Treating with Vitamin C

JohnL · 03/20/2009, 02:48 PM

This thread was automatically split due to performance issues. You can find the rest of the thread here: http://reefcentral.com/forums/showth...2#post14654592

Orochimaru · 03/20/2009, 02:48 PM

my lps and sps acting weird but I couldn't pin-point the problem so I stop dosing Vit. C for a while but that didn't help either. still not sure, so I continue to dose again now.

o0xerog0o · 03/20/2009, 02:55 PM

I dosed for the first time yesterday. In my 30G/10G setup I dosed 1/8 tsp 2x, and in my 75G/30G setup I am dosing 3/8 tsp 2x daily. They both roughly come out to 5ppm, but in a week or so, I may try to bump it up a little once I see how things are reacting to the changes. Will keep you all update

Jeff · 03/20/2009, 04:33 PM

Haha, another split!

Pufferpunk · 03/20/2009, 06:46 PM

...and why hasn't this made thread of the month yet???

Jeff · 03/20/2009, 07:49 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Pufferpunk
...and why hasn't this made thread of the month yet???

Because vitamin c doesnt work

.

Pufferpunk · 03/20/2009, 08:32 PM

Uhhh... oh yeah...

20longreefer · 03/20/2009, 08:37 PM

hey pufferpunk could i use a liquid softgel vitamin c? i would open the tablet and dilute that vitamin c in rodi and just dose that. so would it work?

Pufferpunk · 03/20/2009, 08:39 PM

Absolutely not. You don't want anything in your tank but pure, buffered VC. Those pills have a pH of 4!

20longreefer · 03/20/2009, 08:46 PM

alright so i guess ill get the solid ones. thanks for preventing me from nuking my tank.

Pufferpunk · 03/20/2009, 08:49 PM

Same thing with those too.

geoxman · 03/20/2009, 09:04 PM

I stopped for a month or so because I got lazy.
I just noticed the typical spring pox and started dosing again.

AugustWest · 03/20/2009, 09:45 PM

OK. I made it through the first 10 pages of this thread. Then skipped towards the end. Let me see If I got this straight because it looks like things have "evolved" from the beginning.

Pure vc is the way to go (I ordered from i.herb.com) GFO and GAC are ok to run. I have a total volume of about 100 gallons. I'm looking to just improve coral growth, color so 5 ppm VC is about right. I'm going to start with 1/4 tsp. twice a day and work up to 1/2 tsp twice a day...... sound about right so far?

Another question, is VC a form of Carbon dosing? Same as the vodka,sugar,vinegar dosing?

Also I have started dosing AZ-NO3 due to a Nitrate level of about 20. OK to dose VC at the same time?

Thanks

Jeff · 03/21/2009, 04:56 AM

It should be ok if you dose low and slow. All of those things you listed are carbon sources including the AZ-NO3 and vitamin c. The VC does do more then just provide a carbon source though.

Jeff · 03/21/2009, 04:57 AM

Use this product:
http://www.iherb.com/ProductDetails.aspx?pid=10178&at=0
$5 0ff coupon code: LUL789 (good for first purchase).

To figure out how much to use, decide if you want to simply improve coral growth, spread, and color. If so, then you should dose around 5 ppm twice daily (down to 2-3 ppm works also). If you are having problems with coral or fish health, dose up to around 30 ppm twice daily.

Calculate the total net number of gallons in your tank (minus rocks, sand, etc). Enter that number here ______.

You will now need to do a little math. The amounts below are for 100 gallons of water so if you have 50 net gallons, cut the amounts shown below in half etc.

Dosing amounts using Iherb product:
1/4 tsp=1112 mg.

For every 100 gallons:

5 ppm ----- 1892 mg VC
10 ppm ---- 3785 mg VC
15 ppm ---- 5677 mg VC
20 ppm ---- 7570 mg VC
25 ppm ---- 9462 mg VC
30 ppm ---- 11355 mg VC

After you have figured out how much you want to dose at each dosing, enter that number here _____. This is your dose to be used twice a day.

Notes:
*Be sure your pH and alk are within normal reef limits before starting. Adjust if needed. Monitor weekly.
*Shoot for a ppm of around 5 or lower if only dosing for improved coral growth, coloration, and spread. Shoot for higher amounts up to 30 ppm if you are having melting zoas or closed zoas and look for the causes of your problems as you dose. Check for high nitrates, pests, zoa pox, predators, and unstable water conditions.
*Dose low amounts and increase the amount slowly over the course of a few days to a couple weeks.
* If you notice an algae bloom or increased skim on your glass then cut back by half until it disappears.
* Watch your skimmer, it will start to skim more.
* Dose the amount twice a day in a fast moving area of your sump or overflow. You may dilute the vitamin c in ro/di water for a minute then pour into my overflow. If adding to sump, try and add the vitamin c after filtration such as skimmers and reactors.
* If you have a question, ask here. Puffy checks this thread daily.
* The instructions in this guide and throughout this thread are based on using pure Sodium Ascorbate, not vitamin c pills and other non-buffered forms of vitamin c.

Be sure to take some "before" pics!

o0xerog0o · 03/21/2009, 04:17 PM

Question...

Is there a certain amount of time I should wait between doses

The reason I ask is because, with my job, I leave at 3am and sometimes don't get back home until after 2pm. By the time I shower, get changed, and have a bite to eat, it can be 3 or 4. Then I try to go to bed at 10pm at the latest, so, that's only about a ~6hr window.

Like right now. It's 6pm, I'm getting ready to do my first dose for the day. I didn't want to wait so long, but I got caught up with other things.

jakano · 03/21/2009, 06:25 PM

Ok I did the first dose today of the Iherb product. I am guessing a water volume of 150 gallons so I did a 1/2 teaspoon dose. I took some pics so I can see if any changes are noticeable. I'll take som again in a couple weeks.

Pufferpunk · 03/21/2009, 10:12 PM

It takes 8 hours for VC to be totally absorbed by your system.

ADMTyPeReEf-eR · 03/23/2009, 07:03 AM

so you can dose vc together with vodka?

Pufferpunk · 03/23/2009, 09:16 AM

I'm not doing it but I guess some folks are. It soulds fairly redundant to me, since not only is VC also a carbon source like vodka but it does many more things for my system like saving my zoanthids from melting, which vodka doesn't. I'll stick with just dosing VC.

650-IS350 · 03/23/2009, 09:34 AM

It takes 8 hours for VC to be totally absorbed by your system.

Does this take to account that some folks run way bigger skimmers than their tank was inteneded to have. Some people also use lots of carbon or other types of media that will suck up VC.
Or way stronger lights? ( doesn't VC breakdown as well from light ).

650-IS350 · 03/23/2009, 09:34 AM

DP/

Pufferpunk · 03/23/2009, 09:43 AM

I got that from Dr Thiel's article & a website on VC.

RcReefer · 03/26/2009, 01:13 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Pufferpunk
I'm not doing it but I guess some folks are. It soulds fairly redundant to me, since not only is VC also a carbon source like vodka but it does many more things for my system like saving my zoanthids from melting, which vodka doesn't. I'll stick with just dosing VC.

Have never dose either one of them, but planning to dose vodka this weekend. and i had a mix reef tank. (sps, lps and zoapaly) so should i just do VC only then? instead of vodka. or dose both?
thanks

Jeff · 03/26/2009, 06:48 AM

Both will help drop nitrates/phosphates if you have a problem with them but stick to VC if you want improved coral growth, spread, color etc...

03/20/2009, 02:48 PM	#2
Orochimaru 1 of 3 legendary ninjas Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: Leaf Village of OC Posts: 3,324	my lps and sps acting weird but I couldn't pin-point the problem so I stop dosing Vit. C for a while but that didn't help either. still not sure, so I continue to dose again now. __________________ Gintama, episode 118 = "Live an honest life even if your back is crooked." STD(s) are not Pokemons, you don't have to catch them all!

03/20/2009, 02:55 PM	#3
o0xerog0o Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Shadyside, Ohio Posts: 654	I dosed for the first time yesterday. In my 30G/10G setup I dosed 1/8 tsp 2x, and in my 75G/30G setup I am dosing 3/8 tsp 2x daily. They both roughly come out to 5ppm, but in a week or so, I may try to bump it up a little once I see how things are reacting to the changes. Will keep you all update __________________ -Mark Current Tank Info: 30 Gallon Softie Tank w/ 10 Gallon Frag Tank; 75 Gallon w/ 30 gallon sump and a 70 gallon frag tank up and running

03/20/2009, 04:33 PM	#4
Jeff Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Chicago Posts: 11,907	Haha, another split! __________________ Always remember.... any time you reef, you also reef with every reefer that reefer has reefed with. Mitch 2/18/10 IWNFT343F Current Tank Info: Innovative Marine 20

03/20/2009, 08:37 PM	#8
20longreefer Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Northern NJ Posts: 113	hey pufferpunk could i use a liquid softgel vitamin c? i would open the tablet and dilute that vitamin c in rodi and just dose that. so would it work? __________________ "Life is a STD with a 100% mortality rate." -Richard Pyle Current Tank Info: 20 Gallon long with a twenty gallon sump

03/20/2009, 08:46 PM	#10
20longreefer Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Northern NJ Posts: 113	alright so i guess ill get the solid ones. thanks for preventing me from nuking my tank. __________________ "Life is a STD with a 100% mortality rate." -Richard Pyle Current Tank Info: 20 Gallon long with a twenty gallon sump

03/20/2009, 02:48 PM	#1
JohnL RC Staff Join Date: Oct 1999 Location: Long Island, NY Posts: 14,431	This thread was automatically split due to performance issues. You can find the rest of the thread here: http://reefcentral.com/forums/showth...2#post14654592

03/20/2009, 06:46 PM	#5
Pufferpunk Moved On Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Franklin Park, IL Posts: 21,027	...and why hasn't this made thread of the month yet???

03/20/2009, 08:32 PM	#7
Pufferpunk Moved On Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Franklin Park, IL Posts: 21,027	Uhhh... oh yeah...

03/20/2009, 08:39 PM	#9
Pufferpunk Moved On Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Franklin Park, IL Posts: 21,027	Absolutely not. You don't want anything in your tank but pure, buffered VC. Those pills have a pH of 4!

03/20/2009, 08:49 PM	#11
Pufferpunk Moved On Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Franklin Park, IL Posts: 21,027	Same thing with those too.

03/20/2009, 09:04 PM	#12
geoxman Premium Member Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: in my office Posts: 3,848	I stopped for a month or so because I got lazy. I just noticed the typical spring pox and started dosing again. __________________ "Why do you necessarily have to be wrong just because a few million people think you are?" F-Zappa Current Tank Info: an ice cube tray with brine shrimp in each cubicle

03/20/2009, 09:45 PM	#13
AugustWest Premium Member Join Date: Feb 2001 Posts: 765 Blog Entries: 1	OK. I made it through the first 10 pages of this thread. Then skipped towards the end. Let me see If I got this straight because it looks like things have "evolved" from the beginning. Pure vc is the way to go (I ordered from i.herb.com) GFO and GAC are ok to run. I have a total volume of about 100 gallons. I'm looking to just improve coral growth, color so 5 ppm VC is about right. I'm going to start with 1/4 tsp. twice a day and work up to 1/2 tsp twice a day...... sound about right so far? Another question, is VC a form of Carbon dosing? Same as the vodka,sugar,vinegar dosing? Also I have started dosing AZ-NO3 due to a Nitrate level of about 20. OK to dose VC at the same time? Thanks

03/21/2009, 04:56 AM	#14
Jeff Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Chicago Posts: 11,907	It should be ok if you dose low and slow. All of those things you listed are carbon sources including the AZ-NO3 and vitamin c. The VC does do more then just provide a carbon source though. __________________ Always remember.... any time you reef, you also reef with every reefer that reefer has reefed with. Mitch 2/18/10 IWNFT343F Current Tank Info: Innovative Marine 20

03/21/2009, 04:57 AM	#15
Jeff Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Chicago Posts: 11,907	Use this product: http://www.iherb.com/ProductDetails.aspx?pid=10178&at=0 $5 0ff coupon code: LUL789 (good for first purchase). To figure out how much to use, decide if you want to simply improve coral growth, spread, and color. If so, then you should dose around 5 ppm twice daily (down to 2-3 ppm works also). If you are having problems with coral or fish health, dose up to around 30 ppm twice daily. Calculate the total net number of gallons in your tank (minus rocks, sand, etc). Enter that number here ______. You will now need to do a little math. The amounts below are for 100 gallons of water so if you have 50 net gallons, cut the amounts shown below in half etc. Dosing amounts using Iherb product: 1/4 tsp=1112 mg. For every 100 gallons: 5 ppm ----- 1892 mg VC 10 ppm ---- 3785 mg VC 15 ppm ---- 5677 mg VC 20 ppm ---- 7570 mg VC 25 ppm ---- 9462 mg VC 30 ppm ---- 11355 mg VC After you have figured out how much you want to dose at each dosing, enter that number here _____. This is your dose to be used twice a day. Notes: Be sure your pH and alk are within normal reef limits before starting. Adjust if needed. Monitor weekly. Shoot for a ppm of around 5 or lower if only dosing for improved coral growth, coloration, and spread. Shoot for higher amounts up to 30 ppm if you are having melting zoas or closed zoas and look for the causes of your problems as you dose. Check for high nitrates, pests, zoa pox, predators, and unstable water conditions. Dose low amounts and increase the amount slowly over the course of a few days to a couple weeks. If you notice an algae bloom or increased skim on your glass then cut back by half until it disappears. * Watch your skimmer, it will start to skim more. * Dose the amount twice a day in a fast moving area of your sump or overflow. You may dilute the vitamin c in ro/di water for a minute then pour into my overflow. If adding to sump, try and add the vitamin c after filtration such as skimmers and reactors. * If you have a question, ask here. Puffy checks this thread daily. * The instructions in this guide and throughout this thread are based on using pure Sodium Ascorbate, not vitamin c pills and other non-buffered forms of vitamin c. Be sure to take some "before" pics! __________________ Always remember.... any time you reef, you also reef with every reefer that reefer has reefed with. Mitch 2/18/10 IWNFT343F Current Tank Info: Innovative Marine 20

03/21/2009, 04:17 PM	#16
o0xerog0o Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Shadyside, Ohio Posts: 654	Question... Is there a certain amount of time I should wait between doses The reason I ask is because, with my job, I leave at 3am and sometimes don't get back home until after 2pm. By the time I shower, get changed, and have a bite to eat, it can be 3 or 4. Then I try to go to bed at 10pm at the latest, so, that's only about a ~6hr window. Like right now. It's 6pm, I'm getting ready to do my first dose for the day. I didn't want to wait so long, but I got caught up with other things. __________________ -Mark Current Tank Info: 30 Gallon Softie Tank w/ 10 Gallon Frag Tank; 75 Gallon w/ 30 gallon sump and a 70 gallon frag tank up and running

03/21/2009, 06:25 PM	#17
jakano Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: columbus ohio Posts: 1,562	Ok I did the first dose today of the Iherb product. I am guessing a water volume of 150 gallons so I did a 1/2 teaspoon dose. I took some pics so I can see if any changes are noticeable. I'll take som again in a couple weeks.

03/21/2009, 10:12 PM	#18
Pufferpunk Moved On Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Franklin Park, IL Posts: 21,027	It takes 8 hours for VC to be totally absorbed by your system.

03/23/2009, 07:03 AM	#19
ADMTyPeReEf-eR Moved On Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: downthest Posts: 452	so you can dose vc together with vodka?

03/23/2009, 09:16 AM	#20
Pufferpunk Moved On Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Franklin Park, IL Posts: 21,027	I'm not doing it but I guess some folks are. It soulds fairly redundant to me, since not only is VC also a carbon source like vodka but it does many more things for my system like saving my zoanthids from melting, which vodka doesn't. I'll stick with just dosing VC.

03/23/2009, 09:34 AM	#21
650-IS350 Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Bay Area Posts: 14,555	It takes 8 hours for VC to be totally absorbed by your system. Does this take to account that some folks run way bigger skimmers than their tank was inteneded to have. Some people also use lots of carbon or other types of media that will suck up VC. Or way stronger lights? ( doesn't VC breakdown as well from light ). __________________ * RETIRED FROM REEFING * Just enjoying the box of water from afar

03/23/2009, 09:34 AM	#22
650-IS350 Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Bay Area Posts: 14,555	DP/ __________________ * RETIRED FROM REEFING * Just enjoying the box of water from afar

03/23/2009, 09:43 AM	#23
Pufferpunk Moved On Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Franklin Park, IL Posts: 21,027	I got that from Dr Thiel's article & a website on VC.

03/26/2009, 06:48 AM	#25
Jeff Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Chicago Posts: 11,907	Both will help drop nitrates/phosphates if you have a problem with them but stick to VC if you want improved coral growth, spread, color etc... __________________ Always remember.... any time you reef, you also reef with every reefer that reefer has reefed with. Mitch 2/18/10 IWNFT343F Current Tank Info: Innovative Marine 20