Nopox

[Rmckoy]

I have been down the road of dosing Nopox for nutrient management before but ended up bottoming out nitrates.

Instead of dosing vinegar or vodka the lfs strongly recommends Nopox

knowing that eventually the same dose over time will gradually build enough bacteria to consume nutrients rapidly .
Is it best to start at full dose or cut in half?

 

[blaxsun]

Before offering any suggestions, what are your nitrate and phosphate levels?

 

[Dan_P]

I have been down the road of dosing Nopox for nutrient management before but ended up bottoming out nitrates.

Instead of dosing vinegar or vodka the lfs strongly recommends Nopox

knowing that eventually the same dose over time will gradually build enough bacteria to consume nutrients rapidly .
Is it best to start at full dose or cut in half?

Are you buying NOPOX from the LFS?

The carbon source, ethanol, vinegar or a mixture like NOPOX does not really matter. The accepted strategy, while frequently monitoring of nitrate and phosphate, is to ramp up the dose over time. Near the maximum dose a visible bacteria bloom occurs and rapid decline of nitrate results. As the nitrate level nears your target, start throttling back the dose until the nitrate starts to climb. You found your maintenance dose. Ensure PO4 does not bottom out. The bacteria need PO4 to consume NO3.

 

[vetteguy53081]

I have been down the road of dosing Nopox for nutrient management before but ended up bottoming out nitrates.

Instead of dosing vinegar or vodka the lfs strongly recommends Nopox

knowing that eventually the same dose over time will gradually build enough bacteria to consume nutrients rapidly .
Is it best to start at full dose or cut in half?

While nopox is safe to use, it too can take no3 and po4 so low that you end up with dino. if using it, I would calculate your needs and dose at 80%. Chemipure blue or Elite will help manage and control po4 too and gradually

 

[Rmckoy]

Before offering any suggestions, what are your nitrate and phosphate levels?

I haven’t tested yet .
but the sudden Gha and red cyano says something is off. .

before dosing anything whether it be store bought Nopox or vinegar I will test everything .

 

[Dbichler]

Save your money buy a 1.75 of vodka and a large distilled vinegar and mix at a rate of 500ml vinegar 375 ml vodka and 125ml of rodi and you have nopox. 1/4 of the price. Lasts me 6 months on my 210. But yes you have to make sure not to bottom out phosphate.

 

[Rmckoy]

Save your money buy a 1.75 of vodka and a large distilled vinegar and mix at a rate of 500ml vinegar 375 ml vodka and 125ml of rodi and you have nopox. 1/4 of the price. Lasts me 6 months on my 210. But yes you have to make sure not to bottom out phosphate.

And what’s the difference between dosing this diy version of Nopox vs just dosing either vinegar or vodka ?

 

[ZoWhat]

Yea nopox will bottom out NO3

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After a year long personal test of trying this and that...found a near perfect system:

My 220ish gal system
* 10ml of Tropic Marin BACTOBALANCE
* 5ml of 80 proof vodka (even though Bacto vid below says don't use vodka)

Dose First thing in every morning

No3 5 stable
Po4 0.07 or less stable

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[Dbichler]

And what’s the difference between dosing this diy version of Nopox vs just dosing either vinegar or vodka ?

I don’t know the chemistry behind it but from what I’ve read vodka is faster acting and vinegar is slower if I understand it correct. Randy only doses vinegar. You have to dose much more vinegar than vodka if dosing individually compared to mixing it all together. I tried each individually and found it worked best with diy.

 

[Rmckoy]

Before offering any suggestions, what are your nitrate and phosphate levels?

Just did a few tests of nutrients

hanna phosphorus 44 ppb = 0.135ppm phosphates
Salifert nitrates 5ppm

Alk tested with salifert 5.6
Confirmed with api after reading such a low number with salifert

hanna reads 2.5dkh higher and why I stopped using it

 

[Dbichler]

I would probably just use chemipure elite or blue with those numbers and see where it takes you before carbon dosing honestly

 

[Rmckoy]

I would probably just use chemipure elite or blue with those numbers and see where it takes you before carbon dosing honestly

I was thinking the same .
after the increased gha growth I was expecting numbers to be a lot higher .

found the issue :
Low alk and tested rodi water
46ppm tds

 

[gbroadbridge]

I have been down the road of dosing Nopox for nutrient management before but ended up bottoming out nitrates.

Instead of dosing vinegar or vodka the lfs strongly recommends Nopox

knowing that eventually the same dose over time will gradually build enough bacteria to consume nutrients rapidly .
Is it best to start at full dose or cut in half?

The reason your lfs want you to buy nopox is because it's better for their bottom line.

Ignore the hyperbole and just use vinegar or vinegar/vodka combination.

 

[Rmckoy]

The reason your lfs want you to buy nopox is because it's better for their bottom line.

Ignore the hyperbole and just use vinegar or vinegar/vodka combination.

Knowing my nitrates have been 5-10 ppm for a very long time .
I was hesitant on even entertaining the topic but knowing i have a increase of gha along with red cyano it was possible.

 

[gbroadbridge]

Knowing my nitrates have been 5-10 ppm for a very long time .
I was hesitant on even entertaining the topic but knowing i have a increase of gha along with red cyano it was possible.

I believe the ethanol in NoPox can sometimes cause cyano, which I think is why Randy prefers plain white vinegar.
The only issue I have with vinegar is you have to dose about 5 times as much, and it tends to temporarily lower pH.

There's nothing magical about NoPox unless they've changed the formulation since it was analysed by some chemistry folks here.

 

[JNalley]

There's nothing magical about NoPox unless they've changed the formulation since it was analysed by some chemistry folks here.

It's

Acetic Acid (Vinegar)
Ethanol (Vodka)
Methanol (Denatured Alcohol)

Nothing special... But I don't see why Ethanol would 'cause' Cyano...

 

[Spare time]

I haven’t tested yet .
but the sudden Gha and red cyano says something is off. .

before dosing anything whether it be store bought Nopox or vinegar I will test everything .

Cyano can benefit from carbon dosing.