NO3 PO4-X Effects on Macroalgae?

[Steve and his Animals]

Does anyone have any weird/bad experiences dosing Red Sea NOPOX with macroalgaes in the tank (refugium or decorative)? I want to start dosing it in my large reef with a refugium and possible my nano with some decorative macros to help deal with hair algae and don't want to wipe out my macros.

 

[blaxsun]

When I ran chaeto I didn't (but chaeto was the extent of the macro algae).

 

[taricha]

many people use a modest carbon dose and grow macroalgae also.
but, yes a heavy carbon dose could negatively effect the macroalgae, mostly through nutrient depletion.

 

[Klyle]

I never did both at the same time but i have ran both methods successfully. My opinion is dump the chaeto and stick with nopox. All other things being equal, the chaeto is also going to strip trace elements from ur tank. Now you have to worry about keeping those levels in the correct ranges…either by icp tests or by water changes (which most people use chaeto to lower water change amount, so imo it’s counterproductive) Once you get carbon dosing properly dialed in, it’s all downhill from there. My opinion.

 

[Steve and his Animals]

I never did both at the same time but i have ran both methods successfully. My opinion is dump the chaeto and stick with nopox. All other things being equal, the chaeto is also going to strip trace elements from ur tank. Now you have to worry about keeping those levels in the correct ranges…either by icp tests or by water changes (which most people use chaeto to lower water change amount, so imo it’s counterproductive) Once you get carbon dosing properly dialed in, it’s all downhill from there. My opinion.

Interesting take. I actually grow grape "caulerpa" instead of chaeto but I assume that isn't the point you make.

 

[WrasseyReefer]

I grow macroalgae and use nopox. Seems to be fine. But I keep a very close eye on my phosphates and dose as needed to make sure they don’t bottom out.

 

[immo]

I grow macroalgae and use nopox. Seems to be fine. But I keep a very close eye on my phosphates and dose as needed to make sure they don’t bottom out.

What is the lowest you allow your po4 to get?

 

[WrasseyReefer]

What is the lowest you allow your po4 to get?

I test 1-2x daily with Hanna. I try to keep it around 0.05-0.06. If it gets below 0.03, I increase my dosing. I have a BRS doser connected to my apex that doses phosphates throughout the day. I just try to make sure there’s always available phosphate for the corals and macroalgae. I go upwards of 0.15, but I try to keep it below 0.10.