[BenHugs]

So here's an interesting question. At work I have Declorinating pucks for large water flushes and protecting streams etc.... Reading the label on the bucket.... it turns out that the pucks use ascorbic acid to declorinate the water. Ascorbic acid is simply vitamin C, is this safe for aqurium use (aside from the fact that it won't do anything about possible heavy metals)?? :-? It would be a very cheap option for me :wink:

 

[Robin]

I've never heard of anyone using Vitiamin C to declorinate their fish tank and while it may have some limited ability in this area I would strongly advise against using it. Perfect water conditions are so vital to our fish's health that you really want to look for the best, most effective declorinator that you can possibly afford.
I personally use Seachem's Prime. Not only does it get rid of chlorine AND the much more troublesome chloramines but should I ever have an ammonia or nitrite spike the Prime will help to detoxify and remove.

But hey, I don't blame you for looking for ways to save--this hobby/addiction gets expensive.

Robin

 

[BenHugs]

I wasn't really looking for a substitute as much as a help to what I already use. My water changes are done by a python system so the declorinator gets added to the tank and the water then gets added after. With these Vitamin C pucks I could put a sliver of it into the venturi and declorinate the water flowing through it and of course still add prime to the tank.

 

[BenHugs]

I guess nobody has heard of this :-?

 

[BenHugs]

So here's a link to the product for anyones interest sake
http://www.pollardwater.com/pages_produ ... c_Acid.asp

 

[GeriJo]

I use ascorbic acid in all of my cichlid, pleco, and bottom feeder tanks. I don't use it for dechlorination though. I add ascorbic acid to my tanks for several other reasons: Acorbic acid aids in disease prevention (by killing it in the water), it boosts the immune system of the fish, and it makes their colors more vivid. I forget the exact dosages, but I found the dose online. I pre-mix a batch of the solution in a gallon jug before adding it to each of my tanks. I did the math once to figure out how much ascorbic acid to mix with the gallon of distilled water and how much of the solution to add to each tank and now I just go with that. I have a good many tanks, so I made my solution strong (so I would only have to use 1 gallon at each water change) and then I dilute it farther by adding it to the tanks after water changes. Once you find the actual dosage amount you can do the math for your own solution percentages and tank doses. Remember though, ascorbic acid is light and heat sensative so it must be stored in a cold dark place. I keep mine in a blacked out zip lock bag in the back of my freezer. One other warning, using too much ascorbic acid can affect the pH of the water in the tank.