Treating with Vitamin C

[Myrddraal]

I was just about to ask about calcium ascorbate. The wild oats near my house didn't have sodium ascorbate, so I picked up the calcium instead. I'm assuming the Ca will either be useful or precipitate out. I have a colony of blue zoos that has shrunk from 12 polyps to 8 since the 3rd of January.

 

[Pufferpunk]

How do I raise pH, without raising alk?

 

[driftin]

Here's an article Jeni.

http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2007-05/rhf/index.php

If I understand the chemistry right, you will need to reduce the CO2 levels in the water.

 

[PaintGuru]

I just ordered this....I'd rather have calcium ions then sodium ions.

http://www.luckyvitamin.com/733739007544.html

 

[Pufferpunk]

Guess I should have ordered that instead but how much salt could really be in there?

As far as my pH, it's OK now that I added the Kent buffer, but my alk is now 15. I'm going to do a WC & stop adding the C, until I get the bufffered one.

 

[otiso777]

The calcium in those pills is in the form of calcium carbonate which is essentially the same material as the skeleton that corals make. It isn't very soluble in saltwater as the pH is too high, so the increase in dissolved Ca ions in the tank water should be negligible.

 

[Yunachin]

I have been doing the vitamin C method for about one week now. I have seen significant changes in my tank environment. Zoa polyps that have not opened in months have begun to show their shiny faces again. I am quite amazed how quickly this has taken effect. I am going to order the filler-free Vitamin C as well. So far PH has remained stable.
I am getting some pictures together now to post to show some results so far.

 

[Yunachin]

These are all before images of the tank:

These are after images so far: This was my worst colony:

 

[vanceny]

I've read through the whole thread and I remember something about the vit c having an effect on the skimmer. I just cant see to find it again. I've been using the gnc with rose hips.

Some observations:
- better polyp extension on my sps.
- skimmer fills faster
- zoa opening more except for one small colony
- slight algea bloom (not sure if related to feeding bbs)

Its been about a week now. Not sure if any of my observations are due to the vit c or just having a more stable tank by using a doser with my 2 part.

 

[PaintGuru]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=11638588#post11638588 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by vanceny
I've read through the whole thread and I remember something about the vit c having an effect on the skimmer. I just cant see to find it again. I've been using the gnc with rose hips.

Some observations:
- better polyp extension on my sps.
- skimmer fills faster
- zoa opening more except for one small colony
- slight algea bloom (not sure if related to feeding bbs)

Its been about a week now. Not sure if any of my observations are due to the vit c or just having a more stable tank by using a doser with my 2 part.

The skimmer thought is that pills have some filler in them that is being pulled out by the Vit C. I believe the pure stuff does not have an effect on the skimmer IIRC.

 

[Yunachin]

It has made my skimmer foam like crazy but has been having no effect negatively otherwise. It is just messy.

 

[Pufferpunk]

I agree--it's the fillers making my skimmer go nuts. I'll tell you for sure though, when I start dosing with pure sodium ascorbate. Too bad I didn't think of the Calcium ascorbate sooner. I wonder how much difference the socium will make in my SG?

Ynicahin, Great pics, I'm glad it's working so well for you!

 

[Yunachin]

Thank you!

 

[gazog]

Okay I am sold, I have several small frags and colonies that looked good when I brought them home but have declined since then.

I stopped at GNC, bought the caplets of 1000mg of pure C, no rosehips or any other fillers. I am cutting the caplet open and mixing it with RO water before dosing my tanks. I put the first dose in tonight after I did my weekly water change.

Here are the before photos.

This last one is one of the ones that seems to be okay, it is usually open but this was its time to be closed up. I posted it because I wanted to see what if anything happens to a healthy one.

I will keep you posted with my results.

 

[Pufferpunk]

All I see are red Xs, no pics. I suggest getting buffered C or you're going to have pH problems. Links above, for inexpensive products.

 

[gazog]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=11641932#post11641932 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Pufferpunk
All I see are red s, no pics. I suggest getting buffered C or you're going to have pH problems. Links above, for inexpensive products.

Sorry about that, it should be fixed now. I am pretty sure the caplets I bought were buffered, I will check in AM.

 

[Pufferpunk]

I see the pics now--good luck!

 

[gazog]

How do I post photos from Google's Picasa Web Albums. I dont want to hijack this thread so any if anyone has an answer please PM me with info. Also is there ny kind of spell check on this site?

 

[Myrddraal]

I'm not sure what's causing it, if it's the Ca Ascorbate or something else, but my water has been really cloudy since the day after the first dose. I dosed 5.3 grams (361 mg of vitamin C) two times, and after the second the water started to get cloudy. My blue zoos that I was trying to save are down to 5 polyps, and everything else is retracted and doesn't look good. My mushrooms are all deflated, my hammer and trumpets are sucked down to their skeletons, and I think my montipora my have died already. My brittle star doesn't look very good either, it's missing some spines. I also found my molly stuck to a powerhead in my sump this morning, but I don't know if that's related or not.

pH 8.0 (same as before dosing)
Ca 350 (same as before)
Alk 7 dKh (raising with DIY two-part)
Ammonia 0 (Same)
NitrAte 0 (Same)

I'm noticing a lot more foam at the surface, the inside of my overflow even has some foam in it. I changed 10 gallons yesterday, and just changed about 10 more. Anyone have any ideas what's going on?

 

[Pufferpunk]

Didn't I read there that the type of calcium (calcium carbonate) in that won't dissolve well in SW?