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Cultivated Reef

Red Sea NO3:PO4-X Biological Nitrate & Phosphate Reducer


Jonny123

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Hello,

I have a relatively high nitrate level in my tank. I am currently using sechem deniterate, poly filters that are supposed to reduce nitrates, and I am also growing chato as well; Nevertheless, my nitrate problem is still is present. I am getting a test result of 50-60 ppm. I am wondering if this red sea product is worth it.

 

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Hello,

I have a relatively high nitrate level in my tank. I am currently using sechem deniterate, poly filters that are supposed to reduce nitrates, and I am also growing chato as well; Nevertheless, my nitrate problem is still is present. I am getting a test result of 50-60 ppm. I am wondering if this red sea product is worth it.

 

 

Few things to check/ask since I recently went through this.

 

  • How old is your tank?
  • How deep is the sand bed and do you clean it thoroughly?
  • What are you Phos levels at?
  • How many fish and how often do you feed?
  • Do you feed your corals?
  • Do you use filter floss and if so do you change it twice a week?

 

I used/use NoPoX and it works well. Start slow and remember to dose daily for the full week. Also, make sure you keep your skimmer cup emptied aas NoPoX will keep it filled with debree.

 

FYI it is my opinion and many others that Nitrates and Phosphates are good for your corals at certain lower levels. I try to keep Nitrates under 10 ppm for instance in both my mixed reef with SPS and my zoa garden.

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Hi. Thanks for the quick response. Here are the answers to your questions: (Note: I have a Biocube 29g)

 

1. The tank is approx 9 months old

2. The sand bed is about 1/2" deep. I do vac the sandbed from time to time and have a sand sifting goby which stirs it up too

3. Haven't measured Phosphates. I previously had a bit of an algae problem (since resolved) so I imagine I had a fair amount present

4. I have 3 fish. (clown, flasher and goby) all under 2". I also have a cleaner shrimp + CUC of about 6-7 snails & 5 herrmit crabs

5. I only have a few softies in the tank. (hammerhead, zenia, frogspawn, zoa) and I don't manually feed them anything.

6. My filtration system is comprised of the following:

Chamber 1: Chaetomorph with small led light on

Champber 2. Intank media stand - filterfloss, seachem de-nitrate, chemipure elite; Eshoppes nano skimmer

Chamber 3: sponge between C2&C3

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What test kit are you using?

 

NOPOX is just a carbon source, vinegar or vodka will work as well. NOPOX is generally a mix of vinegar, vodka, and some kind of alcohol. I used it , it works, but you need to go slow and understand how it works. You need a skimmer, which you have, in order for it to work well.

 

With 3 fish in 29 gallons I would first double check the NO3 reading. A big water change will cut it down easily. I prefer the Salifert Nitrate test kit.

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I just did a 17% water change just a few minutes ago, I'm gonna let the tank run for a bit, and then do a nitrate test with my Salifert test kit.

 

I've read some reviews on the Red Sea NOPOX they seem to be mostly positive.

 

I don't understand at this point what measurements to use, although I have been told that you dose daily, and that you increase gradually as you go.

 

If anyone has instructions I would like to read.

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How often do you do water changes? Weekly? I did weekly 5g changes in my 40g AOI for a few months and it didn't put a dent into the NO3 until we did a deep sand bed clean, removed a good bit of the sand which was dormant, 25% change, added phosgaurd, new chemipure blue recently added purigen. I am going overkill now, but that is to really clean up the water after what was a major cleaning.

 

Frankly, I believe it was the NoPoX weekly regime over a month (2 weeks on 2 off alternating) that brought them both in check. For my tank I was doing 2ml a day and not noticing a difference. I went to 5 ml (the recommended, check the instructions that came with it) a day for a week and that made a big difference.

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How often do you do water changes? Weekly? I did weekly 5g changes in my 40g AOI for a few months and it didn't put a dent into the NO3 until we did a deep sand bed clean, removed a good bit of the sand which was dormant, 25% change, added phosgaurd, new chemipure blue recently added purigen. I am going overkill now, but that is to really clean up the water after what was a major cleaning.

 

Frankly, I believe it was the NoPoX weekly regime over a month (2 weeks on 2 off alternating) that brought them both in check. For my tank I was doing 2ml a day and not noticing a difference. I went to 5 ml (the recommended, check the instructions that came with it) a day for a week and that made a big difference.

Do you run a skimmer?

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I have been doing weekly water changes. Most of them were 10% (3 gallon).

 

I just added Chemipure elite to the second chamber a week ago.

 

Yes I have a Eshoppes nano skimmer

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