Chaeto and Nopox

[rpate2]

Does anyone know if I can grow Chaeto whilst dosing Nopox? I've been dosing Nopox for about 3 months now. N03 is at zero, but I can't seem to get P04 under 0.1 and was thinking of adding a Chaeto fuge to my sump.

I was wondering if Chaeto will grow if there is no nitrate?

 

[Medic755]

All plants need nitrate and phosphate to grow. It's their basic building blocks. Did you try a different test kit to independently verify the disproportionate ratio? I've had a disproportionate amount of nitrate to phosphate with nitrate being higher due to a miscalculation in GFO dose but not the other way around. NOPOX should consume them in the same ratio, not disproportionately higher one than the other. Unless there is another outside factor like rocks leeching phosphate etc.

 

[lion king]

I added an algae reactor to a tank I am dosing nopox on for the same reason. Exception, my nitrates run about 5, phosphates would get to .08. It's been 3-4 weeks since I added the the reactor. My phosphates are now negligible and the chaeto has about tripled in the chamber. I'm looking to take the nopox completely offline.

If you dial the nopox back a little just to give room for a little nitrate, there really is no need need for 0 nitrates. I've found phosphates to be a lot more of a culprit in many areas, from cyano to some corals getting upset.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

Yes, you can dose organic carbon and grow macroalgae at the same time. I did for years.

If you drive nutrients too low, however, you will starve out the chaeto.

 

[Halostemanic]

I added an algae reactor to a tank I am dosing nopox on for the same reason. Exception, my nitrates run about 5, phosphates would get to .08. It's been 3-4 weeks since I added the the reactor. My phosphates are now negligible and the chaeto has about tripled in the chamber. I'm looking to take the nopox completely offline.

If you dial the nopox back a little just to give room for a little nitrate, there really is no need need for 0 nitrates. I've found phosphates to be a lot more of a culprit in many areas, from cyano to some corals getting upset.

Point for point what I did and am now only dosing 0.2mls Nopox a day (I know I should just stop) No3 under 2ppm and Po4 steady at 0.3. Every tanks different though.

 

[Peter K]

We have been dosing Nopox and grow chaeto like a weed for over a year now. Nitrates are always sub 5, we also dose under what red sea instructs but it has worked us (6 mil for 210g system per day). We had a small bacterial bloom when we tried to up the dosage a while back but have never had an issue with our chaeto dying off.

 

[leicaguy]

I use Nopox, grow cheato/ mixed red algae, (Kessill grow light,) I also dose full triton, use phosphate absorber and carbon from Triton, (and use foods from KZ, Polyplab, Two Little Fishes etc ) probably should not !
SPS tank and some clams very few fish all looking good, lights =Radion G4 pro with vortech etc for flow
0 phosphates 0.25 Nitrate No bacterial bloom and no issue with cheato/algae dying off, BUT as you all know each tank has its own personality
Currently use a deltec 2060 skimmer and Tropic Marin Salt, Unable to buy Triton salt !
After 45 years of aquarium keeping I like this "recipe" !

 

[BlueCursor]

To the points raised above, bacteria out performs algae! Too much NoPoX and you get rid of algae, and you kill the macro too. Coral growth will be negatively impacted as well. But I don't think this is strictly a nitrate/phosphate reduction problem. I have had macro die off from carbon dosing even when I had nitrate 1-2 ppm and phosphate detectible. I have also had incredible macro growth when my nitrate and phosphate were undetectable, but I was only running a refugium and no carbon dosing when this was the case. Go figure.

 

[leicaguy]

I would agree with your point(s) however every aquarium has its personality and this seems to work for me, the macro algae is growing all parameters are good and more important the corals look good ! One thing for certain Triton is easier and cheaper than KZ which I used exclusively for about 7 years Good feedback many thanks