Carbon dosing with NO3PO4-x vs Chaeto?

[Cool Cat]

Was wondering what you guys thought about using cabin dosing with NO3PO4X vs growing chaeto to help control nutrients. I’m struggling to get my chaeto to take hold and start growing in a 210g reef with lps and softies. Thinking about switching over to carbon dosing as an alternative. Any advice is welcomed! Thanks!

 

[CC13]

Tagging along.

 

[Lloyd Williams]

Same question

 

[roberthu526]

NOPOX works really good for me. I have not tried chaeto in a big refugium yet so I can’t compare. It took me about a month for NOPOX to show effect but it did and still does work really well for me.

 

[andrewkw]

I haven't grown cheato in years. There is just no reason in my system to. DIY nopox + Gfo handles nitrates and phosphates. That being said over the years I've grown enough to fill 55g drums.

You may have to try a few things but usually you can eventually figure out what works best for you and your reef. I see people dosing nitrate and or phosphate to grow cheato when all they have to do is realize their system doesn't need macro algae. You may struggle with nutrients but you shouldn't struggle with how you deal with them long term.

 

[Firemanreefkeeper]

It does take some time for cheato to get going. I did carbon dosing before cheato and didn't like it. My acros didn't like it either. In my experience with nopox, it took away the nitrates much faster than phosphates. My nitrates hit 0 which led to my phosphates going up since you need some nitrates to balance things out. I had to stop nopox and dose nitrates to find the balance . Then i started a fuge. My baseball sized cheato 4 months ago now fills my 7 x 10 fuge. Nitrates hold between 2 and 5. Phosphates are around 40 ppb. If you go with nopox, you must carefully monitor your nutrient levels and adjust the dose accordingly.

 

[Cool Cat]

It does take some time for cheato to get going. I did carbon dosing before cheato and didn't like it. My acros didn't like it either. In my experience with nopox, it took away the nitrates much faster than phosphates. My nitrates hit 0 which led to my phosphates going up since you need some nitrates to balance things out. I had to stop nopox and dose nitrates to find the balance . Then i started a fuge. My baseball sized cheato 4 months ago now fills my 7 x 10 fuge. Nitrates hold between 2 and 5. Phosphates are around 40 ppb. If you go with nopox, you must carefully monitor your nutrient levels and adjust the dose accordingly.

That’s what I’m struggling with now is finding the balance that will help my chaeto grow without making NO3 and PO4 unbalanced. Thought the Nopox would consume both of them at the same rate. See mixed reviews everywhere ... either it’s the magic bullet or the worst thing ever. Right now I’m trying to feed enough to get the chaeto to grow but not cause the PO4 to go through the roof. Thanks for your input!

 

[Cool Cat]

I haven't grown cheato in years. There is just no reason in my system to. DIY nopox + Gfo handles nitrates and phosphates. That being said over the years I've grown enough to fill 55g drums.

You may have to try a few things but usually you can eventually figure out what works best for you and your reef. I see people dosing nitrate and or phosphate to grow cheato when all they have to do is realize their system doesn't need macro algae. You may struggle with nutrients but you shouldn't struggle with how you deal with them long term.

Thanks for your reply... so you use the carbon dosing mix to handle NO3 and the GFO to help manage PO4.

 

[andrewkw]

Thanks for your reply... so you use the carbon dosing mix to handle NO3 and the GFO to help manage PO4.

Yes. It's just easier. No harvesting, no lighting it. A dosing pump and refilling the container every few months. I can also dose more or less at my desire. While you can certainly grow more or less macro you don't have the same control. A lot of people try to have a ton, but they forget if it's not growing it's not working. It's not a sponge it's absorbing the nutrients to grow which is removing your nutrients.

If you're struggling with growth try out carbon dosing. As long as you don't do anything foolish worst case you will get a bacteria bloom. You can always go back if it doesn't work out.