Treating with Vitamin C

[sweet d]

does anyone have experiance with the brightwell vitamin c,and how it works compared to others or if its basically the same thing.

 

[NeveroddoreveN]

You can certainly dose or drip Kalk at the same time you are dosing VC.

I use vodka for a carbon source and vinegar in my kalk (for the benefit of the kalk.) But as Jeff said I do use less vodka than I would if i didn't already use vinegar. White stringies/dead fish are no fun. But the last couple of kalk batches I used VC instead of vinegar.

I guess I was asking if VC would have the same effect of making the kalk more effective. Would anything about the VC be compromised if added directly to kalk?

 

[Jeff]

does anyone have experiance with the brightwell vitamin c,and how it works compared to others or if its basically the same thing.

Well, it really cant be compared. Brightwell and a few other companies are jumping on the vitamin c bandwagon (I wonder why lol). The product we have been using is a fraction of the cost and has been tested and the dosing modified to suit our needs. The pure/buffered sodium ascorbate that we have been using cant be exposed to moisture, theres comes in a liquid, there is no real information about what kind of vitamin c it is, etc...

 

[Jeff]

I use vodka for a carbon source and vinegar in my kalk (for the benefit of the kalk.) But as Jeff said I do use less vodka than I would if i didn't already use vinegar. White stringies/dead fish are no fun. But the last couple of kalk batches I used VC instead of vinegar.

I guess I was asking if VC would have the same effect of making the kalk more effective. Would anything about the VC be compromised if added directly to kalk?

I wish it could be added to kalk since I top off with kalk also but it only lasts a short amount of time when exposed to air and moisture. Thats why we dose twice a day. It would great if we could setup a dosing system for VC but we cant using the product we use.

 

[Pufferpunk]

I think I'd have to use up an entire bottle of Kent's product in a few days, to equal the amount of VC I dose in my tanks.

 

[Snakebyt]

This hasn't been bumped in a while.

Here are the directions:
Use this product:
http://www.iherb.com/ProductDetails.aspx?pid=10178&at=0
[violation]


To figure out how much to use, decide if you want to simply improve coral growth, spread, and color. If so, then you should dose around 5 ppm twice daily (down to 2-3 ppm works also). If you are having problems with coral or fish health, dose up to around 30 ppm twice daily.

Calculate the total net number of gallons in your tank (minus rocks, sand, etc). Enter that number here ______.

You will now need to do a little math. The amounts below are for 100 gallons of water so if you have 50 net gallons, cut the amounts shown below in half etc.

Dosing amounts using Iherb product:
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

After you have figured out how much you want to dose at each dosing, enter that number here _____. This is your dose to be used twice a day.



Notes:
*Be sure your pH and alk are within normal reef limits before starting. Adjust if needed. Monitor weekly.
*Shoot for a ppm of around 5 or lower 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 (white stringy stuff) or increased scum 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 then pour into overflow. If adding to sump, try and add the vitamin c after filtration such as skimmers and reactors.
* If you have a question, ask here. Puffy checks this thread daily.
* The instructions in this guide and throughout this thread are based on using pure Sodium Ascorbate, not vitamin c pills and other non-buffered forms of vitamin c.

Be sure to take some "before" pics!

I have a 40 breeder with a 30 sump with about 20 gallons, i figure about 50 gallons total water volume.
So if i am dosing lets say 1000mg twice a day, that is 2000mg which is equal to 2 grams a day. The container is 16oz/454g, so at that dosage the container would last me 227 days? Is this right?
Are there any chances of it going bad over time? Any storage tips?
I assume that this can be used at the same time as dosing 2 part?

 

[Pufferpunk]

I dose 2 part every evening, along with the VC. I pour some of it in a smaller container to keep by my tank & the rest is in the fridge. I buy 3 bottles at a time & they last quite a long time, dosing 3 tanks.

 

[Snakebyt]

thanks for the info, i think ill order some and start dosing and see what happens. I assume you can use this with a newer tank (4 months old)

 

[Pufferpunk]

As long as the parameters are stable before you start dosing.

 

[Jeff]

I assume you can use this with a newer tank (4 months old)

I started VC and Microbacter7 on the day I setup my last tank, the 29 gallon Biocube. I never had a cycle, diatoms, nothing. I added sps after a couple days and it's been running fine. I did start with established live rock and sand though.

 

[Snakebyt]

A friend of mine was able to get some of the VC local, same exact stuff, so i started dosing today. I am going to go with half doses for the first week then to to about 5ppm after that. Ill let you guys know how it goes.
So far the skimmer has been acting pretty normal, but ill be on the lookout for it over the next several days.

 

[Pufferpunk]

It is pure, buffered sodium ascorbate in crystal form?

 

[Snakebyt]

It is pure, buffered sodium ascorbate in crystal form?

It is the exact same stuff that is posted in the link
http://www.iherb.com/NutriBiotic-Sodium-Ascorbate-Crystalline-Powder-16-oz-454-g/10178?at=0

was more to buy local, but not by much, and no shipping waiting or anything. I am sure next time we will order a few bottles online.

 

[Pufferpunk]

Cool that you found it locally.

 

[studmaster]

I think I'd have to use up an entire bottle of Kent's product in a few days, to equal the amount of VC I dose in my tanks.

Pufferpunk, I'm assuming you go through a lot of the bottles a month. How many? There must be an even more economically friendly source? I've seen some bulk 3lb buffered containers, but they don't give much info on the ph. 3lbs would last me a couple years, but for people who dose more, it might be perfect.

 

[Jeff]

She is saying that if she used the Kent product she would use a TON of it. Instead she uses the product that we have been talking about in this thread which is better and way more economical.

 

[Pufferpunk]

Problem is, as soon as it's exposed to air, it starts breaking down. this is why I prefer the 16oz containers. I keep them in the refrigerator & only disburse about 1/2 cup into a separate container to keep by my tanks. From my past ordering history.. it looks like I go through 3 containers in ~3 months (if I remember to dose 2x/day in my DT). That comes to $14/month.

 

[pdabj]

I have been dosing for a month now. Started at 1/4 tsp 2 X daily then moved up to 1/2 tsp 2 X daily after a week with no results. I have a 48g net tank with nitrates at 26 No3. Nitrates have not changed much, skimmer is not producing more and the zoas look the same. Should I increase the dose?

 

[Jeff]

Yes, but slowly.

 

[SnapDragon]

So quick question, will zoas that have been in a tank that is being dosed with VC not do as well in a tank that does not dose VC if I were to trade some of my zoas?

The only reason I ask, is in the beginning when Pufferpunk was first dosing for her Tubbs, it seemed when she stopped or lowered the amount of VC, the Tubbs would close up again, if I remember correctly.

Anyone had issues like this?