NoPoX vs Biopellets Question

schooncw · Dec 6, 2020

Should the results be identical, whether you carbon dose with NoPoX, or use a biopellet reactor, if both are employed correctly? I confess to having an overstocked tank (120 gallon), which is overfed and I have been using NoPoX for quite some time, with no discernable benefits.
The tank has been running for several years and looks fantastic but my high nitrate levels limit me to fish, softies, leathers, etc.

Spare time · Dec 6, 2020

They should both work the same in terms of their end result. I prefer biopellets as you can't really overdose like you can easily do with nopox and it is more of a set and go thing. If you switch to biopellets, seed the pellets with something like waste away. I have not tried waste away (or similar) with nopox but it basically gives the biopellets bacteria from the get go rather then having to build it up overtime which takes a month or so.

schooncw · Dec 6, 2020

Thanks for the reply. I've had a long history with nopox.....periods of regular dosage and over dosage and my leathers were not happy in either case. Took a long break and now doing a 1/2 dose. As I said, the tank could not look better but it's almost become a point of stubborn pride to get my nitrates down...of course, while being over stocked and overfed at the same time.

Maritimer · Dec 6, 2020

I've got a 220 / 40B sump, and my nitrates were off the charts on the API kit - their chart only goes to 160ppm. I've (over the last month and a half or so) built up a carbon dose to 5ml each of vodka and some old No4-Po3X twice a day; a total of 20ml of carbon dosing each day. I tested nitrate about ten minutes ago, and the reading is about 30 ... almost time to switch over to my Red Sea kit!

I've also been performing a roughly 20% water change every week or two, which might have helped - _AND_ - I've recently begun adding in some bacteria that I picked up over the Black Friday melee. MicroBacter7 and Waste-Away so far, with more doses of each to come, along with some One-And-Only. I've gotta guess that I just wasn't getting the denitrification that I should have been seeing in the rock, for reasons I just don't understand.

Nice thing about bio-pellets would be that they wouldn't require attention every day - start 'em up, and just keep an eye on your nutrient levels.

~B.

schooncw · Dec 6, 2020

Thank you for the reply. I do a 20 gal water change every week and do 5 ml nopox every day; my tank was not happy when I was adding 12-15 ml. As I mentioned, I do overfeed and I am overstocked. Perhaps I should do 5ml twice a day and see what happens. Logic tells me that the result of carbon dosing or using biopellets should have the same result

Chuk · Dec 6, 2020

They should be the same but I always found it way easier to “overdose” bio pellets and my no3 would go to 0. The nopox or even vinegar/ sugar are easier to control dosage to maintain some level of no3.

schooncw · Dec 7, 2020

Thanks for your reply. I wish I had your problem.....

Randy Holmes-Farley · Dec 7, 2020

schooncw said:
Should the results be identical, whether you carbon dose with NoPoX, or use a biopellet reactor, if both are employed correctly? I confess to having an overstocked tank (120 gallon), which is overfed and I have been using NoPoX for quite some time, with no discernable benefits.
The tank has been running for several years and looks fantastic but my high nitrate levels limit me to fish, softies, leathers, etc.

No, the results should not be expected to be identical.

But the results will also not be expected to be better with pellets.

Maybe you are just not adding enough NOPOX.

schooncw · Dec 7, 2020

Randy Holmes-Farley said:
No, the results should not be expected to be identical.

But the results will also not be expected to be better with pellets.

Maybe you are just not adding enough NOPOX.

Thank you for your reply Randy. When I first started using NOPOX at the recommended dose, some of my leathers were not happy. Since yesterday, I am once again, using the recommended dose but splitting it between AM and PM

Randy Holmes-Farley · Dec 7, 2020

Are you also monitoring phosphate?

Are you confident in the nitrate reading? API doesn't have the best reputation, and if it is already low, the leathers may be suffering from lack of nitrate, not excess NOPOX.

schooncw · Dec 7, 2020

Thank you for your time, once again. Yes, I do monitor phosphate and it is always present. I use Salifert and just got a new test kit last week.....nitrate is off the chart. Again, I am the one that is overfeeding and over stocking my aquarium and would be satisfied if I could see some evidence of mitigation. I will continue on with the recommended dose of NOPOX but split in AM and PM.

schooncw · Dec 7, 2020

Thoughts on a sulfur denitrator, as opposed to nopox or pellets?

Randy Holmes-Farley · Dec 7, 2020

I personally prefer vinegar dosing to NOPOX, but either vinegar or vodka or NOPOX should all work if you add enough for long enough. I don't really see how it wouldn't "work". The main concern is unsightly bacteria, either in the water or on surfaces.

Sulfur denitrators are OK, but one needs to account for the alkalinity depletion they can cause.