vinegar vs nopox

[reef4life!!!]

Hi,so my nitrates climbed up to almost 25 and i want to keep them around 10.I've read that nopox is very good but might lead to some problems especially with cyano.Vinegar in the other hand seems to be more efficient as it rarely showed up cyano problems. I am aware that these 2 product if not used correctly can lead to destruction in the tank( oxygen problem,bottom out nitrates etc).So what's your opinion and experiense about this? Should i go with nopox or use vinegar(or any other carbon method such as vodka and sugar). Is it possible that vinegar can mess up my parameters and my tank's health?

 

[Spare time]

I think any carbon dosing liquid can fuel cyano. That doesn't mean it will, but lots of things can use the carbon. This is why inprefer biopellets. However, it shouldn't take much action to lower 15ppm. Do you have a sump? If so, does it have a skimmer (this is needed for carbon dosing) and does it have room for macroalgae?

 

[reef4life!!!]

I think any carbon dosing liquid can fuel cyano. That doesn't mean it will, but lots of things can use the carbon. This is why inprefer biopellets. However, it shouldn't take much action to lower 15ppm. Do you have a sump? If so, does it have a skimmer (this is needed for carbon dosing) and does it have room for macroalgae?

No sump, only skimmer and canister filter. I wish I could make a refugium but I can't.. Thats why I want to try carbon dosing.. Also it's 25ppm not 15

 

[Spare time]

No sump, only skimmer and canister filter. I wish I could make a refugium but I can't.. Thats why I want to try carbon dosing.. Also it's 25ppm not 15

I meant lower by 15ppm, my apologies i am bad at wording things. I think either of the dosing methods will work. You can also try some bacteria cocktails too, like pns probio and waste away.

 

[reef4life!!!]

I meant lower by 15ppm, my apologies i am bad at wording things. I think either of the dosing methods will work. You can also try some bacteria cocktails too, like pns probio and waste away.

15ppm its not a lot to lower i agree but i want 1-2 more fished so my nitrates will definetely go higher than 25ppm...I have a lot of detritus build up too so i was also thinking about dosing microbacter 7 and microbacter clean together and get another small wavemaker for that dead spot.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

I got more cyano from vodka (a component in NOPOX) than from vinegar (which is also in NOPOX).

IMO, vinegar is the best option all around option for organic carbon dosing. I'm not a fan of sugar. it browned corals when I tried it.

 

[reef4life!!!]

I got more cyano from vodka (a component in NOPOX) than from vinegar (which is also in NOPOX).

IMO, vinegar is the best option all around option for organic carbon dosing. I'm not a fan of sugar. it browned corals when I tried it.

yeah i actually read a post or an asnwer you gave and you said you had better succes with vinegar.That'y why i want to maybe try vinegar because the others have more chances to bring problems.Of course every tank is different...

 

[Kenneth Wingerter]

I got more cyano from vodka (a component in NOPOX) than from vinegar (which is also in NOPOX).

IMO, vinegar is the best option all around option for organic carbon dosing. I'm not a fan of sugar. it browned corals when I tried it.

I concur. Acetate is not an especially favored source of organic carbon by cyanobacteria. Many cannot even utilize it, at least as a sole source, and the few that can require Acetyl-CoA. In point of fact, acetate is an end-product of cyanobacterial metabolism (fermentative, generally from eating stuff like overdosed amino acids haha). Actually, I understand that acetate inhibits the growth of many cyanobacteria.

 

[Meo]

I got more cyano from vodka (a component in NOPOX) than from vinegar (which is also in NOPOX).

IMO, vinegar is the best option all around option for organic carbon dosing. I'm not a fan of sugar. it browned corals when I tried it.

So, you prefer dose only acetic acid ( 6-10% in vinegar) as carbon source?

I'm using the "TMZ" recipe, that has more vinegar than vodka respect the original NoPox recipe:

1000 ml total solution

575 ml vinegar (6%)

131 ml 95% food grade ethyl alcohol

295 ml water

but, is true I've always some red cyanobacteria areas on sand or rocks.
I'm using too a little bit of ozone (25mg/h for 10min every hour, only during the day) , that I think could improve the cyano grow.