Using NoPx on a FOWLR

[reefandreptileautomation]

Hello All

I have a 300 gallon FOWLR tank and my nutrients are a bit out of control (Nitrates = 50-70PPM, Phosphates = .30-.40). I was hoping I could start using NoPx to get these down to a manageable level and then use my Algae scrubber to maintain these levels or end up dosing Red Sea NoPx along side it or something else.

My question is I am very fearful to overdose this. I have been using it for 3 days now using the recommended 3ML per 25G. With my tank its about 36ML. Will this do the trick to bring them down to a manageable level or should I be more aggressive in the dosing? When should I expect these numbers to come down? I will also be doing a water change this weekend as well to hopefully assist in this as well. So far I have not seen any reduction yet. I assume it takes a while to work.

 

[Tastee]

All the advice I have seen, and the advice I followed when I dosed this was to underdose by 50% or more. Gradual changes are better. You may be able to get away with a more aggressive approach in a FOWLR system than a reef one, but even there you could generate conditions where diatoms bloom.

In my reef tank I found NoPoX started reducing NO3 fairly quickly (a week or so) but PO4 took a few weeks. This is consistent with other posts I have read.

 

[Dan_P]

Hello All

I have a 300 gallon FOWLR tank and my nutrients are a bit out of control (Nitrates = 50-70PPM, Phosphates = .30-.40). I was hoping I could start using NoPx to get these down to a manageable level and then use my Algae scrubber to maintain these levels or end up dosing Red Sea NoPx along side it or something else.

My question is I am very fearful to overdose this. I have been using it for 3 days now using the recommended 3ML per 25G. With my tank its about 36ML. Will this do the trick to bring them down to a manageable level or should I be more aggressive in the dosing? When should I expect these numbers to come down? I will also be doing a water change this weekend as well to hopefully assist in this as well. So far I have not seen any reduction yet. I assume it takes a while to work.

Yes, carbon dosing can bring down nitrates, but keep track of the PO4 level. Don’t let them zero out. Bacteria need PO4 too. You might need to dose PO4 to keep the nitrate consuming bacteria growing well.

Overdosing can create a cloudy tank or surfaces covered in slime, both clear when dosing level is reduced.

Nitrate reduction can take weeks to months, depending on how fast you raise the dose and how much other preferred nitrogen the bacteria will use first before starting on nitrates. No way to know this. You’ll have to proceed at a pace consistent with your risk tolerance. When you hit that point, nitrates will start dropping quickly.

Any idea why your alga scrubber is not keeping nitrates in check?

 

[reefandreptileautomation]

I am not sure why the ATS has not done much yet. Been running for about 2 months. I think it is because the nutrients are just so high it cant keep up. I am not entirely sure. The ATS just produces slime algae currently.

 

[Dan_P]

I am not sure why the ATS has not done much yet. Been running for about 2 months. I think it is because the nutrients are just so high it cant keep up. I am not entirely sure. The ATS just produces slime algae currently.

Just wondering out loud whether the slime alga growth (probably cyanobacteria mats) is a result of elevated organic matter in the system.

More wondering, what light is being used in the ATS? If it is the wrong kind, weak alga growth can encourage cyanobacteria growth.

 

[tehmadreefer]

Why if it is a fowlr? Elevated nutrients don't hurt fish and you can certainly make big changes in nutrients since you don't have any corals.... my fowlr systems always had high nutrients but no algae and I kept a 3ft eel, coral cat shark, porc puffer, butterflies, etc.


You don't need pristine water for fish.

 

[ZoWhat]

According to Randy Holmes Farley...

NoPox is nothing more than vinegar:to:vodka in a 2:1 ratio

Vinegar 5% acidity
Vodka 80 proof (40% ethanol)

 

[Ebslinger]

Start the algae scrubber and stop nopox...

Also, increase your water change interval!

If you do this, all will be okay.

 

[leepink23]

Any pictures of your algae scrubber? What’s the screen size? What type of lights and how long are you running them?

 

[redfishbluefish]

Agree that typically with a reef tank you slowly ramp up....1 ml/25 gallons for a week, then 2 mls/25 gallons for a second week, and finally 3 mls/25 gallons after the third week. But that said, if you don't notice a bacterial bloom or cyano bloom, you might just be OK. If you do end up with one of these blooms, just cut back.

Since you're at a pretty high dose, if funds are tight, you might wish to go with the DIY version, which is considerably less expensive. Mix 500 mls vinegar (5%), 375 mls vodka (80 proof), and 125 mls RO/DI matches the ratios exactly. Dose as you would the regular NOPOX.

 

[RJinPV]

NoPox does not work without a skimmer. You should run the skimmer fairly wet to get it to be effective. Also, I've always used the dosage recommended by Red Sea but it does bring things down pretty fast, in my tank at least.

Is your sand bed a huge nitrate source possibly? Have one? Have you cleaned it?

 

[reefandreptileautomation]

Yes I clean the sand bed monthly. As for the other questions and concerns. The ATS is not working properly because the nutrients are so high. I get a dark green slimy film on the screen. I have spoke to the maker of the ATS and many other ATS manufactures and they have informed me since I have such a high nutrient load I should bring them down before the ATS really starts working properly. This is what I am doing now. I have a CW-300 Clearwater Scrubber. i am running the lights for 18 hours right now. I am trying to lower nutrients so I can eliminate the algae build up in the tank. The fish are super happy so that is not the reasoning for the need for the nutrient drop.