As I got through the second 40 pages I noticed the PNAS paper MontanaBay posted. Although the paper was stating the significance of a novel in vitro methodology, the authors demonstrated higher collagen levels from the ascorbic acid addition of 50ug/mL every other day. Though this measurement would be more useful if the entirety of the media itself was replaced at this time. I do feel though that this shows some promise in coral growth. Albeit only the montipora species benefited. Extrapolation of this number could yield a dose to look at more closely in our enclosed environments.
If 1 teaspoon of sodium ascorbate is 4.2grams and we need 50mg/liter/2days water. We can figure a daily dose of 25mg/liter and 1teaspoon per 50g daily would give you theoretically the same dose as the paper or ~22ppm.
The UV protection and anti-oxidant avenue has many coral bleaching papers. Without delving too far into this subject yet, this is where I would be betting the zoa improvement is coming from. But there are many variables and not one ever seems to be the sole method between a treatment.
As for the carbon food source, if you look at the bacterial breakdown of carbon molecules you will find many bacterial can utilize a wide range of molecules. In fact, this paper demonstrated breakdown of ascorbic acid by many types of bacterial fauna of the gut. This demonstrates the wide variety of bacteria that can use this molecule. It is not difficult to imagine that this pathway is conserved in marine bacteria. From this article, "Ascorbic acid was decomposed and utilized readily as a carbon food for the attacking bacteria, when the medium contained a suitable source of organic nitrogen, like peptone." Again, potential application of this means that with sufficient nitrates in the water column bacteria have the potential to utilize VC as a carbon source.
http://jb.asm.org/cgi/reprint/46/4/351
Many people think that glucose or a sugar is required for energy production. You do not need to have VC change into glucose for glycolysis to produce energy. There are many, many additional pathways for energy synthesis. Also, from this experiment it appears as if denitrification would be a suitable environment for the metabolism of VC (hence the nitrate reduction in the water).
If 1 teaspoon of sodium ascorbate is 4.2grams and we need 50mg/liter/2days water. We can figure a daily dose of 25mg/liter and 1teaspoon per 50g daily would give you theoretically the same dose as the paper or ~22ppm.
The UV protection and anti-oxidant avenue has many coral bleaching papers. Without delving too far into this subject yet, this is where I would be betting the zoa improvement is coming from. But there are many variables and not one ever seems to be the sole method between a treatment.
As for the carbon food source, if you look at the bacterial breakdown of carbon molecules you will find many bacterial can utilize a wide range of molecules. In fact, this paper demonstrated breakdown of ascorbic acid by many types of bacterial fauna of the gut. This demonstrates the wide variety of bacteria that can use this molecule. It is not difficult to imagine that this pathway is conserved in marine bacteria. From this article, "Ascorbic acid was decomposed and utilized readily as a carbon food for the attacking bacteria, when the medium contained a suitable source of organic nitrogen, like peptone." Again, potential application of this means that with sufficient nitrates in the water column bacteria have the potential to utilize VC as a carbon source.
http://jb.asm.org/cgi/reprint/46/4/351
Many people think that glucose or a sugar is required for energy production. You do not need to have VC change into glucose for glycolysis to produce energy. There are many, many additional pathways for energy synthesis. Also, from this experiment it appears as if denitrification would be a suitable environment for the metabolism of VC (hence the nitrate reduction in the water).
