NO3PO4x is great

[TrogdorFTW]

I just started using this stuff about a month ago.
I wish I didn't need to I've been trying to avoid chemicals but I made the mistake of not properly cureing the rock that came with the tank I bought.
Long story short I went from Nitrates up in the 32ppm range down to >1ppm and the disgusting cyanobacteria outbreak I had is nearly gone.
I just wanted to share for anyone else that used previously live rock without fully realizing the risks and was looking for a solution

PS I'm finally starting to grow some coraline!

 

[ucdcrew]

Sorry...off topic but your name made me LOL. Literally. Trogdor the burnanator.

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[jason2459]

If it makes you feel better you're feeding things like bacteria, corals, anemones, etc just like you feed your fish. Not really dosing harsh chemicals. It's completely natural as its just a form of carbon.

All you're doing is driving up the bacteria populations and in doing so they consume a ratio of some form of carbon which is what's in NOPOX, some form of nitrogen like nitrate, and some form of phosphorus like phosphates and in that order of ratio too C:N: P.

Then you must export that bacteria so they don't release those nutrients back into the water when they die. A skimmer is excellent at this as the bacteria is an organic that attaches itself well to the air/water interface of the bubbles. Also, as bacteria counts grow they consume oxygen so a skimmer is a good way to help oxygenate the water to prevent asphyxiation of your tank inhabitants. So, it is possible to overdose a carbon source but most of the time it shows up as a bacterial bloom which you would see as cloudy water and/or lots of stringy bacteria like snot.

I would read up on carbon dosing if using NOPOX


Vodka dosing
http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2008-08/nftt/

Vinegar dosing
http://reefkeeping.com/joomla/index...ar-dosing-methodology-for-the-marine-aquarium

http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1813810

Combining the two and what's in RedSea NOPOX
http://test.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2408985&page=11


I've been carbon dosing for years and it's excellent at reducing Nitrates and good at maintaining low phosphates. Remember there's a ratio. I haven't had to run GFO in a long time. However, as you get started you'll probably still need to use some other means to reduce phosphates to maintainable levels. GFO is very good at that and compared to some other methods relatively safe.