DIY NO3Po4X Recipe

[Zoid]

I've been doing some research to make a diy solution as a cheaper alternative as it's $60 a Liter where I live.

From I've read on the online, there are several different ratios of the same ingredients:

Recipe 1: 500ml RODI Water, 375ml vodka 80 proof and 125ml Vinegar 5%.

Recipe 2: 500ml vinegar (5%), 375 ml vodka (80 proof), and 125 ml RODI Water

I believe a lot of reefers have used recipe 2 with great success.

My question is, how important is Methanol? According to the SDS of Red Sea's NO3Po4X - it contains about 2-3%.

Since I'm currently using NO3Po4X, is it worth replicating the recipe based on the SDS ?

 

[Dbichler]

I use recipe two with great results

 

[Js.Aqua.Project]

I used to use NoPox then DIY NoPox...now I am just using straight 80 proof vodka. It has been cheaper, easier and instead of worrying about mixing just swap out the bottle and move on.

As a side note, neither my wife nor I drink - but our fish do...

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

IMO, there's nothing magic about any specific recipe, and I chose to use vinegar alone.

That said, I believe both the methanol and isopropanol found in NOPOX are likely NOT there to make the product functionally "better" in any way, but to avoid regulations and taxes on the ethanol in it, allowing the manufacturer to use denatured and hence untaxed ethanol.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

IMO, this is a good enough DIY:

Mix one part vinegar to one half part vodka and one half part water. If you want to get even closer, add a little more vodka and a little less water.

 

[NATE1979]

Can you use only distilled white vinegar and if so how much to use per gallon

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

Can you use only distilled white vinegar and if so how much to use per gallon

Yes, and the amount will depend on the tank needs. Here's one set of possible guidelines:

NEW Vodka and Vinegar Dosing Charts

The reasons I'm updating the Vinegar and Vodka dosing charts are two-fold: 1. The ramp was unnecessarily slow. There was no perceived benefit to such a tedious ramp, and it led to reefers quitting because they thought carbon dosing didn't work. 2. The ramp did not scale up correctly...

www.reef2reef.com

 

[Zoid]

IMO, there's nothing magic about any specific recipe, and I chose to use vinegar alone.

That said, I believe both the methanol and isopropanol found in NOPOX are likely NOT there to make the product functionally "better" in any way, but to avoid regulations and taxes on the ethanol in it, allowing the manufacturer to use denatured and hence untaxed ethanol.

Thanks for the clarification regarding methanol.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

You're welcome.

Happy Reefing. :)

 

[ArdillaLoco0422]

Can you use only distilled white vinegar and if so how much to use per gallon

Humble fish has a really great article about the modern standards for vinegar dosing. Best advice is to start with a low dosage see how it affects your nitrates or phosphates and then adjust accordingly

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

Humble fish has a really great article about the modern standards for vinegar dosing. Best advice is to start with a low dosage see how it affects your nitrates or phosphates and then adjust accordingly

I disagree on starting slow as I think that is why many people fail.

The recipe thread below has a good set of directions, which we have revised upward in ramp up rate since going slow did not seem desirable:

NEW Vodka and Vinegar Dosing Charts

The reasons I'm updating the Vinegar and Vodka dosing charts are two-fold: 1. The ramp was unnecessarily slow. There was no perceived benefit to such a tedious ramp, and it led to reefers quitting because they thought carbon dosing didn't work. 2. The ramp did not scale up correctly...

www.reef2reef.com

 

[ArdillaLoco0422]

I disagree on starting slow as I think that is why many people fail.

The recipe thread below has a good set of directions, which we have revised upward in ramp up rate since going slow did not seem desirable:

NEW Vodka and Vinegar Dosing Charts

The reasons I'm updating the Vinegar and Vodka dosing charts are two-fold: 1. The ramp was unnecessarily slow. There was no perceived benefit to such a tedious ramp, and it led to reefers quitting because they thought carbon dosing didn't work. 2. The ramp did not scale up correctly...

www.reef2reef.com

This is actually the article I was thinking about when I said humble fish. So you were spot on

 

[aussiejohnny]

I've been doing some research to make a diy solution as a cheaper alternative as it's $60 a Liter where I live.

From I've read on the online, there are several different ratios of the same ingredients:

Recipe 1: 500ml RODI Water, 375ml vodka 80 proof and 125ml Vinegar 5%.

Recipe 2: 500ml vinegar (5%), 375 ml vodka (80 proof), and 125 ml RODI Water

I believe a lot of reefers have used recipe 2 with great success.

My question is, how important is Methanol? According to the SDS of Red Sea's NO3Po4X - it contains about 2-3%.

Since I'm currently using NO3Po4X, is it worth replicating the recipe based on the SDS ?

i remember reading about nitrate reduction and was amazed as they were suggesting white sugar which after much pondering i tried a small amount in my old all in one fish only tank ..nitrate in a 15 litre tank was up around 50 ppm and vanished overnight no skimmer either ...fish were fine but i tried a leather coral in this tank and it did not go well ..i probably had high phosphate as well ..didnt test didnt know in those days so i am not sure if i can blame sugar for the leather corals demise but i did decide then id stick with proper fish products not homemade ..that was 20 yrs ago ..

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

i remember reading about nitrate reduction and was amazed as they were suggesting white sugar which after much pondering i tried a small amount in my old all in one fish only tank ..nitrate in a 15 litre tank was up around 50 ppm and vanished overnight no skimmer either ...fish were fine but i tried a leather coral in this tank and it did not go well ..i probably had high phosphate as well ..didnt test didnt know in those days so i am not sure if i can blame sugar for the leather corals demise but i did decide then id stick with proper fish products not homemade ..that was 20 yrs ago ..

Instead of blaming homemade products, which are often better than hobby commercial products, it might be the fact that you dropped nitrate way, way too fast to a level unsuitable for corals.

 

[aussiejohnny]

Instead of blaming homemade products, which are often better than hobby commercial products, it might be the fact that you dropped nitrate way, way too fast to a level unsuitable for corals.

maybe ...im just cautious these days ..more knowledge more to worry about ...diy products are ok not critizing that just these days im less likely to try stuff unless i see others have used it with success ..even then i think twice ...

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

maybe ...im just cautious these days ..more knowledge more to worry about ...diy products are ok not critizing that just these days im less likely to try stuff unless i see others have used it with success ..even then i think twice ...

Fair enough, but apply that same skepticism to hobby brand products, many of which do not do what they claim. :)