Latest on dosing Vitamin C....

[Sir Patrick]

My 0.02
Buffered vitamin C is nothing but a carbon source. Its a pure carbon source and you have to start on very low doses. It acts in the same way as vodka would do.

If your zoas are melting and dying there might be other issues that you need to fix. Vit C is not a fix.

I would not recommend going that route.

If you have more questions let me know and I can help you out.

I agree that VC is just another carbon source, but-

Possibly a less efficiant carbon source- Compared to carbon, sugar, vinager, ect. May perhaps be the reason polyps respond a bit better. I am thinking that it might not have as harsh an impact on the water parameters as many other carbon sources, and possibly works a bit better for the higher (but not too high) nutrient loving corals.

Just my hypothesis on the whole idea.

I also add VC, sparadically, to my tank-

Brightwell Aquatics - Vitamarin-C

Normally I use bio fuel, but change things up at times with the brightwells VC, along with MB7. I think if you are going to VC dose, you may as well combine it with MB7, seeing its a carbon source.

I braught it up in the never ending RC thread (as others have) but the idea seems to get avoided every time....

[vega15]

Any Salinity fluctuations? Salt changes? Alkalinity fluctuations? Alk level issues within the listed time frame? How about lights? Type and age of bulb? Flow rate and flow type in tanks? Also if you are doing MB7, many people have noticed a issue with keeping many types of zoas when carbon dosing. Could be you started with one issue, and the MB7 is simply building on that.

Renegade-

Sorry for the late reply's here guys. Work has been CRAZY so I do not have much as time as I would like to have.

All check out fine. My lights are a good point as I do have HQI bulbs that are around 14 months old. However I usually run them for 18 months as I average only 5 hours a day in my photo cycle. I run Ushio bulbs so they are of good quallity.....Hummm now you have me thinking about it :-)

Flow is via 1 Tunze (6065?) and Iwaki return with an output of 1500 GPH.

I do not dose MB7 but do dose a Special Blend Bacteria. I am thinking that the combo of S. Blend and the addition of the new Bio-Pellet system might be bacteria overload? I am going to stop the dosing of S. Blend.

Your thoughts?

Thanks for all of the input!

[SaltCreeps]

if it was my tank i would be pointing at the light bulb as halides go through a heavy light shift as they age.

[vega15]

if it was my tank i would be pointing at the light bulb as halides go through a heavy light shift as they age.

Good point Salt....it is just that I have run this brand of bulb for 8+ years now and never had a problem with going 18 months. I guess I am leaning towards replacing them now to.

Do you run HQI's? If so what length of time are they on for and for how long (months) do you typically run yours for?

Thanks for the input.

[2pairs]

I am no expert but I ran the same bulbs and never got past the year point with out problems.
I would change your bulbs and stop using the Special Blend Bacteria. The Bio Pellets done the way they are supposed to should be enough.
Any time you need to make big changes do it as large water changes and don't double up on things.