Query NoPox/No3-Po4

[Roberto CRC]

Now I have 36 days using NOPOX and I can say it really helps lower NO3 and PO4 think, for this is where my question comes and I need your help with this and their experiences.

My current settings are: No3 = 0 ppm (Red sea test) and PO4 = 0.16 ppm (Red sea Test).

But those values are and for 14 days, my question is, why not drop PO4. Why do not you come down? the Nopox the should go down?

Another problem that I have and do not know if it's because of this, but the diatom has decreased and reappears with the values that I have should not be almost nonexistent?

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

NOPOX is an organic carbon dosing method. That method drives bacterial growth (and other organism growth) and the bacteria consume nitrate and phosphate as they grow. If one of N or P runs out, growth may slow, limiting the consumption of the other.

Unfortunately, carbon dosing is often over-proportioned toward nitrate reduction relative to phosphate because of the biochemistry involved, often leaving some phosphate in the water, and if you want to reduce it, you may need to use a phosphate export method (such as a binder like GFO) or you might add some nitrate to allow the process to continue for both nitrate and phosphate.

FWIW, I use a variety of nutrient reduction methods for this reason, including organic carbon dosing (vinegar) and a phosphate binder (GFO).

 

[Roberto CRC]

NOPOX is an organic carbon dosing method. That method drives bacterial growth (and other organism growth) and the bacteria consume nitrate and phosphate as they grow. If one of N or P runs out, growth may slow, limiting the consumption of the other.

Unfortunately, carbon dosing is often over-proportioned toward nitrate reduction relative to phosphate because of the biochemistry involved, often leaving some phosphate in the water, and if you want to reduce it, you may need to use a phosphate export method (such as a binder like GFO) or you might add some nitrate to allow the process to continue for both nitrate and phosphate.

FWIW, I use a variety of nutrient reduction methods for this reason, including organic carbon dosing (vinegar) and a phosphate binder (GFO).

OK, so if I understood you well need to do any of the following things:

1- use GFO.
2- Let the No3 up where it is consumed with PO4 levelly.

I also have chaeto on my system, that can help with PO4, to decrease at optimal levels?

You mention vinegar, vinegar would be to lower PO4? Because I read the Vodka to lower No3.

Doses should be used vinegar?

 

[Roberto CRC]

By the way, having my parameters at these levels (No3 = 0 PO4 = 0.16) okay? or should I correct?

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

OK, so if I understood you well need to do any of the following things:

1- use GFO.
2- Let the No3 up where it is consumed with PO4 levelly.

I also have chaeto on my system, that can help with PO4, to decrease at optimal levels?

You mention vinegar, vinegar would be to lower PO4? Because I read the Vodka to lower No3.

Doses should be used vinegar?

FWIW, you can't just let the nitrate climb (because phosphate will climb too), you'd have to add it.

Vinegar (acetic acid), vodka (ethanol), NOPOX (mostly a mix of ethanol and acetic acid plus a few other ingredients) are all ways of organic carbon dosing and all reduce nitrate more than phosphate.

 

[Roberto CRC]

FWIW, you can't just let the nitrate climb (because phosphate will climb too), you'd have to add it.

Vinegar (acetic acid), vodka (ethanol), NOPOX (mostly a mix of ethanol and acetic acid plus a few other ingredients) are all ways of organic carbon dosing and all reduce nitrate more than phosphate.

I could then add vinegar to complement the Nopox and lower PO4 it?

A as presently these parameters, I must necessarily change them?

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

I could then add vinegar to complement the Nopox and lower PO4 it?

A as presently these parameters, I must necessarily change them?

You are misunderstanding. Vinegar has the same effect as NOPOX.

I can't tell what 0 ppm nitrate really means since that is different for different kits, but I'd generally recommend 0.5 to 1 ppm or so of nitrate and around 0.02 ppm of phosphate.

These have a lot more explanation of these issues:

Phosphate In The Reef Aquarium
https://www.reef2reef.com/blog/?p=3184

Nitrate in the Reef Aquarium - REEFEDITION
https://www.reef2reef.com/blog/nitrate-in-the-reef-aquarium

 

[Roberto CRC]

The links to phosfate are wrong.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

The links work for many people, but I provide two different links for each article since some phones and other browsers get the first link wrong for unknown reasons (cookies??). So try the second line or just cut and paste it as it is correct.