Switching from NoPox to ....?

Cocugreek5 · Apr 12, 2017

Struggling with Cyanobacteria. I completed my 14 days of peroxide and have stopped dosing acropower and other sources of nutrients that caused the imbalance in the first place. Nitrates and Phosphates are undetectable using RedSea nitrate pro and Hanna Phosphate checker. I'm trying to get nitrates up to 1ppm slowly. There is less cyano but not gone. I'm down to 1ml of NoPox in my net 100 gallon system. Now I would like to change my carbon source from NoPox to something else but not sure whether vodka, vinegar or something else would be the best choice. This would happen slowly over the next week or two. I'm just not sure how to do it. My maintenance dose of NoPox before the peroxide treatment was 2ml per day and the nitrates were undetectable.

System runs on gfo and heavy skimming. Thanks everyone!

GoVols · Apr 12, 2017

tagging.

NeverlosT · Apr 12, 2017

If you wanted a lower maintenance solution to carbon dosing you could run a small quantity of biopellets in a reactor. Just dont overdo it!

Otherwise if you want to keep carbon dosing it is just going to mean dosing some other liquid or solid instead of the NOPOX, and there are several options there:
Vodka
Vinegar
Ascorbic Acid
etc.

Cocugreek5 · Apr 12, 2017

Yes I do want to continue carbon dosing but want to starve out the cyano by switching up the carbon source. I guess my main issue is what is in NoPox? It smells like nail polish so I'm trying to figure out which carbon source is least like NoPox and be most successful in starving out the cyano which loves NoPox?

Another reactor is out of the question for me but a good suggestion!

Cocugreek5 · Apr 12, 2017

Also when I do change up carbon sources, would the volumes stay the same? I'm intrigued by ascorbic acid. Any good info on that?

dragon99 · Apr 12, 2017

Nopox's ratio for 1L is 590ml Vinegar to 410ml Vodka

I'd suggest switching to straight vinegar.

Cocugreek5 · Apr 12, 2017

I was leaning that way. Thank you for those ratios!

I'd love to hear from anyone who changed carbon sources and their experience/suggestions!

Randy Holmes-Farley · Apr 12, 2017

NOPOX is a mix of acetic acid (vinegar), ethanol (vodka), and some low levels of other compounds which may be present primarily as denaturing agents for the ethanol.

A DIY version of NOPOX can reasonably be: Mix one part vinegar to one half part vodka and one half part water. If you want to get even closer, add a little more vodka and a little less water.

That said, I know you are trying to avoid these ingredients. I'd personally try vinegar alone, since some folks get less cyano from it than vodka. I got more cyano from vodka alone than vinegar alone.

Cocugreek5 · Apr 12, 2017

Very cool Randy! How would you go about switching over if I was at 2ml of NoPox a day for 100 gal and my nitrates are at about 1ppm right now? Do I just do 1ml per day of straight vinegar?

Thanks again for everyone's help!

Randy Holmes-Farley · Apr 12, 2017

Cocugreek5 said:
Very cool Randy! How would you go about switching over if I was at 2ml of NoPox a day for 100 gal and my nitrates are at about 1ppm right now? Do I just do 1ml per day of straight vinegar?

Thanks again for everyone's help!

I'd start with 1-2 mL vinegar and adjust from there as needed.

Cocugreek5 · Apr 12, 2017

Excellent! Thanks again everyone!

Scott.h · Apr 12, 2017

So my .2 cents.. after 14 days of peroxide maybe it isnt cyano? Have you confirmed witha microscope?

If you are struggling with having detectable levels, and only carbon dosing 2ml a day, Personally I would not be carbon dosing anything and see where those levels fall. You may back off on the gfo also so it doesn't create an imbalance

Cocugreek5 · Apr 12, 2017

Good points Scott! I'm toying with not dosing at all. I'm trying to avoid too many changes.
No I have not used a microscope but according to the peroxide test the water is still turning red. I believe I either under dosed the peroxide but also I did not discontinue the NOPox. I just don't want to put the tank through another 14 days. I lost no life but the sps were starting to get "upset". I believe I know how I got into this mess (too many nutrients going in) and now I have "somewhat" a foothold on things. I do like the idea of stopping carbon dosing for a bit but not sure about stopping GFO at the same time.

JamesP · Apr 12, 2017

Im using 6 cups vodka to 10 cups vinegar to make a gallon. I use Bartons charcoal filtered vodka. They look at me like its nasty and I say, its for my fish. Then I get the funny look. Im also adding Microbacter7 with a doser to try and avoid a monoculture, but it actually helps avoid cyano for some reason. You can get MB7 in 2L containers for $50 online.

Cocugreek5 · Apr 12, 2017

Thanks for your input James. I'm just afraid that the vodka/vinegar mix is too much like NOpox and continue to feed the cyano that is currently present. Do you think the Microbacter7 would replace what I have now and starve the cyano? Gotta love the hobby! Always good for thought.

I love going to Home Depot and buy for my fish hobby for those same reactions!!

Oliver d · Apr 12, 2017

I use home made No Pox in a ratio of 200ml vodka to 50ml vineger + half a tablespoon of sugar and I dont have or have until now seen any Cyno in my tank.

JamesP · Apr 12, 2017

This is a good read on the vodka/vinegar w/ mb7 and where I got the idea.

http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1965866

Cocugreek5 · Apr 12, 2017

Great! Thanks for the link!

JamesP · Apr 12, 2017

Looking at something like zeovit, they have the carbon source but they also dose a form of bacteria. This is really just trying to do the same but as cheap as possible. A gallon of vinegar costs like $2 and MB7 is the cheapest bacteria source I can find. And unlike zeovit, I know what im putting in. I was running zeolites from brightwell, but im going to try without them and see if it makes a difference. And im using acropower as my aminos. Cheap and doesnt have to be refrigerated making it great for doser pump. This is my poor mans zeovit.

Cocugreek5 · Apr 12, 2017

James your method is where I may be going down the line. I have no sump (long story) on a 125 so I have no room for all the zeovit reactor(s). I'm going to take it slow now and see where my tank stabilizes. She's old and has been running for a little over 10 years. Great input everyone! I have a lot to think about!