Treating with Vitamin C

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14703484#post14703484 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Pufferpunk
I figure we should get this in the beginning of this split somewhere.
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The guide I posted on the previous page isnt good enough for you? :p
 
My before pics aren't all that great, and since my best zoas almost completely melted, you wouldn't want the after pics either.

Not that I think anyone should take this as evidence of anything except that some cases are beyond VC's ability to cure.
 
I was able to use a combination of vitamin c and phosban to knock a major blow in a nasty algae that loves sps water conditions and flow.

I am wondering if we should develop a system or model to knock out phosphate and nitrates that revolves around vitamin c dosing.

None of us want to blow a ton of money on GFO just to have phosphates come back. Also, I am not sure how long to dose vitamin c before running GFO to tackle an algae issue. I ended up doing both at once and it was a very powerful combination.

To reach TOTM status I think a model is needed that incorporates vitamin c into a system. What will be unique is that vitamin c has other benefits other than being a carbon source.

Quickly and not refined/well fleshed out:

1. Manual removal
2. Blow rock off daily and remove detritus from sump (begin dosing x Vitamin c). 1 week - and continue until detritus stops flying off.
3. Reduce feedings to dry food 1x a day (increase dose to x) continue for 1 week.
4. Increase water changes to 25% a week (increase dose to x) continue for 3 weeks.
5. Begin running GFO (increase dose to x) continue for 3 weeks.

Something similar to that which people could easily follow to tackle an algae issue while having other benefits of vitamin c.
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14798880#post14798880 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Logzor
I was able to use a combination of vitamin c and phosban to knock a major blow in a nasty algae that loves sps water conditions and flow.

I am wondering if we should develop a system or model to knock out phosphate and nitrates that revolves around vitamin c dosing.

None of us want to blow a ton of money on GFO just to have phosphates come back. Also, I am not sure how long to dose vitamin c before running GFO to tackle an algae issue. I ended up doing both at once and it was a very powerful combination.

To reach TOTM status I think a model is needed that incorporates vitamin c into a system. What will be unique is that vitamin c has other benefits other than being a carbon source.

Quickly and not refined/well fleshed out:

1. Manual removal
2. Blow rock off daily and remove detritus from sump (begin dosing x Vitamin c). 1 week - and continue until detritus stops flying off.
3. Reduce feedings to dry food 1x a day (increase dose to x) continue for 1 week.
4. Increase water changes to 25% a week (increase dose to x) continue for 3 weeks.
5. Begin running GFO (increase dose to x) continue for 3 weeks.

Something similar to that which people could easily follow to tackle an algae issue while having other benefits of vitamin c.
Click to expand...

I am kind of doing that. I have been running a half dose of vitamin c along with sugar dosing to keep nitrates and phosphates way down and I have succeeded. After dosing viamin c for over a year, I can recommend cutting the dose back. This was based on Genetics formula that is working for him. When I did stop vitamin c completely, my nutients climbed so I started a half dose of sugar dosing along with vitmain c and have been happy. 1/4 tsp vitamin c with 1/2 tsp sugar once a day has been great for my tank for the last few weeks.
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14698590#post14698590 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by 650-IS350
Puff, does VC affect your overall DKH? cause I noticed some of my SPS started to look like SHIET, did all the test everything is in PAR but DKH was up to 14!.
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Yes total alkalinity will be affected when using large amounts of VC. The buffered VC has a pKa value of 4.17 and 11.57. Using the test kits available for titration they will have an end-point around pH of 4. If you are dosing 30ppm daily, you can effectively raise your total alkalinity by 1.7 for each addition. However, if the VC is consumed and produces CO2 your carbonate alkalinity will only slightly increase as bacteria decompose the VC. So your total dKh will rise but your overall carbonate hardness will not change significantly.

Therefore, I would assume that you are adding quite a bit and the reaction you are seeing from the sps is due to the lack of nutrients in the water. I would cut back the VC to something less than 5ppm (for reference a healthy reef in nature ~1ppm total DOC so you are adding 5x that of nature and of just one molecule) and feed more.
 
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I wonder why, even dosing at 25-30ppm 2x/day for the past 18+ months, I don't seem to have any problems with alk?
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14802597#post14802597 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Pufferpunk
I wonder why, even dosing at 25-30ppm 2x/day for the past 18+ months, I don't seem to have any problems with alk?
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What is your alk?
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14802668#post14802668 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Pufferpunk
I keep it at 8-9 dKH. I add between 25-50ml DIY alk/night to my 100g system.
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I think most will be alarmed with alk if it is running closer to 10dkH or higher. If you alk is 8-9 then the carbonate might just be a bit lower. I had my tank at 7.5dkH which yielded great results. Maybe you're at a similar level.
 
Do you think it has anything do to with the fact that my tank is PACKED with corals & I keep many fish, yet with the VC my nitrate is still 0?
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14803161#post14803161 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Pufferpunk
Do you think it has anything do to with the fact that my tank is PACKED with corals & I keep many fish, yet with the VC my nitrate is still 0?
Click to expand...

I'm sure that has something to do with it too. It becomes a feedback loop. Stability promotes growth and the growth promotes.. well more waste for growth.
 
VC looks like like a good carbon source. Currently I am using Vodka and don't plan on changing anytime soon, but I will look into giving VC a shot in the future.

Maybe even a VC/Vodka hybrid.

I am always looking to improve upon my systems. :D
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14817037#post14817037 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Pufferpunk
Adding VC & vodka is redundant IMO. VC does way more for your corals than just a carbon source.
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Hmmm.... I may just stick with vodka then. Everything is going great in my system so I really don't want to throw anything off.

I will see about setting up a smaller reef and report back on what i find with VC compared to Vodka.

Thanks!
 
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