef iodine maintenance — targeted dosing in a tank whose ICP iodine reading has dropped clearly below 0.06 ppm.
• Advanced aquarists only — very low absolute maximum dose and mandatory calculation to avoid overdosing sensitive invertebrates.

Brightwell official use

Two concentrations have been sold for Lugol's — a recent reformulation for regulatory reasons. Always check the bottle label for the exact ppm/gal.

• Ratio: each millilitre raises iodine by approximately 12 ppm per US gal (i.e. ~0.6 ppm per drop) on the current formulation.
• Maintenance calculation: tank capacity in US gal × ppm to add × 0.07570 = mL of product to add. Example: adding 0.02 ppm to a 100 US gal tank = 0.15 mL (i.e. 3 drops).
• Dip for new corals: 14.4 ÷ ppm/gal on the label = mL to add to 1 US gal of tank water. On the standard 12 ppm/gal concentration: 1.2 mL in 1 US gal. Soak for 10 to 12 minutes. Use a timer — the duration is critical.

Specifications

• Brand: Brightwell Aquatics (made in the USA)
• Available sizes: 30 mL, 60 mL, 125 mL, 1 L
• Composition: concentrated iodine + iodide solution
• Two historical concentrations: recent reformulation for regulatory reasons — check the label
• Compatibility: reef marine aquariums with an active skimmer

Why choose Brightwell at ReefSolution

• Brightwell Frag Recover — the recovery dip to use after Lugol's on a cut or stressed frag.
• PolypLab Reef Primer — the powder-based alternative dip for reefkeepers who prefer a dry kit over a concentrated solution.
• Salifert Iodine Test Kit — the 0.01 mg/L titration kit to steer every maintenance dose without overshooting the target.

Frequently asked questions

How do I know which Lugol's concentration I received?

Brightwell explicitly states that two concentrations have been sold and that a recent reformulation happened for regulatory reasons. The exact ppm/gal is printed on the bottle label — that's the only reliable value to steer dosing. On the current standard formulation: 1 mL raises iodine by approximately 12 ppm per US gal.

How long should a coral soak in a Lugol's dip?

Brightwell states 10 to 12 minutes, timer mandatory. The solution is extremely powerful, and exceeding that window can burn coral tissue. Prepare the dip right before immersion, do not leave the coral waiting in the live solution.

Can I dose Lugol's directly to the aquarium?

Yes, but only by calculating the dose precisely with the Brightwell formula: capacity in US gal × ppm desired × 0.07570 = mL to add. On a 100 US gal tank, raising iodine by 0.02 ppm calls for only 0.15 mL (3 drops) — the slightest imprecise pipette blows the target apart.

Is an active skimmer required for Lugol's maintenance dosing?

Brightwell states that iodine binds rapidly to organic matter and that aggressive protein skimming exports it passively. On a skimmerless reef, the maintenance dose recalculated accordingly is the one that offsets biological consumption — otherwise iodine accumulates.