NoPoX or Spectracide?

[Bryan MD]

Hi all!
I have been reading threads about the use of Spectracide Stump Remover to help balance a small amount of Nitrate and PO in the tank. I think I fall under the Too Low category. I have a Reefer 170 and love it. My tank parameters: 5-10% weekly water changes, 78-79 degrees, pH 8.2, Salinity 1.025, Ammonia 0, Nitrate 0, Nitrite 0, Phosphate 0, Calcium 430, KH 9.5, Mag 1300.
I have been using Red Sea products and have used NoPoX since my setup a year ago. I dose 3ml every other day.
My corals have growth but are pale. I use a radion 15 for lighting and have checked it for par. Light levels are not hot. After reading the threads about Nitrate and PO needing to be in a slightly higher range than 0 I could not help but think my NoPox and my dosage is affecting this. I dose manually. For the fish I have a flame angel, Mocha clown, royal gamma, tail spot blenny and a yasha goby. with various snails, shrimp and crabs. I would say I error on over feeding my animals.
I am not home most weekends so I do not dose everyday. Am I dosing too much? The info using the stump remover is interesting but I do not want to "chase the numbers" as one of the posts stated. I am happy with my tank and the animals are doing well. But having the slightly elevated levels has my interest piqued. Is NoPoX and stump remover mutually exclusive of each other? If you use one, don't use the other? Thanks for any info you can provide!

 

[saltyfilmfolks]

I done personally belive in the nutrint ratio but carbon dosing will lower nitrate first.

I would just stop the nopox.

 

[ZAB]

look into using red sea reef energy A & B alone with N0P0x...the carbon dosing can strip water to much...

 

[lion king]

Dial back your nopox and feed more. And yes nopox is to lower nitrates and spectracide is to raise nitrates. My macro tank took a dive when I started using spectracide, it was and is better dosing tank with coral foods: such as reef chili, coral frenzy, and fauna marin. Just keep an eye on your phosphates using coral foods like these.

 

[Bryan MD]

Dial back your nopox and feed more. And yes nopox is to lower nitrates and spectracide is to raise nitrates. My macro tank took a dive when I started using spectracide, it was and is better dosing tank with coral foods: such as reef chili, coral frenzy, and fauna marin. Just keep an eye on your phosphates using coral foods like these.

Fantastic. Thanks for the information. I am dialing back my NoPox and will monitor my levels over the next few weeks.