DIY NO3Po4X Recipe

[Zoid]

I've been doing some research to make a diy solution as a cheaper alternative as it's $60 a Liter where I live.

From I've read on the online, there are several different ratios of the same ingredients:

Recipe 1: 500ml RODI Water, 375ml vodka 80 proof and 125ml Vinegar 5%.

Recipe 2: 500ml vinegar (5%), 375 ml vodka (80 proof), and 125 ml RODI Water

I believe a lot of reefers have used recipe 2 with great success.

My question is, how important is Methanol? According to the SDS of Red Sea's NO3Po4X - it contains about 2-3%.

Since I'm currently using NO3Po4X, is it worth replicating the recipe based on the SDS ?

 

[Dbichler]

I use recipe two with great results

 

[Js.Aqua.Project]

I used to use NoPox then DIY NoPox...now I am just using straight 80 proof vodka. It has been cheaper, easier and instead of worrying about mixing just swap out the bottle and move on.

As a side note, neither my wife nor I drink - but our fish do...

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

IMO, there's nothing magic about any specific recipe, and I chose to use vinegar alone.

That said, I believe both the methanol and isopropanol found in NOPOX are likely NOT there to make the product functionally "better" in any way, but to avoid regulations and taxes on the ethanol in it, allowing the manufacturer to use denatured and hence untaxed ethanol.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

IMO, this is a good enough DIY:

Mix one part vinegar to one half part vodka and one half part water. If you want to get even closer, add a little more vodka and a little less water.

 

[NATE1979]

Can you use only distilled white vinegar and if so how much to use per gallon

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

Can you use only distilled white vinegar and if so how much to use per gallon

Yes, and the amount will depend on the tank needs. Here's one set of possible guidelines:

NEW Vodka and Vinegar Dosing Charts

The reasons I'm updating the Vinegar and Vodka dosing charts are two-fold: 1. The ramp was unnecessarily slow. There was no perceived benefit to such a tedious ramp, and it led to reefers quitting because they thought carbon dosing didn't work. 2. The ramp did not scale up correctly...

www.reef2reef.com

 

[Zoid]

IMO, there's nothing magic about any specific recipe, and I chose to use vinegar alone.

That said, I believe both the methanol and isopropanol found in NOPOX are likely NOT there to make the product functionally "better" in any way, but to avoid regulations and taxes on the ethanol in it, allowing the manufacturer to use denatured and hence untaxed ethanol.

Thanks for the clarification regarding methanol.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

You're welcome.

Happy Reefing.