SPS not looking great!

[DSC reef]

Case closed

This proves the point that it's the user. Nopox is not poison. Most people use it incorrectly, don't test often enough and drop nutrients way to fast or use it when it's not even needed. We grew many SPS, LPS, and tridacna with nopox dosed daily.

 

[Dan Kyle]

This proves the point that it's the user. Nopox is not poison. Most people use it incorrectly, don't test often enough and drop nutrients way to fast or use it when it's not even needed. We grew many SPS, LPS, and tridacna with nopox dosed daily.

No. I completely disagree. I know what I did and I followed the instructions to a T. This was not the user in this case, thank you.

 

[DSC reef]

Also if my PO4 levels are true and 0.01 why do I have little nuisance algae? Surely that would be more evident in a higher nutrient tank. API says my PO4 is at 0.03 and Red Sea says it’s 0.01. I don’t like API personally but the shop I use when I want a second opinion, they use API.

Your phosphate is low and that's why you have little agae.

 

[saltyfilmfolks]

Also if my PO4 levels are true and 0.01 why do I have little nuisance algae? Surely that would be more evident in a higher nutrient tank. API says my PO4 is at 0.03 and Red Sea says it’s 0.01. I don’t like API personally but the shop I use when I want a second opinion, they use API.

Good cuc will take care of alge.

 

[DSC reef]

No. I completely disagree. I know what I did and I followed the instructions to a T. This was not the user in this case, thank you.

Ok. Good luck

 

[Dan Kyle]

Ok. Good luck

I’m sorry but you are saying that I’m at fault and I’ve been dosing incorrectly. If that’s the case then Red Sea are liable because that’s the instructions I’ve been going by and this is the result. It seems I’m not the only one to have experienced this either.

 

[DSC reef]

I’m sorry but you are saying that I’m at fault and I’ve been dosing incorrectly. If that’s the case then Red Sea are liable because that’s the instructions I’ve been going by and this is the result. It seems I’m not the only one to have experienced this either.

No I did not. I said most people dose incorrectly and by that I mean to much initially, don't test often enough to see how fast nutrients are dropping or use it when not needed. It's not a magic potion nor poison. But I digress.

 

[Tamberav]

When I used to dose vodka/vinegar, I stopped abruptly without issue after using it for months. I basically stopped because it would grow so much bacteria it was clogging the filter in a day which just meant more maintenance so why bother.

I personally don't see the connection with a steroid for human use and a carbon source for marine use. They are for completely different uses and don't have the same laws, research or approval.

 

[Dan Kyle]

No I did not. I said most people dose incorrectly and by that I mean to much initially, don't test often enough to see how fast nutrients are dropping or use it when not needed. But I digress.

The word ‘user’ is very suggestive. It clearly states to test parameters a week after dosing when using NOPOX and adjust when necessary. This is what I did. I compared my reading to that in the leaflet and I went to as little as 1ml a day. If anything I underdosed because I was on the cautious side from the word go.

 

[Dan Kyle]

When I used to dose vodka/vinegar, I stopped abruptly without issue after using it for months. I basically stopped because it would grow so much bacteria it was clogging the filter in a day which just meant more maintenance so why bother.

I personally don't see the connection with a steroid for human use and a carbon source for marine use. They are both medications but for completely different uses.

Thankfully I don’t think I was carbon dosing long enough to see the effects on filters. I do remember having an occasional white haze on the glass though from using it and that is annoying on its own.

 

[AngryOwl]

So whats the solution being ran with here? Be nice to throw in a cheap tester frag to see if all the suggested changes end up working or if the tank continues to go south. Too much back and forth and personal attacks in this thread distracting from figuring this problem out. I want to see what works.

 

[DSC reef]

The word ‘user’ is very suggestive. It clearly states to test parameters a week after dosing when using NOPOX and adjust when necessary. This is what I did. I compared my reading to that in the leaflet and I went to as little as 1ml a day. If anything I underdosed because I was on the cautious side from the word go.

I was not suggesting you messed up personally, my apolagies if it was taken that way. Nopox is very potent and works very well so I always suggest to start in very small doses and test daily to keep a close eye on nutrients dropping. It's a tool and can work wonders if needed.

 

[Dan Kyle]

So whats the solution being ran with here? Be nice to throw in a cheap tester frag to see if all the suggested changes end up working or if the tank continues to go south. Too much back and forth and personal attacks in this thread distracting from figuring this problem out. I want to see what works.

I hope I haven’t came across as attacking anyone because I really don’t mean to. It’s just a matter of opinions and we can’t all agree. To answer your question though, I’ve stopped dosing NOPOX altogether. Before using it my corals were doing fine and now they have died. With NOPOX being the only change I made it makes me highly suspicious that this was the culprit. My lights are on a higher intensity because the settings I was using before that wasn’t quite right although even then my SPS was doing well. The new light setting acclimated for a month. These are the only two changes I’ve physically made.

I do have some SPS frags arriving at some point. They have been delayed because of weather conditions so we will see how they do.

 

[Dan Kyle]

I was not suggesting you messed up personally, my apolagies if it was taken that way. Nopox is very potent and works very well so I always suggest to start in very small doses and test daily to keep a close eye on nutrients dropping. It's a tool and can work wonders if needed.

I apologise too if it seems I jumped on you. I don’t want to come across that way. I appreciate help and input. I don’t want to throw it back at you. It does work wonders, that’s one thing I can’t argue with. It took my nitrates down from 30 to 12 in just over a week.

 

[DSC reef]

I apologise too if it seems I jumped on you. I don’t want to come across that way. I appreciate help and input. I don’t want to throw it back at you. It does work wonders, that’s one thing I can’t argue with. It took my nitrates down from 30 to 12 in just over a week.

No worries at all. Honestly I would let the tank settle a bit. This is a hiccup that the tank will come back from.

 

[Dan Kyle]

No worries at all. Honestly I would let the tank settle a bit. This is a hiccup that the tank will come back from.

I hope so :) I know PO4 being 0.01 is too low but right now my nitrates are 16. I’m curious as to how I can increase my PO4 but without increasing my NO3. Regardless, I’m not making any changes. I’m sure it will correct itself within time. If I have learnt anything from all of this it’s to not chase numbers. It is what it is.

 

[DSC reef]

I hope so :) I know PO4 being 0.01 is too low but right now my nitrates are 16. I’m curious as to how I can increase my PO4 but without increasing my NO3. Regardless, I’m not making any changes. I’m sure it will correct itself within time. If I have learnt anything from all of this it’s to not chase numbers. It is what it is.

My suggestion would be water changes and maybe some extra feedings. IME foods captain some phosphate and water changes weekly aid in nitrate reduction. For now though, don't chase numbers to much.

 

[Dan Kyle]

My suggestion would be water changes and maybe some extra feedings. IME foods captain some phosphate and water changes weekly aid in nitrate reduction. For now though, don't chase numbers to much.

I happen to agree, especially regarding feeding more. I only have one fish in the reef so I certainly haven’t been feeding very much.

 

[DSC reef]

Keep us updated please, were all here to help my friend. I learned a long time ago to keep it simple when it comes to a reef tank :D

 

[Dan Kyle]

Keep us updated please, were all here to help my friend. I learned a long time ago to keep it simple when it comes to a reef tank :D

I will keep you all posted as and when things change. As I said earlier I am waiting on some SPS frags. With any luck they won’t go the same way. I’ll do a daily update on those when they are in my tank.

I originally thought when SPS corals go pure white like all mine have that it was in fact a lighting problem. Usually from too much. I’m still not very confident with it all but we’ll see.