Can I dose too much nopox?

[Gp!]

I'm curing and cycling pukani dry rock in tubs. I don't think I can overdose nopox in this scenario? Just trying to let the bacteria cycle and pull out as much phosphate from the rocks at the same time. Tubs are covered and basically get no light if that matters

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

You may prevent the growth of nitrifying bacteria if you dose NOPOX during "cycling". You can cycle it later, if you want.

 

[don_chuwish]

I'd suggest just doing weekly full water changes instead. And keep the tub covered so no algae gains a foothold.

 

[Gp!]

Thanks guys. Probably not going to do full water changes because of the volume. Got busy and forgot about wanting to deal with the rock for awhile longer and used a big bottle of Dr. Tim's. Guess I'll adjust my strategy

 

[VelocityTech]

You may prevent the growth of nitrifying bacteria if you dose NOPOX during "cycling". You can cycle it later, if you want.

What would you reccomend in a situation like this, soaking rock to pull out as much phosphate as possible, GFO reactor?

 

[Fragtory]

You could grow cheato in the refugium and that will suck up nitrate and phosphate all you need is a small powerhead in a nice 5500k light if done right to Cheato Works phenomenally I know this sounds counterproductive but you might even have to dose with food to keep the nitrates up so that it the Cheato can continue to remove phosphate

 

[Fragtory]

Here is a link to my reef buddys page where he is doing the same thing with great results without any water changes https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/leaching-dry-rock-chaeto.375061/

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

What would you reccomend in a situation like this, soaking rock to pull out as much phosphate as possible, GFO reactor?

I’d ignore nitrate when curing new rock, and lanthanum is a cheap and easy way to reduce phosphate outside the aquarium.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

You could grow cheato in the refugium and that will suck up nitrate and phosphate all you need is a small powerhead in a nice 5500k light if done right to Cheato Works phenomenally I know this sounds counterproductive but you might even have to dose with food to keep the nitrates up so that it the Cheato can continue to remove phosphate

Like dosing NOPOX, chaeto may interfere with nitrogen cycling by taking up the ammonia. It all depends on what the goals of this curing/cycling process is.