Nopox and Leather Corals

schooncw · Jan 30, 2020

Has anyone noticed that their leather corals are no looking good after prolonged use of Nopox? I discontinued use a few days ago and am doing water changes daily.

lapin · Jan 30, 2020

My leathers like the vodka / vinegar mix. Maybe yours dont like the sugary stuff.

Rybren · Jan 30, 2020

I run a DIY NOPOX and my leathers are thriving.

schooncw · Jan 30, 2020

Truth be known....I was using more that the recommended dose for the last few weeks. 3 x 20 gallon changes, over the last 3 days on my 120 and the leathers are looking "fuller" but no polyps.

Rybren · Jan 30, 2020

Leathers will periodically close up and often shed. I've had some in past tanks close for more than a week.

schooncw · Jan 31, 2020

Yes they will. But ALL of them at the same time, in various and separate areas in the tank? I am convinced it was continuous use of nopox and as I said, I am guilty of using more than the recommended dose, for a prolonged time. I do have an effective skimmer.

Randy Holmes-Farley · Feb 1, 2020

Have you possibly driven nitrate too low for their liking?

schooncw · Feb 2, 2020

Definitely not. My nitrates are sky high. I am relatively certain that the cause was double dosing nopox for an extended period of time. I ceased nopox the day of this post, did a 20 gallon change-on a 120-for 3 days in a row and everything came back yesterday.

andrewkw · Feb 2, 2020

I've been using nopox to diy nopox for at least 5 years probably longer and never had an issue with any leathers. My tank is soft coral dominated.

schooncw · Feb 2, 2020

andrewkw said:
I've been using nopox to diy nopox for at least 5 years probably longer and never had an issue with any leathers. My tank is soft coral dominated.

Yes but I would guess at the recommended dose, or probably less. I am not criticizing nopox; my issue, is that at the normal dose, my nitrates were not budging, so instead of 12 ml, was using 20 every day. The root of my nitrate problems, you may ask? Lots of rock that is almost 30 years old, overstocked fish tank and overfeeding. Funny thing though, the tank looks great, no nuisance algae and the fish are happy. I added a Tunze macro algae reactor and am hoping this makes a difference.

Randy Holmes-Farley · Feb 2, 2020

schooncw said:
Definitely not. My nitrates are sky high. I am relatively certain that the cause was double dosing nopox for an extended period of time. I ceased nopox the day of this post, did a 20 gallon change-on a 120-for 3 days in a row and everything came back yesterday.

I wouldn’t be convinced NOPOX itself is hurting them. I’d look for other causes.

schooncw · Feb 2, 2020

This is the second time I have experienced this in a year or so and the second time that after a few days stopping nopox and some water changes, that the corals came right back. They are 100% now, with no changes, other than ceasing nopox and some small water changes. I blame myself entirely, as I was using twice the dose, every day, for weeks.

Randy Holmes-Farley · Feb 2, 2020

schooncw said:
This is the second time I have experienced this in a year or so and the second time that after a few days stopping nopox and some water changes, that the corals came right back. They are 100% now, with no changes, other than ceasing nopox and some small water changes. I blame myself entirely, as I was using twice the dose, every day, for weeks.

maybe. I’m not convinced. There is nothing magic about organic carbon doses. People use all sorts of doses without harming leathers.

Dj Emcee · Feb 18, 2020

Randy Holmes-Farley said:
maybe. I’m not convinced. There is nothing magic about organic carbon doses. People use all sorts of doses without harming leathers.

Does NoPOx effect fish? I heard it depletes the oxygen in the tank and after a weeks worth of use my nitrates are lowering but my fish are dying ... i lost 3 anthias 2 clowns 2 gobbies 3 cardinals and Duncan’s

Randy Holmes-Farley · Feb 18, 2020

Dj Emcee said:
Does NoPOx effect fish? I heard it depletes the oxygen in the tank and after a weeks worth of use my nitrates are lowering but my fish are dying ... i lost 3 anthias 2 clowns 2 gobbies 3 cardinals and Duncan’s

I seriously doubt it is from lack of O2 if you have decent aeration, but reduced oxygen is a byproduct of organic carbon dosing.

Dj Emcee · Feb 18, 2020

Randy Holmes-Farley said:
I seriously doubt it is from lack of O2 if you have decent aeration, but reduced oxygen is a byproduct of organic carbon dosing.

So that still could be whats killing my fish... my corals seem to be thriving but fish going one by one and the gills seem to be moving in over deive