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Author Topic: Vitamin C Dosing  (Read 7084 times)

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Offline Logzor

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Vitamin C Dosing
« on: February 07, 2009, 18:27:26 »
I am not sure if anyone has heard of this form of carbon dosing but myself and several other local people have had great success. Below in the basic dosing information. More can be found under the RC Zoas forum, you cant miss it.

Apparently dosing vitamin c not only acts like other carbon sources (vodka) but will improve the health of zoanthids and other soft corals.

Taken from RC:

Quote
Use this product:
http://www.iherb.com/ProductDetails...7697039798&at=0
$5 0ff coupon code: LOG439

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
Dose 2x/day.

Be sure your pH and alk are within normal reef limits before starting.
Shoot for a ppm of around 5 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.

Offline Logzor

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Re: Vitamin C Dosing
« Reply #1 on: February 08, 2009, 11:56:12 »
After dosing this for nearly two weeks I have noticed some major differences in my reef tank. I run 80% sps with some lps and polyps.

Algae growth has come to a complete halt. I no longer have to clean my front glass. The color of my zoanthids are "popping". I have also noticed slight color changes on some of my sps, although, I attribute this to the reduction of nitrates/phosphates.

I started out pretty slow; way below the 5ppm mark. I am up to nearly 10ppm with no negative effects.

Here is skimmate about 3-4 days after dosing, this skimmer cup was cleaned out less than 24 hours before the picture:


Offline verper

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Re: Vitamin C Dosing
« Reply #2 on: February 08, 2009, 12:14:39 »
Interesting.  I haven't read about that yet.  Might have to do some reading.

What's the difference between dosing C and vodka or vodka/sugar/vinegar?

Offline micki

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Re: Vitamin C Dosing
« Reply #3 on: February 08, 2009, 12:36:33 »
I'm interested in learning more about this as well...

Offline Logzor

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Re: Vitamin C Dosing
« Reply #4 on: February 08, 2009, 14:36:25 »
The thing is that Vitamin C dosing is still pretty experimental. The true effects on coral and other reef inhabitants have not been fully explored. 

I did a quick read of the basics and jumped in in hopes of contributing to the experiment. So far its been pretty interesting.

I understand the Vitamin C and Vodka are the same in that they are both carbon sources. Basically they both 'lure' bacteria to feed in the water column. Since they normally they would stay on the glass, rock, etc they do not get skimmed out. They would rather hang out where it is 'safe' and eat there. I think this is why before I had to clean my glass every 2 days and now I never have to clean it. Please, correct me if I am wrong regarding how dosing carbon makes skimming more efficient.

Anyways. Soft corals, such as zoas, etc use collagen to build their bodies and the theory is that vitamin c improves the immune system and prevents them from melting at higher dosages (once you get up to 10-20ppm). This was the original logic behind vitamin c dosing....to prevent zoas melting. Some have reported that is works, increases the growth rate, and intensifies the color of zoanthids. I have witnessed at least one of these and I am positive it is the result of vitamin c.

For more information there is a massive thread on RC in the Zoanthid forum. It is filled with a lot of crap and is hard to sort through. What I have written above is what I have gathered from it. 

Offline ohioreef

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Re: Vitamin C Dosing
« Reply #5 on: February 08, 2009, 14:43:50 »
What are you using for your vitamin c source?

Offline Logzor

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Re: Vitamin C Dosing
« Reply #6 on: February 08, 2009, 14:51:06 »
In the first post I have some quoted text. It is pretty small but there is a link to the actual product I am using. It is a 7.1PH buffered vitamin c in crystalline form. It just comes in a big bottle and I mix it with some water until it dissolves and I dump it into my sump.

The vitamin c pills and other non-pure forms are a big no-no and will drop your PH and cause other problems. Some have something called rosehip in them among other additives. The linked product is pure and buffed with sodium.

Offline micki

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Re: Vitamin C Dosing
« Reply #7 on: February 08, 2009, 15:13:04 »
The link just says page not found...

Offline Logzor

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Re: Vitamin C Dosing
« Reply #8 on: February 08, 2009, 15:25:28 »
Sorry. There is some kind of error when I paste that link from the original post.

http://www.iherb.com/ProductDetails.aspx?c=1&pid=-7152293197697039798

MechanicalEngineer

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Re: Vitamin C Dosing
« Reply #9 on: February 08, 2009, 16:18:20 »
Hm, very interesting.  I had heard of this, but had never researched more into it (never really had a need.)  Do you have before & after pics?  Does this technique affect all softies or just zoas?  Why zoas? 

Offline micki

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Re: Vitamin C Dosing
« Reply #10 on: February 08, 2009, 16:20:47 »
Does this method do anythign for other types of algea such and HA?

MechanicalEngineer

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Re: Vitamin C Dosing
« Reply #11 on: February 08, 2009, 16:22:23 »
I would imagine that since it's a carbon source, it would lower phosphates/nitrates...and therefore help reduce HA and other algaes.  What about bubble algaes since they tend to thrive in low nutrient environments?

Offline micki

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Re: Vitamin C Dosing
« Reply #12 on: February 08, 2009, 16:23:37 »
Hmmmmm, sounding more interesting.  :)

Offline ohioreef

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Re: Vitamin C Dosing
« Reply #13 on: February 08, 2009, 17:17:32 »
I may have to give it a try. See if it slows down my HA.

How are you dosing it, all at once or with a dosing pump?

Offline micki

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Re: Vitamin C Dosing
« Reply #14 on: February 08, 2009, 17:22:06 »
I've never had a HA problem until the past few weeks.  I'm sure it was from the seaweed salad I used. 

Gary how long have you been having HA issues again?  I thought you resolved that?

Offline ohioreef

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Re: Vitamin C Dosing
« Reply #15 on: February 08, 2009, 17:24:42 »
I picked a bunch out, but there are still a couple spots. I really need to get my bulbs replaced and a new clean-up crew. I have really neglected the tank since the crash in July.

Offline micki

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Re: Vitamin C Dosing
« Reply #16 on: February 08, 2009, 17:25:57 »
I got a new clean up crew and new bulbs hoping that would stop it.  It's not out of control yet...  :)

Offline Logzor

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Re: Vitamin C Dosing
« Reply #17 on: February 08, 2009, 18:07:35 »
I dose all at once. In the morning and then in the evening. It stays in the system for around 8 hours.

I imagine it would help with the HA depending on the amount of flow you have in your tank and how good your skimmer is. If you increase flow, skim well, run a lot of phosban, and dose vitamin c you could really knock that HA out quite easily.

Of course you want to do all of the regular practices to reduce nitrates and phosphate; do frequent water changes and reduce feedings.

Offline Riderc82

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Re: Vitamin C Dosing
« Reply #18 on: February 08, 2009, 21:50:51 »
What type of skimmer are you using Logzor?

Offline Logzor

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Re: Vitamin C Dosing
« Reply #19 on: February 08, 2009, 22:43:31 »
I use the OCTO extreme 200 (MSX200) on my DT (90g).

Offline Riderc82

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Re: Vitamin C Dosing
« Reply #20 on: February 08, 2009, 22:49:08 »
What do you think of the Octopus extreme?

Offline Logzor

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Re: Vitamin C Dosing
« Reply #21 on: February 08, 2009, 23:26:21 »
Well after using a coralife super skimmer 125 on my 55g and then moving to this. What do you thank? HA.

I absolutely love it. No start up problems, skims extremely well, low power usage. It fits in a 30L sump. I think it has a great build quality, I would say it is the best possible skimmer for the money.

Offline Brians937

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Re: Vitamin C Dosing
« Reply #22 on: February 11, 2009, 00:41:02 »
ok so how does the product you use vary from say the kent marine vitamin C? And this talk about vodka, I'm assuming this is the liquor???? would it have any affect on cyno??

Offline Logzor

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Re: Vitamin C Dosing
« Reply #23 on: February 11, 2009, 11:29:02 »
There is no comparison with the kent vitamin c. For how much some people normally dose (15+ppm) with the powder it would take the entire bottles of that stuff 2x a day.

You need to have very stable alk, calcium, ph, and other parameters before attempting to dose carbon. Also, a very good skimmer is need.

And yes, cheap vodka, the drink  :)

It may have effects on cyano. I am having luck with killing an algae that was thought to be un-killable.

Offline Brians937

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Re: Vitamin C Dosing
« Reply #24 on: February 13, 2009, 20:50:56 »
let me know how the cyno killing goes with the vodka. I'm working at petland in the fish department and cyno has been a huge problem with them. I have knowed it down a bunch but still not completly gone

 

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