Would like to share my experience with NoPox over the last 5 weeks most of it being good although my BTAs seem to HATE IT. (I was dealing with cyano)
Some Background of tank first: 80 gallon mixed reef containing BTAs, zoas, many trumpets, trachyphyllia, sun coral, purple stylophora, bicolor euphyllia (torch) with 10 gallon sump with high output protein skimmer, some high capacity bio media balls, filter cups w/ sera floss balls and Red Sea carbon in a reactor.
Weeks 1&2: My test kits were Salifert prior to getting started and I believe my nitrates were in the 15-20 range and phosphates over 35 ppm. I have thus switched to Hanna low range nitrate and phosphate checkers and tests after one week of daily low dosages of 4 ml. Phosphates were then measured at 33 (after 1st week 23 after 2nd) and nitrate over 5 because it's a low range checker so I'm guessing still in 15 ppm range.
Week 3: Kept daily dosage at about 4 ml, but added some phosguard in a mesh bag tossed in skimmer chamber to help bring down phosphates a bit quicker even though Red Sea advises not too on their FAQ for NoPox, but I have read various threads on here where reefers did the same with no negative effects to NoPox results. The Red Sea information page/FAQ is quite informative and does state that phosphate beneficial bacteria does take much longer to start working was the reason I opted to help bring phosphates to expedite process some. End of this week is where I noticed by BTAs starting to hate life as I believe I brought down phosphates too fast were now reading 14, no change to nitrates on low range tester but believe they did come down is my guesstimate as next couple of weeks will start seeing results on Hanna ULR Nitrate checker. Notice trumpets starting to brighten up/spread/fill out more and euphyllia really started brightening up.
Week 4: Upped daily dosage to 6 ml (still way below recommended dosage per Red Sea) for tank size and approximate nitrate/phosphate levels. BTAs really looked awful floating around, but all other corals starting really thriving new trumpets growing in some previous dead spots, cyano not coming in everyday like it had been for a couple of months requiring daily substrate turning. I also invested in a better/bigger icecap 4000k to replace my jebaos that just were started to lose power. Phosphates at about 7 as I lowered amount of phosguard put in sump as BTAs now I'm wondering if they're going to survive (again thinking rapid phosphate and nitrate drop). Nitrates showed their first reading on Hanna ULR checker at 4.95 (hilarious actually as minimum is 5.00 ppm), but hey finally a reading!
Week 5: Upped daily dosage to 8 ml and decided to not use any phosguard any longer to see if nopox phosphate bacterias will start kicking in. Tested tonight at end of week 5 and phosphates are 6 ppm and nitrate .60 ppm (massive drop from 4.95 in one week, but who possibly consistent if I truly was at 20 ppm to begin with per Salifert test. BTAs awful cyano still lingering but only have to move around substrate every 3-4 days now and perhaps new wave maker is helping w/ water movement as well.
Anyway, I hope this helps someone considering NoPox (in a rambling post more than following any true scientific results consistency). I am curious to others experience or thoughts on my BTAs suffering through this NoPox treatment though as I haven't found much of anything on how they react on forum or online?
Some Background of tank first: 80 gallon mixed reef containing BTAs, zoas, many trumpets, trachyphyllia, sun coral, purple stylophora, bicolor euphyllia (torch) with 10 gallon sump with high output protein skimmer, some high capacity bio media balls, filter cups w/ sera floss balls and Red Sea carbon in a reactor.
Weeks 1&2: My test kits were Salifert prior to getting started and I believe my nitrates were in the 15-20 range and phosphates over 35 ppm. I have thus switched to Hanna low range nitrate and phosphate checkers and tests after one week of daily low dosages of 4 ml. Phosphates were then measured at 33 (after 1st week 23 after 2nd) and nitrate over 5 because it's a low range checker so I'm guessing still in 15 ppm range.
Week 3: Kept daily dosage at about 4 ml, but added some phosguard in a mesh bag tossed in skimmer chamber to help bring down phosphates a bit quicker even though Red Sea advises not too on their FAQ for NoPox, but I have read various threads on here where reefers did the same with no negative effects to NoPox results. The Red Sea information page/FAQ is quite informative and does state that phosphate beneficial bacteria does take much longer to start working was the reason I opted to help bring phosphates to expedite process some. End of this week is where I noticed by BTAs starting to hate life as I believe I brought down phosphates too fast were now reading 14, no change to nitrates on low range tester but believe they did come down is my guesstimate as next couple of weeks will start seeing results on Hanna ULR Nitrate checker. Notice trumpets starting to brighten up/spread/fill out more and euphyllia really started brightening up.
Week 4: Upped daily dosage to 6 ml (still way below recommended dosage per Red Sea) for tank size and approximate nitrate/phosphate levels. BTAs really looked awful floating around, but all other corals starting really thriving new trumpets growing in some previous dead spots, cyano not coming in everyday like it had been for a couple of months requiring daily substrate turning. I also invested in a better/bigger icecap 4000k to replace my jebaos that just were started to lose power. Phosphates at about 7 as I lowered amount of phosguard put in sump as BTAs now I'm wondering if they're going to survive (again thinking rapid phosphate and nitrate drop). Nitrates showed their first reading on Hanna ULR checker at 4.95 (hilarious actually as minimum is 5.00 ppm), but hey finally a reading!
Week 5: Upped daily dosage to 8 ml and decided to not use any phosguard any longer to see if nopox phosphate bacterias will start kicking in. Tested tonight at end of week 5 and phosphates are 6 ppm and nitrate .60 ppm (massive drop from 4.95 in one week, but who possibly consistent if I truly was at 20 ppm to begin with per Salifert test. BTAs awful cyano still lingering but only have to move around substrate every 3-4 days now and perhaps new wave maker is helping w/ water movement as well.
Anyway, I hope this helps someone considering NoPox (in a rambling post more than following any true scientific results consistency). I am curious to others experience or thoughts on my BTAs suffering through this NoPox treatment though as I haven't found much of anything on how they react on forum or online?
