I solved my NO3/PO4 issues in 7 days!

[xenon]

I've been struggling with keeping my phosphates bellow 0.06 and nitrates under 10 ever since I setup my system 8 months ago.

I keep hearing good things about Red Sea NO3O4-X so I decided to give it a try. From my understanding its a complex mix of carbons like vodka, sugar and vinegar. They don't tell you exactly whats in the bottle but they do say that it contains methanol. I also smell vinegar but the rest is a mystery.

I never dose anything to my tank other than cal/alk/mag/potassium/iodine and food so I was pretty sceptical about trying this.

My results speak for themselves.

Test kits used:
NO3 Salifert (brand new)
PO4 Hanna HI 713 Low Range

Day 1:
NO3: 10
PO4: 0.06
Dose: 12ml (Stated NO3O4-X @ the recommended 2ml/25gallon per day)

Day 2:
NO3: 4
PO4: 0.02
Dose: 6ml (I cut back by 50% because I was shocked how fast it was working)

Day 3:
NO3: 4
PO4: 0.01
Dose: 8ml (increased by 2ml to get my nitrates lower)

Day 4:
NO3: 4
PO4: 0.00
Dose: 12ml (no longer scared to dose the recommended amount)

Day 5:
NO3: 2.5
PO4: 0.00
Dose: 12ml

Day 6:
NO3: 1
PO4: 0.00
Dose: 6ml (I am getting close to my goal so I reduced by 50% to try and maintain)

Day 7:
NO3: 0
PO4: 0.00
Dose: 3ml (cut my dose by 50% again to see if its enough to maintain)

Never once did my corals SNT/RTN. The only side effects I noticed was better coloration and polyp extension.

I am so pleased that I ordered two bottles of Red Sea Reef Energy A/B to compliment NO3O4-X.

 

[toothman]

Great story, now you can start feeding a good bit more and watch your reef grow.

 

[xenon]

Great story, now you can start feeding a good bit more and watch your reef grow.

Actually, I already feed quite a bit daily.

2 tsp Rotti-feast
2 tsp Oyster-feast
1 cube frozen food
20 square inches of noori

 

[swanny]

I agree totally. This stuff got rid of all my cyano and 99% of my algae in just a few weeks. My tank is really hitting a good stride finally.

 

[smalltime]

Glad it worked for you. My friend had great results also with this product

 

[glaukos]

it's a very good product!
it had great results for me also!
helped me deal with hair algea and some cyano.

but please be carefull with the doses!
overdosing might create bigger problems!

 

[CharlieBB]

Is it advisable to dose this product or any style of Vodka/vinegar carbon Dosing alongside ROWA Phos/ Rowa Carbon? With a few ZEOvit products?
Really good work with it though, I'm sure you're very happy!

 

[Acronic]

This product seems to be getting alot of good buzz. I wish I knew about it last year. I would have given it a shot.

 

[xenon]

Is it advisable to dose this product or any style of Vodka/vinegar carbon Dosing alongside ROWA Phos/ Rowa Carbon? With a few ZEOvit products?
Really good work with it though, I'm sure you're very happy!

I was running GFO while dosing this stuff but unplugged my reactor when my phosphates hit 0.01.

I havent plugged it back in since and it seems GFO is completely useless now that I am dosing NO3O4-X.

 

[trueblackpercula]

Con-Grats I dose vodka and I am also having great results.

 

[xenon]

I just wanted to update this thread because a friend of mine was asking how I liked nopox.

Long term use caused my SPS corals to STN. When I stopped dosing nopox, it would stop and when I started again, STN would also so I stopped using it.

There is no doubt that nopox is effective at reducing NO3/PO4 but its not a long term solution. My guess would be the methanol causing my issues.

I have since switched to Fauna Marin Bak for carbon dosing.

 

[MarcWeaver]

That echoes my experience - long term usage seems to stunt coral growth and cause STN. It worked great at reducing nitrates and phosphates initially, but it seems like I can never hit that sweet spot between brown and pale/STNing coral. I've tried feeding more when nutrient poor, slowly reducing/increasing dosing based on nitrate levels, etc. The only thing that restarts coral growth is to stop or drastically reduce dosing. I am overstocked in my 220 gallon, I believe, with 25 fish (including a very large blonde naso, hippo tang, yellow tang, and 2 foxface rabbitfish. If I stop dosing nitrates rise very quickly and SPS turns green/brown within a few weeks. I'm getting ready to tear this tank down and start a new one in my basement, though, which will not be overstocked and hopefully will not require carbon dosing at all.

 

[xenon]

The key word is balance.

You don't want to have too many fish and if you do have a high bioload, you need oversized equipment to compensate for it.

I fell like I have found my sweet spot and it makes everything so much easier.