What do zoas look like when they melt?

[tjherman]

Could anybody who has experienced melting zoas please post photos? I'm interested in seeing exactly what melting looks like and how it progresses. I'm worried about my tiny frag that looks similar to purple deaths. :sad2:

[Fcamdog]

I wish I couldn't help you...but here are what used to be some nice Eagle Eyes...

Fcamdog

[Pufferpunk]

Newly purchased Tubb's Blues:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v345/Pufferpunk/Zoas/TubsBlues.jpg

Melting:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v345/Pufferpunk/Zoas/SickBlues.jpg

After 3 months dosing vitamin C:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v345/Pufferpunk/Zoas/TubbsBlues.jpg

[Fcamdog]

Okay, I've only read titles, never read into how to does vitamin C. Since it worked for you I'm a little more interested. (Pics are so awesome).

What exactly does dosing vitamin C do?

Fcamdog

[Pufferpunk]

We have basically come to the conclusion that not only does it act as a carbon source (like dosing vodka or sugar), reducing nitrate & phosphate in the tank, but it also aids in the collagen production of cells, helping them to heal & grow.

Here's an article on what it can do for your fish & corals:
http://www.livingreefs.com/use-vitamin-c-t590.html

[tjherman]

Oh boy, they sure don't look good when they melt. Thanks for the photos -- I don't think that's what my zoas are doing.

Here's what the zoas look like when I got them about three months ago, last month, and today:

http://i838.photobucket.com/albums/zz303/jynolen/saltwater/dkpurplegrowth.jpghttp://i838.photobucket.com/albums/zz303/jynolen/saltwater/purplezoas-bad.jpg

[scuba guy ron]

looks like they are bleaching. looks as if they are in need of light.

[tjherman]

Thanks, scuba guy ron, I'll move them closer to the light. I'd hate to lose these guys, they're pretty.

[Pufferpunk]

+1 on the bleaching.

[Timanator]

Going well
http://i129.photobucket.com/albums/p211/timjing/12G%20nano%20Cube/7-12-08037.jpg

Starting south
http://i129.photobucket.com/albums/p211/timjing/12G%20nano%20Cube/7-18-08015.jpg

Almost all gone
http://i129.photobucket.com/albums/p211/timjing/12G%20nano%20Cube/7-26-08016.jpg

[Fishindude88]

I think they are bleaching, but if they wanted more light the polyps would be sticking upward, stretching for more light. Also the polyps would be larger, not smaller. I am thinking too much light. What kind of light are they under and where are they currently placed?

[Pufferpunk]

Tim, That's a fungus that needs to be brushed off with a toothbrush & dipped in Furan. VC won't help that.

[tjherman]

I think they are bleaching, but if they wanted more light the polyps would be sticking upward, stretching for more light. Also the polyps would be larger, not smaller. I am thinking too much light. What kind of light are they under and where are they currently placed?

They are under stock lighting in a Biocube 14. They're actually in a shadier location near the rock work. The polyps seem to be getting smaller and thinner. No other zoas in the tank are having issues.

[Pufferpunk]

When I kept mine in the shade, they got redder/maroon, rather than the deep purple they're supposed to be.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v345/Pufferpunk/Zoas/PurpleDeath-2.jpg

[Marchingbandjs]

thats a cool morph thought, id take maroon over purple

[Fishindude88]

They are under stock lighting in a Biocube 14. They're actually in a shadier location near the rock work. The polyps seem to be getting smaller and thinner. No other zoas in the tank are having issues.

Are you running any GFO? My purple deaths seem to like it lower down in the tank, but I don't think it is a placement issue anymore as you said they were in a shady location. If they wanted more light, they would have showed signs of light deprivation.

[tjherman]

No, there's a bag of Phosguard and Matrix in the back chambers but no GFO. I know the snails are in the habit of pooping near it. They've been bumped over a few times by said snails, wonder if it was enough to irritate the frag?

[Pufferpunk]

thats a cool morph thought, id take maroon over purple
Not a morph at all. They became their normal deep purple, when brought out of the shade & grown in the light for a while.

[Timanator]

I like that dark reddish color as well

;)

[tjherman]

Good news! I moved the zoas back into the shade about 2" more and they are already darkening up and look less soft.

[luchie]

how do you use this method and where do you get your "c" from?

[Pufferpunk]

There's like a million page thread here on this. Here's a short version:
Dosing Vitamin C Chart

Use this product:
http://www.iherb.com/ProductDetails.aspx?c=1&pid=-7152293197697039798
$5 0ff coupon code: LUL789 (always good for first purchase).

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. 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. No need to be exact--I usually round to the nearest 1/4 tsp.

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. Try for at least one dose being done during lights out, as VC absorbs better in the dark.


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 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.
*Do NOT dose at high levels (>10ppm), if you don’t have a skimmer! Especially on a nano tank.
* If you notice an algae bloom or increased skim 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 for a minute then pour into my 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. I check VC threads 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!

[luchie]

sounds good thanks for the info. the only cure i ever tried or heard of is iodine in ro/di water as a dip, didn't work very good. do you have problems with ph when you dose with the c?

[Pufferpunk]

Depends on a few things. You really should be running a skimmer. Be sure your parameters are good (especially alk) before starting to dose. In a low-stocked tank, some folks have noticed alk rising a bit & some even noticed some cyano. I have never had any problems dosing even at 50+ppm. Been dosing over 2 years & still very satisfied with the results. If you have the time, try to plod thru the entire thread--there are 2 splits before the one posted now.

[luchie]

ok i will try this out. at last some hope! i have a frag of blue tubs and they looked great and where multiplying and after a while they started to look a lot like that pic you posted of the blue tubs gone bad. i will take pics of before and after and thanks again.

[Pufferpunk]

Good luck!

[luchie]

hey puffer just wanted to let you know i ordered a couple of jars of the vitamin c. great deal and thanks for the code. it says this stuff is buffered and not too acidic. i was thinking that i could use this on a 10 gallon frag tank and put all of my suffering corals in there to try this experiment out. i am guessing i just need to watch the ph since i have a digital meter it would be easier than checking the alkalinity of the tank. if i see things starting to go south i could always remove the corals and put them into another tank. what do you think? thanks

[Pufferpunk]

I think you should always check your alk separately from your pH.

[luchie]

will do. thanks

[luchie]

I think you should always check your alk separately from your pH.

hey puffer just got my vitamin c in today. i just wanted to ask about storing the bottle. are you supposed to keep it refrigerated after opening? i am going to dose one of my tanks today. thanks

[Pufferpunk]

Yup, keep in the fridge. I have a smaller container good for a week or 2 of dosing, I keep by the tank.

[luchie]

Yup, keep in the fridge. I have a smaller container good for a week or 2 of dosing, I keep by the tank.

can you tell me how much to add to a 10 gallon tank? i would like to be on the conservative side in the beginning. just till i get the hang of it.

[luchie]

what are zoa pox?

[luchie]

so 1/8 tsp=1112mg in a 50 gallon tank. and 1/16 tsp=1112 mg in a 25 gallon tank. and 1/32 tsp=1112mg in a 12 gallon tank. my brain hurts.

[Pufferpunk]

Uhhh... no, 1/4 tsp is always 1112mg of ascorbic acid. You're looking for dosing a number of mg to a certain ppm. What size tank & what ppm are you aiming for? Didn't you see the formula?

[luchie]

Uhhh... no, 1/4 tsp is always 1112mg of ascorbic acid. You're looking for dosing a number of mg to a certain ppm. What size tank & what ppm are you aiming for? Didn't you see the formula?

sorry don't quite get it. i want to dose my 10 gallon with 5ppm of vitamin c. then i will dose my 50 gallon with 5ppm of vitamin c.