studmaster
New member
the PH drops happens way before the lights go off. I turn the lights off around 1130, and the drop happened within an hour of dosing the VC.
Treating with Vitamin C
- Thread starter JohnL
- Start date
the PH drops happens way before the lights go off. I turn the lights off around 1130, and the drop happened within an hour of dosing the VC.
Pufferpunk
New member
Are you using the buffered I-herb VC?
studmaster
New member
yes the exact one!
studmaster
New member
okay, so I tested it with half the dosage of VC, so 1/4 tsp and the PH dropped about half the amount. This time it went down from 8.11 to 8.06. VC definitely has an effect on my PH.
studmaster
New member
I think my PH isn't really that stable. My latest thoughts are that my system is low in magnesium because I drip Kalk. Apparently systems low in magnesium will have the calcium precipitate out quicker and therefore the PH will be lower and will have a wider swing during day/night. I think for the amount of Kalk I drip, my calcium levels should be higher than the 380-400 range I can't seem to get past.
Because my PH isn't that stable, the VC feeds the bacteria which produce CO2 and that causes my PH to drop. Just throwing out some ideas here.
Pufferpunk
New member
I have always said (& posted in my instructions), to be sure your pH & alk are stable, before starting to dose VC.
studmaster
New member
okay, what exactly do you mean by "stable". As in it doesn't swing much from day to night, and if so what's a stable range?
Pufferpunk
New member
At least at acceptable ranges of ~8.2 for pH & 8-9 for alk.
studmaster
New member
yeah, I can't seem to get my PH that high. My alk is 11-12, and my PH is usually between 8 and 8.1
I'll figure out that issue first.
Pufferpunk
New member
Good idea. Try some water changes. Check your Ca & Mg too.
studmaster
New member
Ca = 400ppm and Mg=1250
Been reading a bit more about carbon source dosing. In order for VC to remove nitrates, do I need a sand bed? Would this work if I just have a bare bottomed tank, or gravel on the bottom? From what I read dosing a carbon source would feed bacteria in the sand bed and they would eat nitrates.
Pufferpunk
New member
I keep my Mg at around 1350.
studmaster
New member
So do I need a sand bed in order for this to work?
Pufferpunk
New member
I have no sandbed in my 15g frag tank & I add 1/8 tsp VC to keep nitrate levels down.
But don't high dosages of vitamin C interfere with alkalinity tests?
Pufferpunk
New member
Interfere with the test or just with alk in general? It does change your alk slightly. I know I did adjust my dosing of alk after I started dosing VC but everything is very stable & within normal range after dosing VC for almost 3 years now.
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redfishsc
New member
I've noticed that ramping up Vitamin C dosages eventually can lead to high alk. But it's a slow process, mine crept up like 1 dkH per week when I was dosing 1 tsp 2X a day (80g total volume).
That being said, has anyone considered dosing either calcium ascorbate or potassium ascorbate?
I'm thinking that the calcium ascorbate could actually produce something like a "Two-Part" dosing effect.
Or the potassium ascorbate, mixed 50/50 with the sodium ascorbate, could be beneficial (and somewhat more balanced) for SPS, since Randy has hinted that heavy carbon source dosing could possibly reduce potassium levels.
I'd have to buy a potassium kit before I'd try it, but it sounds cool in theory.
That being said, has anyone considered dosing either calcium ascorbate or potassium ascorbate?
I'm thinking that the calcium ascorbate could actually produce something like a "Two-Part" dosing effect.
Or the potassium ascorbate, mixed 50/50 with the sodium ascorbate, could be beneficial (and somewhat more balanced) for SPS, since Randy has hinted that heavy carbon source dosing could possibly reduce potassium levels.
I'd have to buy a potassium kit before I'd try it, but it sounds cool in theory.
Pufferpunk
New member
This hasn't been bumped in a while...
Scma
Member
Just thought I would add in my experience. I started Vit. C dosing nearly two month ago, the first week i ended up with a large diatom breakout but after lowering the dosage, it went away immediately and then I slowly raised the dosage again to about 10ppm.
Definite increase in coral health, very noticeable with their color and openness.
My main reason for starting this was to try and get rid of my hopeless hair algae. It didn't get rid of the algae I already had, but it has had a very large impact on new growth, which has been slim to none.
The other changes that have occurred:
My dKH. It was originally stable at around 5, and now has risen and appears to be stable at 10.
Constant reading of 0 Phosphates and 0 Nitrates
Thank you for sharing this, I will definitely be continuing to dose
Definite increase in coral health, very noticeable with their color and openness.
My main reason for starting this was to try and get rid of my hopeless hair algae. It didn't get rid of the algae I already had, but it has had a very large impact on new growth, which has been slim to none.
The other changes that have occurred:
My dKH. It was originally stable at around 5, and now has risen and appears to be stable at 10.
Constant reading of 0 Phosphates and 0 Nitrates
Thank you for sharing this, I will definitely be continuing to dose
