Share your experience with Red Sea NOPOX

[DraggingTail]

I am thinking about using this product. Evidently I feed too much or something but I cannot get my nitrates back down to 5.

I do weekly water changes. I have lots of white detritus in my rock that red slime and green algae feed on.

I have 80 gallon total system.
2 clowns
1 Magnificent Anemone
3 Cardinals
1 yellow eye Kole Tang
1 coral beauty
Lots of snails, hermits
A few brittle stars (these guys actually keep the hole they live in clean which is a plus)
Milli frag
4 head Acan
3 Digi frags
1 large slimer frag
1 6 head Duncan
1 octospawn

Octo 110-s skimmer

 

[DraggingTail]

Here are some more pics

 

[DraggingTail]

No one used nopox?

 

[redfishbluefish]

Does it count if you use a DIY version of NOPOX that was determined by a college professor? Based on an NMR of NOPOX, a DIY mix of 500 mls vinegar (5%), 375 mls vodka (80 proof), and 125 mls RO/DI matches the ratios in the product. I'm extremely happy with the results.

 

[DraggingTail]

Does it count if you use a DIY version of NOPOX that was determined by a college professor? Based on an NMR of NOPOX, a DIY mix of 500 mls vinegar (5%), 375 mls vodka (80 proof), and 125 mls RO/DI matches the ratios in the product. I'm extremely happy with the results.

Do you have instructions?
How much will this drop 40ppm nitrates on 80 gal system?

 

[jordan9095]

i use it and it definitely helps reduce algae growth. overuse can make your corals washed out.

 

[RJinPV]

I use it and it is effective at reducing nitrates. I have stuck to the instructions and if you dose for many days without testing the water then you can find it drives things too low. So you should test the water every 2 days, as Red Sea recommends, when you are using it

 

[SPR1968]

I’ve used Nopox for nearly 3 years and it’s very effective at reducing Nitrate, but won’t make much difference to phosphate levels. I run Rhowaphos along side it to keep phosphate in check as do many of us despite what Red Sea say

Just follow the dosing instructions, maybe start at 50% dose for the first week and then increase to whatever you need until the nitrate starts to drop. Then adjust the dose by say 1ml per week until it all balances out. Once it’s balanced weekly testing is fine and then just adjust as necessary

If you see any white slime or bacterial blooms, just back off a little. You may notice the glass gets a white ‘dust’ and needs cleaning more frequently which is normal. I notice this especially at higher doses

Looks like you have some green hair algae so you may have high phosphate levels (it may be giving a false 0 phosphate test as the algae uses it for food). Nopox may help reduce this in your system, otherwise you may have to look at other methods

And you need to ‘wet skim’ when using Nopox

Anyway else you need to know just ask

 

[Jim Fox]

I use and have great success with it. Just be prepared that if you do dose too much over time then you'll get a slime built up in your sump. I've used a small net to get it out. Once you get your dose down though you shouldn't have a slime issue.

 

[DraggingTail]

I’ve used Nopox for nearly 3 years and it’s very effective at reducing Nitrate, but won’t make much difference to phosphate levels. I run Rhowaphos along side it to keep phosphate in check as do many of us despite what Red Sea say

Just follow the dosing instructions, maybe start at 50% dose for the first week and then increase to whatever you need until the nitrate starts to drop. Then adjust the dose by say 1ml per week until it all balances out. Once it’s balanced weekly testing is fine and then just adjust as necessary

If you see any white slime or bacterial blooms, just back off a little. You may notice the glass gets a white ‘dust’ and needs cleaning more frequently which is normal. I notice this especially at higher doses

Looks like you have some green hair algae so you may have high phosphate levels (it may be giving a false 0 phosphate test as the algae uses it for food). Nopox may help reduce this in your system, otherwise you may have to look at other methods

And you need to ‘wet skim’ when using Nopox

Anyway else you need to know just ask

So you mean turn my outflow down on my skimmer?

 

[BestMomEver]

I use it. Good stuff.

 

[SPR1968]

So you mean turn my outflow down on my skimmer?

Not sure what your out flow is, but set the skimmer so it produces ‘wet’ skimmate that should look like a weak tea colour as opposed to being thick. Don’t taste it though because it’s definitely not tea! Lol

It may have a green tinge to it as well sometimes depending on your nutrient levels.

 

[User1]

It works, works well. I see above someone said it didn't reduce phosphate for them but for me it removes both. Word of caution you need a skimmer in good working order otherwise do not use the product. Instructions clearly state that a good skimmer is required and skim wet has noted above. That is solid advise. Plenty of threads on the use of NoPOx both good and bad along with carbon dosing in general. If you haven't I'd strongly urge you to do a bit more reading on it to see if it is something that makes sense to you and your use case.

If you go with RedSea then there are instruction included that lay out how much you need to start your initial dose with then daily thereafter. Please test nitrate and phosphate before hand so you know your starting point or baseline. Then calculate your rough total water volume display + sump (if applicable) - rock and substrate. Example I have a 210 gallon tank with 150 lbs of rock, 200 lbs of sand, 16 gallon sump which brought me roughly to 170 gallons of water... Anyway reef type, water volume, instructions, and it will give you a dose amount in mL. I would again suggest you to cut it in half or more for your initial dose.

Test, dose daily, test twice a week until you see it change, then adjust dose by increasing it slightly, repeat. This is a product that can strip everything out of your water with regards to nitrate and phosphate so go slow. So just see if it works for you then calculate dose and go from there. Best of luck.

 

[Js.Aqua.Project]

I've been running NoPox for a little over two years. As @SPR1968 mentioned about, I've found that it does little if anything to help lower PO4, but helps me maintain my NO3 <2ppm with no problem.

 

[redfishbluefish]

Do you have instructions?
How much will this drop 40ppm nitrates on 80 gal system?

You simply follow the instructions that come with NOPOX. The most recent version of instructions are below, but for me are more confusing than the old instructions.

The old directions were clear and simple:

Measured Level (ppm)..............Daily Dose ml/100 L (25 gal)
NO3 above 10 ----------------------------------3
NO3 above 2.5, but less than 10 -------------2
NO3 above 1 but less than 2.5 ----------------1

So "maintenance" dose is once you get nitrates to where you want them, you continue to dose that amount.....1 ml per 25 gallons. Adjust dose as needed to maintain that level of nitrates.

 

[Katrina71]

I wouldn't use it again. Ever.

 

[redfishbluefish]

@Katrina71 , not sure of the issue you had, but your comment did jog my memory that you should start dosing slowly. I'd recommend the 1 ml/25 gallons as a starting point for about a week; then another week or so at 2mls/25 gallons; and finally, the 3 mls/25 gallons. If you see cyano blooms, cut back the dose and wait until it resolves, and then continue.

 

[mta_morrow]

Does it count if you use a DIY version of NOPOX that was determined by a college professor? Based on an NMR of NOPOX, a DIY mix of 500 mls vinegar (5%), 375 mls vodka (80 proof), and 125 mls RO/DI matches the ratios in the product. I'm extremely happy with the results.

I use the same secret sauce recipe and couldn't be happier with the results and simplicity of use.

 

[DraggingTail]

I wouldn't use it again. Ever.

Why?

 

[User1]

Why?

I can't speak for @Katrina71 but there is a chance that you can run your nitrate and phosphate to bingo / 0 rather quickly if you use the initial dose or more and leave it on auto pilot. Every system is different but if you read the instructions they are for a reference based on total water volume and saltwater aquarium type. A guide if you will but one thing they make clear is that you need to test before starting to set the baseline of your system and then dose daily. If you miss a dose DO NOT double dose to make up for it. Test twice a week. Monitor the system visually to see how your tank reacts. Think of it like climbing the empire state building - stair step progression until you reach the top.

There are plenty of threads with regards to dosing NoPox both good and bad but the general consensus across all of them that I found was to start with 1/2 to 1/3 of the initial dose recommended. I'll go so far as to suggest that you dose manually, in a high flow area of your sump, until you are comfortable with how your tank accepts it. I think this is true with any chemical we dose in our systems but that is another subject.

In any case treat it no differently than if you gave a loved one a new medicine. You read, provide the recommended dose, and monitor. Similar concept here although we reduce the initial dose for a week to monitor - which is the connection I'm making.