Vitamin "c" dosing Calling the experts...

[RBU1]

OK here is a brief description of what happened. I have a routine with my 300 gallon tank. I change 25 gallons ever week. I add Alk every M, W and F. I add Calcium every T and T. I also test every week and my results on the alk and cal are always around 13dkh and 440ppm. Now here is the weird part I recently started dosing vitamin "c" This week when I tested my DKH I was at 17dkh...HUM!!!!!!!! Why the increase in Alk from dosing "c"? Just for the heck of it I tested the vitamin "c" in some RO water with the API kit I use and the ALK level in the "c" was off the chart. My question why does "c" test high in ALK? I guess this is what was causing my tank to drastically rise. THOUGHTS please.......I am sure there are several people dosing this "c" I just hope they are keeping an eye on all parameters. BILL

 

[Pufferpunk]

This makes no sense to me. If alk is the opposite of acid & you add an acid to your tank (even buffered to a pH of 7.1, which his product is), how can it raise ther alk?

 

[Billybeau1]

What brand of Vit C are you dosing and how much ?

 

[Pufferpunk]

He is dosing pure, buffered sodium ascorbate crystals with a pH of 7.1: http://www.iherb.com/ProductDetails.aspx?c=1&pid=-7152293197697039798

I have never had any issues with alk/ph dropping, even though I dose at much higher levels (as much as 100ppm) for much longer of a period (18 months).

 

[RBU1]

I know you think it does not make sense but the test kit does not lie. I compared regular RO water got a 0 reading added "c" to the reading and it was off the chart. It has to be doing something.

The brand is NutriBiotic it is called sodium ascorbate crystalline powder. 100% pure buffered vitamin c
Pharmaceutical grade ph 7.1

 

[The REeFFers]

I started dosing last week also my alk is still at 10 but my ph has drop to 7.8.

sorry rub1 dont mean to steal your thread just wondering if it could be linked ?
whats ur ph at ? maybe ur just testing ur water to soon after ur adding VC?

 

[RBU1]

It says right on the lable is manufactured by dissolving pharmaceutical grade ascorbic acid with sodium bicarbonate. I think that is what is raising the Alk.

 

[The REeFFers]

im starting to think this whole vitamin C thing is a joke there are only 2 people in that 500 page thread talking. Sorry Puffer you have been helpful, but i dont know of anyone else that has tried it

 

[Pufferpunk]

I do not think it is fair to say there are only 2 people dosing with positive results. There are 2 people who have been dosing this for about a year who are trying to help the others out. Have you read the other 80 pages of that thread? There are many, many positive results. Do a search of this board for other reef club forums with folks that have positive results too.

 

[The REeFFers]

positive results i have them also in one week i have new heads everywhere but how do i keep fish in a tank with the ph going up and down ?

 

[RBU1]

I am not saying it is a joke. I am just saying people need to pay more attention to things that may effect their tanks. I should have read that label before I started using it. My theory in this hobby is continue doing what works for you. If people are seeing positives with the dosing of it then continue. Just keep an eye on your water parameters. I consider myself to be pretty anal about my water quality and I have a good understanding on how my water acts on a day to day basis. I am just curious as to why no one has picked this up prior to me trying it.

 

[Pufferpunk]

Maybe because others (like myself) aren't having the issues you 2 are having?

 

[RBU1]

Puffer you are taking this way to personal. Please relax. We had a nice conversation on the phone today and I don't want this thread to go downhill. I am only trying to make people aware of the changes they may see while dosing this. Not only will PH drop you will see a rise in Alk. I am no chemist but I am almost positive Sodium bicarbonate will raise your ALK and that is what is on the label. I would really like to see some pictures of your tanks. Can you post some? Thanks

 

[Pufferpunk]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14248983#post14248983 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by The REeFFers
positive results i have them also in one week i have new heads everywhere but how do i keep fish in a tank with the ph going up and down ?

This is the comment I feel defensive of. The thread is nowhere near 500 pages & found it to be rude, unless this person has done the research i have on this.

The pH is already buffered from 4 to 7.1, by the bicarbonate. It should not change the parameters of your system.

Here are some pics:
FTS

 

[The REeFFers]

Thats what im saying there are side effects that people haven't talked about. There are other products out there like amino acids that claim to help growth, maybe this is a safer way for us to speed up out growth with out messing with our parameters. personally i didnt get the growth from amino acids like i did VC but i also wasn't dosing that much only 5 to 10 drops a week.
Rbu1 have u tried anything like this ?

 

[RBU1]

Very nice pictures. OK lets see what Randy has to say about the raising of the alk.

Don't take it personal thhis is just an educational thread. Maybe we can learn something from it.....RANDY!!!!!!! You there?

 

[The REeFFers]

I am here to learn sorry puffer, I also agree with RBU1 your really nice and have been a big help on getting me in to dosing

 

[Billybeau1]

Randy will be back in the AM, I'm sure.

I agree lets see what he has to say.

 

[Genetics]

edit. I may have posted too soon.

 

[RBU1]

If prodibio would be one of those amino acid type things yes I tried that. I also tried Vodka dosing. I was really not happy with either. I am going to stick with the good old technique of regular water changes and Alk and Calcium dosing. In my opinion I am starting to think all these other things we add to our tanks causes more harm then good.

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14249178#post14249178 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by The REeFFers
Thats what im saying there are side effects that people haven't talked about. There are other products out there like amino acids that claim to help growth, maybe this is a safer way for us to speed up out growth with out messing with our parameters. personally i didnt get the growth from amino acids like i did VC but i also wasn't dosing that much only 5 to 10 drops a week.
Rbu1 have u tried anything like this ?