Vitamin C trial

[Tom@HaslettMI]

I have been watching my zoas slowly decline in my tank since I upgraded from the 50 to 75 gallon. I know that some of the decline is a direct result of a larval jellyfish that looks like a hydroid (mental note: start kalking those SOBs), but even colonies that have no larval jellies near them are declining. I've done some research and based on what I've read and @Mr. Microscope 's TOTM I'm going to give Vitamin C dosing a try.

I'm about a week into it and have not seen any noticeable improvement in the zoas but my understanding is that it takes few weeks.

I'm dosing a sodium ascorbate powder that I bought a a local health food store. I add a 1/8 teaspoon in the morning and again in the evening. But to be honest I miss a dosing once in awhile. This is on the low end of dosing as the recommended amount for my size tank is 1/4 teaspoon. I will likely increase the dosage in a couple of weeks.

I'm going to document my trials (and hopefully no tribulations) in this tread. I suppose that means I need take and post some pictures...

Tom

[larryandlaura]

I will be following this thread!

[MizTanks]

I'm following also. Tom is there a specific name for the product your using?

[binford4000]

I thought vitamin c was more for the fish ?? I have been doaseing it for a long time so it is hard to say if it is beneficial for corals also. Will be following along also. FYI I use bright wells liquid doaser at 15 drops a week.

[Tom@HaslettMI]

I'm following also. Tom is there a specific name for the product your using?

I'm using NOW Foods sodium ascorbate. There are cheaper options available to order online... Google "reef tank vitamin C dosing" and you should be able to find it pretty quickly. I don't think the brand matters too much as long as it is for human consumption.

Tom

[Sir Patrick]

Is this sodium ascorbate PH buffered? If I recall correct, there is some out there that is, and unbuffered can cause some substantial swings.

I have always looked at Vit. C dosing as a carbon source, possibly a slightly inferior one compared to vodka, sugar, ect. From my reading and experience the Vit C keeps the water parameters clean while leaving enough disolved solids in a tank for polyps to still feed and maintain, unlike many carbon sources that can cause ULNS that just wont allow a zoa/paly to survive. This is just my experiance and hypothesis, from the outcomes in my trials.

I have also found that dosing Vit C allows you to feed heavier while maintaining high water quality. Another reason I beleive that polyps do well with this approach.

I too will be following along. Always watching to learn something new, or reaffirm the results I have found myself. I still dose Vit C to my tanks, but i use Vitamarine-C by Brightwell Aquatics along side the Microbacter-7.

I am a firm believer that Vit C works. Looking forward to your results.

[Sir Patrick]

I have also heard and seen a few studies on corals and Vit C and its ability to help in calogen repair. Pretty interesting stuff! Not only in zoas, but softies, digitata, ect....

If you are looking for a tried and pretty true (in many peoples opinion) try this-

NutriBiotic, Sodium Ascorbate, Crystalline Powder, 16 oz (454 g) - iHerb.com

[Tom@HaslettMI]

Been quite a while since I've seen anything about vit-c.... don't remember fully but seems like there were some big downs of it, maybe potential impurities that while safe for us but not for a reef really, or super easy to OD and throw something out of wack I don't recall exactly but I just remember it was good enough to sway me away from it when I was considering it (back when I cared about weeds anyways lol).

Goodluck tho, hopefully it will be good for you! If not try getting your water a little "dirtier".

Yeah, there can be issues if it's done too quickly. I've not seen anything about impurities, at least when sodium ascorbate is used. The impurity stuff I read about was when folks were dropping vitamin C (ascorbic acid) capsules straight in their sumps. The main issue there is the pH is way low on those. The stuff I'm using is buffered to a pH of 7.0. So, supposedly safe as long as you don't over dose and maintain alkalinity.

As for dirtier... my tank has already been rated R by the Motion Picture Association of America!

Tom

[MizTanks]

Great now I've got MORE questions!! Guess I'm off to create a new thread.....good luck Tom