Mr_Turtlehead said:
Is regular iodine the same as iodophor? I was going to get some with my next HB order, but hell, if they're the same I'll just pick it up at the corner Walgreen's.
I am no expert here by any means, and am kind of going on some loose knowledge, but... (if anyone knows the 100% truth here, please correct anything I say that is wrong).
Iodophor is simply iodine mixed with another agent to allow it to dissolve in water. If you can find tincture of iodine at the pharmacy, I suspect that it is
pretty much the same thing; an iodine liquid that, when placed in water, releases free iodine. The free iodine is a sanitizer.
The main differences will be that (according to the Wikipedia) iodophor has a longer shelf life and is gentler to the skin than a tincture of iodine.
If I am correct, ANY iodine sanitizer (tincture or iodophor) is a no-rinse sanitizer simply due to the chemical and physical properties of iodine. Specifically, iodine will sublimate.... which means it goes directly from as solid (in solution) to a gas, and thus leaves no residue behind when the equipment is left to dry.
The only thing I can't help with is how MUCH tincture of iodine you would need to use. You want to achieve a specific concentration of elemental iodine in your sanitizing solution, but you'll have to figure out yourself what the proper amount of iodine tuncture would be per gallon.
good luck!
-walker