An Extremely good thread/read!!!!

[TexasTodd]

This is on ReefCentra.com in the Zoanthid section.

WELL worth the time to read it. I'm wonder if it wouldn't help sps, lps, etc. too.

I'm thinking it has more to do with cleaning the water somehow than a direct benefit, but that's just my opinion!

http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=1252294

Enjoy,

Todd

[stoneroller]

Ive been reading the thread too. With enough dosage, it's going to lower pH (a report of lower ORP), not sure how it would "clean" the water. Maybe it's tackling the red slime that shows up on sickly zoas. I have dosed my tank for a few days now but haven't got up to the mega-dosages. I had three goners that opened up; could be coincidence. Are you going to give it a shot?

[TexasTodd]

Yep, started about 5 days ago. Definate improvements.

Yes, it zaps the red/brown algae/dinos or whatever it is that gets on Zoas/Palys and makes them not open/melt/die.

Todd

[apedroza]

So what brand are you using Todd??? Are they just straight up Vit C pills?? I have lost some zoas in the past, that have just melted away. Maybe this will help!!!

[jroescher]

From the ReefCentral thread:
"using the generic Sam's Club brand of 1000mg tablets"

[tony]

i have a colony that looks the same as those problem ones in that thread, while the ones 1 inch away are doing great

[caferacermike]

I know that using Vit C has been reported for a few years. I remember seeing Kent have a dropper med years back. Used to be a rumor back home that our Coke plant mixed the baggies that they sent the "secret formulas" out for sub plants to use in their batches. You'd hear stories of how a sick person could walk into the Citric Acid holding areas and come out feeling better. This memory got me to thinking that it seems citrus fruits are chock full of C. A reason we typically see junk foods and soda bragging about having a full day of Vit C is the citric acid used as a preservative.

Anyone making sense of my rambling? I'm thinking that the main ingredient in cheap C pills would be a powdered Citric Acid. Any chance that mega doses of citric acid would kill the tanks PH?

[TexasTodd]

They do talk about it messing with PH levels some.

Makes sense Mike. The guy that discovered Vit C. (spelling--) Linus Pauling, survived a cancer for 20+ years. He use to take massive amounts am and pm. But you can also overdose on it..humans that is.

I'm using the cheapest one I could find at HEB. It was on sale and cost was like $0.03 per 500mg pill. Just Vit C and rose hips.

Todd

[apedroza]

Well I want to try it. I have lost some of my colonies and would like to avoid it happening again if possible.

[MKCindy]

How much are ya'll dosing? I have a 40gal w/10 gal refuge. I started using 500 mg twice a day yesterday morning. I can see a difference already. Zoas/Palys opened that haven't in a long time. Ricordias are opened up much wider.
My Dragon's Breath is in the sump where I added the vitamin C, looks terrible. Makes sense right, cuz it's an algae.

This link recommends not dissolving in warm water and explains dosage formula and gradual increases.

http://www.athiel.com/lib2/pguide/vitami1.html

[apedroza]

Does this kill off all algae. I have chaeto and dragons breath in my fuge and don't want to lose it. Todd whats rose hips???

[emac]

Thanks for posting this. It's very interesting.

[TexasTodd]

Rose hips are the bulb things left after a rose flower dies. Just a natural source of more Vit C.

I don't think it will kill off all algae, but don't have any DB in my system.

I've WORKED UP to 500mg am and pm in my 24g NanoCube.

Todd

[stoneroller]

I'm up to 1500 twice daily in my 72g; for five days. I have Dragon's Breath in my fuge and haven't seen any signs of decay. If concerned, add the pills downstream of the DB. The Vit. C gets "used" up very quickly in the tank.

[Bill S]

Todd, just curious. How much/often do you change tank water?

Anyone concerned about buildup?

[TexasTodd]

It's supposed to break down pretty quickly when in water above 70 degrees.

I've been dosing for about a week with no water changes.

However, I generally change out about 40% of my water per month, and just haven't hit a w/c yet.

I think ph is what you want to watch with this.

Todd

[SoLiD]

Sweet info Todd!!!

[sharkboy]

That sure was a long thread...very interested in knowing the long term ramifications.

[copperband]

i just started using the vitamin c made by kent marine

[MKCindy]

So how does everyones tanks look? Mine is doing great. Zoes/Poly are opening more and color is good. (some that had been melting since I got them months ago, suddenly are swelling and busting out of a film coating starting to open) Stoney look happy too. I moved the Dragons Breath to the first chamber in the refuge and treat the Vit. C in the return chamber, so it is much happier too. TTT

[TexasTodd]

No doubts that I've seen improvement.

Todd

[erikharrison]

BUMP!
You want to know what the worst type of ich is to get rid of? BLACK ICH. That's right, my two yeller tangs have had little spots here and there since I added about 70 lbs of sand that I bought from another reefer. If you read up on the treatment methods for it, the results you will find are completely lackluster. Essentially to get it out of my display, I would have to QT my ich succeptible fish for around 2-3 months as it can live longer than the regular white ich. The day I started dosing Vitamin C, the fish cleared up. Sure it could have been coincidence, but it has not come back. I would normally see it every day, but not anymore. Assuming this works, which from what I have seen it does, this could very well be the "Holy Grail" of treating parasitic infections in fish. What does this mean? NO MORE COPPER. Also, it is REEF SAFE. So instead of blowing cash on garbage treatments that claim to be "reef safe", this one so far, is working. I unplugged my UV Sterilizer the same day that I started this treatment, just to see if they would re-develop the spots, but they have not yet.
I highly encourage that all who read this please pass the word on to anyone else having ich or parasitic problems with their fish.

Also, the detox of a fish's liver! If they have the scientinfic data that proves this stuff, I would be so pleased. Alot of people have had trouble keeping Flame Angels, and I think I know why. Since they are collected from one area, it's probable that they are collecting using chemicals. Those chemicals can take months to kill a fish, but nontheless, when you buy them, it is probably in their system and the clock is probably ticking.

That's my 2 cents so far. I can't describe the elation from the results that I have already seen in my fish. Don't get me started on my corals. Yes, I have too seen much improvement

[apedroza]

Hey Todd do you run your skimmer when you dose???

[TexasTodd]

No, but only because I'm running without a skimmer on this tank. 24g NanoCube. Really can't get a skimmer on it.

Todd

[apedroza]

So will running a skimmer negate the affects of the vit c??

[TexasTodd]

I don't think so. If you read the long thread at RC a fair amount of those people are running their skimmers 24/7 I think.

Todd

[erikharrison]

Still no ich! None of my fish are showing any sign on infection. My UV is still off. I checked and rechecked all of my fish this weekend. I am going to stop dosing as of today and see what happens.

[apedroza]

Has anyone seen any adverse affect from using this??? The reason I ask is because I just started redosing 5 days ago, after a 1mo break in treatments, and I came home today and one of my mille's was totally rtn'd. I was perfectly healthy looking a couple days ago, but today nothing left but skeleton. Everything else looks fine, but I'm stopping treaments just in case. BTW all my paremeters are good.
Nitrates:0ppm
Ammonium:0ppm
pH: 8.3
Salinity: 1.025
Calcium: 460
Alk: 9dKh
Temp:79F

[MKCindy]

The article I read said to dose up slowly for the first 4 days then steady for 10 days and stop for 2-3 months before dosing again.
For everyone that dosed back in Jan. it's time to do it again. I have been very happy with the results and it treats ick too... WOW!