Switching from NOPX to Vinegar

[Saltine]

Going to be switching from NOPX to vinegar since it's cheaper and does the same thing. All I've read is that I'll have to dose 8x the amount, so instead of 5ml a day 40ml. I'm also going to use a doser instead of manually dosing. Is it best to do it only throughout the time my lights are on? Any specific tips on switching from NOPX to vinegar? Or will nothing change?

Thanks,
Salt

 

[Triggreef]

A closer switch would be a mixture of 1/3 vodka and 2/3 vinegar. there may or may not be other things in red seas mixture but that is pretty close to it.

 

[Saltine]

A closer switch would be a mixture of 1/3 vodka and 2/3 vinegar. there may or may not be other things in red seas mixture but that is pretty close to it.

Thanks do most do a mix of vodka or vinegar? I thought you just did one or the other? I'm not trying to mimic NOPX per say, just want to swap without harming the tank. would it be better to swap to a mixture of vodka/vinegar than just vinegar?

 

[Bunnee911]

Do you use kalkwasser?

 

[Saltine]

Do you use kalkwasser?

Yes

 

[Waterjockey]

Some use a mix with the thought that it will encourage a diversity of bacteria and that will be beneficial. I dosed straight vodka for half a year or so, and switched to straight vinegar about 3 months ago, and noticed no difference. Your mileage may vary

 

[Saltine]

Some use a mix with the thought that it will encourage a diversity of bacteria and that will be beneficial. I dosed straight vodka for half a year or so, and switched to straight vinegar about 3 months ago, and noticed no difference. Your mileage may vary

Thanks did you dose 8x the amount of vinegar that you were dosing of vodka?

Thanks

 

[Waterjockey]

Thanks did you dose 8x the amount of vinegar that you were dosing of vodka?

Thanks

About that. It ended up being slightly less, 6 or 7x...but I made other changes at the same time that may have affected the ratio.

 

[jason2459]

I've had great success with vinegar/vodka mix. To good really and thinking of switching back to just vinegar to see if its the mix or just part of my tank's maturity.

For many years 2010 or so until last year some time I used just vinegar. Nitrates around 2-5 and phosphates around .02-.09. ATS used. No GFO or other phosphate removal system.

Very quickly after switching to a vodka/vinegar mix my nitrates dropped to well under 2.5 and phosphates consistently well under .03.

I had looked to nopox and its ratio of vinegar to vodka but ended up liking another poster's ratio that weighs more towards vinegar.

TMZ's ratio for 1L is 690ml Vinegar to 310ml Vodka
Nopox's ratio for 1L is 590ml Vinegar to 410ml Vodka

post#233
http://web1.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2408985&page=10

 

[Saltine]

I've had great success with vinegar/vodka mix. To good really and thinking of switching back to just vinegar to see if its the mix or just part of my tank's maturity.

For many years 2010 or so until last year some time I used just vinegar. Nitrates around 2-5 and phosphates around .02-.09. ATS used. No GFO or other phosphate removal system.

Very quickly after switching to a vodka/vinegar mix my nitrates dropped to well under 2.5 and phosphates consistently well under .03.

I had looked to nopox and its ratio of vinegar to vodka but ended up liking another poster's ratio that weighs more towards vinegar.

TMZ's ratio for 1L is 690ml Vinegar to 310ml Vodka
Nopox's ratio for 1L is 590ml Vinegar to 410ml Vodka

post#233
http://web1.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2408985&page=10

Thanks!! So just any cheap vodka?

 

[jason2459]

Thanks!! So just any cheap vodka?

I use store brand distilled white vinegar and

Barton's vodka as one brand recommended by TMZ. I can get the 1.75L for just under $10 around me.

 

[sundog101]

Is 8x a good starting point for switching from nopox to a vodka/vinegar mix?

 

[jason2459]

Is 8x a good starting point for switching from nopox to a vodka/vinegar mix?

Nopox is mainly a vodka vinegar mix. Id go with the nopox ratio I posted above and use the same dosage currently used if not slightly less and work up as needed. Then start playing with the ratios if desired.

 

[Saltine]

Thanks again! All i need to do now is get these DIY Dosing containers working right... Ugh....

 

[jason2459]

Thanks again! All i need to do now is get these DIY Dosing containers working right... Ugh....

I mix the two into one of these

and then pour into and dose from an empty vinegar container.

 

[Saltine]

I mix the two into one of these

and then pour into and dose from an empty vinegar container.

Thanks! I was trying to attach a 1/4" RODI Quick disconnect line fitting along with a stiff straw, but having those two meet up in harmony so my doser can pull the liquid up is proving next to impossible. Think I'm in $15 on it and just going to cut my tube at an angle and shove it in the container at this point...

Thanks!

 

[Roberto CRC]

Nopox is mainly a vodka vinegar mix. Id go with the nopox ratio I posted above and use the same dosage currently used if not slightly less and work up as needed. Then start playing with the ratios if desired.

Hi friends, the topic is interesting. I use NOPOX, but I live in Costa Rica and is much more expensive here than in the USA, then the subject interests me only that I have a doubt.

With NOPOX I adit 3ml per day and my No3 hovering around 0.75 and 1 ppm, for Po4 if I had to buy a reactor GFO and managed to keep with this in 0.08ppm.

Almost I have to buy NOPOX, but it is much cheaper to buy vinegar and vodka, but that dose not have to be used to affect my parameters?

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

Hi friends, the topic is interesting. I use NOPOX, but I live in Costa Rica and is much more expensive here than in the USA, then the subject interests me only that I have a doubt.

With NOPOX I adit 3ml per day and my No3 hovering around 0.75 and 1 ppm, for Po4 if I had to buy a reactor GFO and managed to keep with this in 0.08ppm.

Almost I have to buy NOPOX, but it is much cheaper to buy vinegar and vodka, but that dose not have to be used to affect my parameters?

You can get a very similar effect to NOPOX using the DIY recipe of vodka (or other ethanol source) and vinegar. In fact, if you use the right denatured ethanol (which can have methanol and isopropanol in it to make it undrinkable and hence often untaxed) it may be cheaper, and you'll almost exactly match the organic compound ingredients in NOPOX . But lots of folks use a mix of vodka and vinegar. I used vinegar alone for several years.

 

[Roberto CRC]

You can get a very similar effect to NOPOX using the DIY recipe of vodka (or other ethanol source) and vinegar. In fact, if you use the right denatured ethanol (which can have methanol and isopropanol in it to make it undrinkable and hence often untaxed) it may be cheaper, and you'll almost exactly match the organic compound ingredients in NOPOX . But lots of folks use a mix of vodka and vinegar. I used vinegar alone for several years.

Thanks Randy, and the dosage of vinegar you use, it would be the same amount of ml of Nopox?

The same question if incline me to use Vodka or mixture of Vodka/vinegar?

I use 3ml Nopox, how many ml of vodka or vinegar recommend me to use without suffering changes in my No3?

Note: i have no3 0.75 to 1 ppm

 

[Saltine]

You can get a very similar effect to NOPOX using the DIY recipe of vodka (or other ethanol source) and vinegar. In fact, if you use the right denatured ethanol (which can have methanol and isopropanol in it to make it undrinkable and hence often untaxed) it may be cheaper, and you'll almost exactly match the organic compound ingredients in NOPOX . But lots of folks use a mix of vodka and vinegar. I used vinegar alone for several years.

Would this work?
http://www.homedepot.com/p/Klean-Strip-1-qt-Green-Denatured-Alcohol-QKGA75003/202249513

Thanks!