Vitamin C

When treating an aquarium on a preventive basis (against diseases in general), it is not necessary to add large dosages of Vitamin C. All we are trying to achieve is provide the corals with a constant low supply of Vitamin C to build up their immune system and take advantage of the other benefits offered by this vitamin.

Add the vitamin for a period of 14 days to 1 month and then stop adding for 2 to 3 months, resuming the treatment again the following month (hence treat for 14-31 days every 3 to 4 months). Treating with Vitamin C requires that you pay close attention to the pH all the time. When dosing Vitamin C for the home aquarium, the preferred product is Sodium Ascorbate powder. This form of vitamin C has been buffered to be of a neutral pH and is less likely to have adverse side effects on a reef aquarium. Dosage is usually done in the 5-30 parts per million (milligrams per liter) range with variance depending on the desired effect of dosing.

Benefits: 

> Builds up and strengthens the immune system. 
> Helps prevent bacterial infections from spreading rapidly.
> Aid healing in coral wounds
> Eliminates minor algae outbreaks
> Helps clean up the water
> Safe for use in all aquariums, including reefs (many other medications are not)