NOPOX and highish alkalinity

[Half Vaped]

In my 150 G, I dose 5 ml NOPOX, 25 ml BRS Magnesium mix, 170 ml BRS Calcium Chloride and 130 ml BRS Soda Ash daily. This keeps PO4 around 0.1 ppm, NO3 around 0.5 ppm, Mg around 1450 ppm, Ca around 430 ppm and Alk between about 9.6 to 10.4. Alkalinity bounces around a bit, but the other parameters tend to hold up fairly well.

I understand that many recommend keeping Alkalinity around 8, 9 the highest, when dosing carbon. I also read that BRS two-part is supposed to be dosed in equal amounts.

Do I need to change my dosing? My SPS are doing okay, but some are browned out, but grow fast. Other SPS have decent color, but grow slowly. My LPS, Maxima clam and softies are mostly doing great.

Will there be any benefit if I lower my Alk to 8 or 9? Am I harming anything by dosing the two parts (Ca and Alk) unequally?

 

[bertoni]

Dosing in equal amounts generally will work well, but things like water changes and concentration inaccuracies can shift the dosage a bit. Personally, I think most of those numbers are fine. The high phosphate level and the bit of nitrate might be encouraging some browning. I would leave the alkalinity alone, but dropping it a bit should be fine. Changing it by a dKH or so should not affect coloration, if the kit is accurate.

 

[Half Vaped]

Thanks. I arbitrarily decided to shoot for 430 Ca and 10 Alk when I set up my tank early last year, which was before I started dosing NOPOX.

I started off with Reef Fusion two part and switched to BRS this past February. I try to follow the instructions to the letter and it seems like my dosages stay pretty consistent (I mix the two parts about monthly). It took about three months to dial in the doses, but I've been on the same levels on the BRS for the last two months and the parameters have held up.

I found that if I dose the two parts equally, either my Ca would plummet or the Alk would shoot up. 170/130 worked out to keep my levels at 430/10.

I started on NOPOX November of last year when my NO3 was around 30 ppm and PO4 around 1 ppm. I settled on 20 ml and didn't want to go any higher. At first, I tested NO3 weekly and found it holding at around 4 ppm for like two months so I got lazy and stopped testing.

Next time I test I had 0 ppm NO3 and 0.2 ppm PO4. I started reading about the Redfield ratio, so I dial back the dose to 10 ml, then down to 5 ml for the past two or three weeks. I'm trying to get my NO3 to hold at 1 ppm, which I think would help to get my PO4 lower. I may still be leaching PO4 from the rocks, so I expect it to take a few months to get my PO4 to hold below 0.05.

I just recently started reading that people recommend keeping Alk around 8 when dosing carbon. But I guess if it's not broke don't fix it. Do you think my corals' colors will improve once I get PO4 levels down?

 

[Half Vaped]

Also, do you think I'm on the right path of lowering the NOPOX to decrease PO4 by increasing NO3?

Do you think I should look into dosing trace elements to improve color? I've never tested for trace elements since I assume my fortnightly water changes keep them in check. I use Red Sea Pro Salt, which I believe includes ample trace elements.

Thanks for your help.

 

[bertoni]

Sorry, I've been out sick for a bit here.

The coral coloration might improve with some nutrient reduction. We don't have the tools to know exactly what's happening in our tanks, and coral coloration is a tricky topic. Personally, I'd get the nutrient levels down and just work from there.

Cutting back on the NOPOX would tend to increase the phosphate and the nitrate levels, since the bacteria likely are consuming both to survive, but tanks can be unpredictable. You might end up needing to use some GFO (or dose nitrate) to get the phosphate level down.

 

[tmz]

Hope you are feeling well Jon.;' was out of touch on and off for a bit myself over the last few weeks.

 

[tmz]

Also, do you think I'm on the right path of lowering the NOPOX to decrease PO4 by increasing NO3?

Do you think I should look into dosing trace elements to improve color? I've never tested for trace elements since I assume my fortnightly water changes keep them in check. I use Red Sea Pro Salt, which I believe includes ample trace elements.

Thanks for your help.

I think reducing the NoPox dose will reduce the bacteria in play and they use phosphate too. I'd try a small amount of sodium nitrate to address a nitrogen defficieny if there is one. Say a quarter tsp for the 150 gallons once a week or so.