Vitamin C based dechlorinator

ZaneTer · Oct 3, 2019

Hi chemistry gurus.

As the title suggests is it possible to get a vitamin c based dechlorinator. There is one for sale but I have no idea if such a thing can work or is it snake oil?

Thanks in advance

Cory · Oct 4, 2019

No idea. But i know hydrogen peroxide destroys chlorine.

ZaneTer · Oct 4, 2019

Hi Cory

With a little bit of Google-fu I have found that vitamin C is indeed a real method of eliminating chlorine and chloramines. This is accompanied by the statement that it is much better for aquariums than sulphide based alternatives such as Prime. I have no idea as to the validity of that last claim and can’t find anything to prove or disprove it.

Nonetheless I will be testing it out @ 1 gram per 100 gallons to treat 1ppm of chlorine.

Your comment about H2O2 is an interesting one as I have never used it in a reef although it is a cheap chemical to come by. I may yet test it.

Thanks

JimWelsh · Oct 4, 2019

The idea appears to have some merit. Your 1 gram per 100 gallons appears to be a bit excessive, though for 1 ppm of chlorine, since it's about 2.6 PPM of ascorbic acid, which according to the linked article, is enough to treat about 26 PPM of equivalent chlorine.

ZaneTer · Oct 4, 2019

JimWelsh said:
The idea appears to have some merit. Your 1 gram per 100 gallons appears to be a bit excessive, though for 1 ppm of chlorine, since it's about 2.6 PPM of ascorbic acid, which according to the linked article, is enough to treat about 26 PPM of equivalent chlorine.

Thanks Jim

I was going by guidelines laid out in another article but I am very happy you have corrected me on my path. It seems prudent to err on the side of caution so I will absolutely follow your advice.

This may or may not be said often but I want to say a huge thank you to people like you and Randy. You guys are really appreciated for giving us some of your time and expertise.

Cory · Oct 4, 2019

If you ever get chlorine on your hands and cant stand the smell spray some 3% peroxide on it. Its gone in like 20 seconds. Iirc it turns it into water.

JimWelsh · Oct 4, 2019

Cory said:
Iirc it turns it into water.

Chlorine is an element, and there is no chlorine in H2O, so it's not going to just disappear. It must be converted into another form. It becomes oxygen and hydrogen chloride: Cl2 + H2O2 → O2 + 2HCl.

Cory · Oct 4, 2019

JimWelsh said:
Chlorine is an element, and there is no chlorine in H2O, so it's not going to just disappear. It must be converted into another form. It becomes oxygen and hydrogen chloride: Cl2 + H2O2 → O2 + 2HCl.

Thanks Jim. They wouldnt be bad would it?

Cory · Oct 4, 2019

We call bleach chlroine in swimming pools up here lol. I meant bleach not chlorine.

Randy Holmes-Farley · Oct 5, 2019

What’s wrong with ordinary aquarium dechlorinator?

Also, if the chlorine is actually chloramine, reactions will be different and ammonia may be a product in some cases.

ZaneTer · Oct 5, 2019

Randy Holmes-Farley said:
What’s wrong with ordinary aquarium dechlorinator?

Also, if the chlorine is actually chloramine, reactions will be different and ammonia may be a product in some cases.

Absolutely nothing wrong with it. It might be easier at short notice to go to a local pharmacy and pick up some vitamin C than it would be to order and wait for delivery.

Randy Holmes-Farley · Oct 5, 2019

ZaneTer said:
Absolutely nothing wrong with it. It might be easier at short notice to go to a local pharmacy and pick up some vitamin C than it would be to order and wait for delivery.

OK, that's a fine reason.

Dan_P · Oct 5, 2019

JimWelsh said:
Chlorine is an element, and there is no chlorine in H2O, so it's not going to just disappear. It must be converted into another form. It becomes oxygen and hydrogen chloride: Cl2 + H2O2 → O2 + 2HCl.

The disagreeable odor associated with chlorine is the reaction product between chlorine and reactive nitrogen such as ammonia and organic amines. The proteins in skin is covered with reactive amines. It is the chloramine products that have a disagreeable aroma. So deodorizing your hands with H2O2 destroys the chloramines (along with the chlorine as Jim points out).