Just started using red sea reef care program and need some help...

cakesby · 03/17/2012, 07:10 PM

Hi I have just started using the reef care program. I have a rsm 130. I have some algae I think??? on my sand bed and on my rocks. I have been using nopox for 11 days now (previously using vodka). I am currently dosing 1ml of nopox. I am concerned that dosing reef energy a and b will make this problem worse... I was dosing 1 ml each a day but I have stopped because I am nervous. I have a coral that is receding from the bottom and I am worried it isn't getting enough nutrients.

I have attached photos. The algae??? gets thinner when the lights are out and worse at the end of the day. I run my (red sea globes) lights for 10 hours a day.

I use red sea foundation and algae control test kits and the numbers are...

kh - 4.3 (dosing foundation b )
mag - 1520 ( is this too high)
calcium - 440

nitrate - 1
phosphate - 0.04 - 0.08

RedSea Aviad · 03/19/2012, 07:45 PM

Hi,
There are enough nutrients, reducing them would reduce the algae.
I don’t think there is any connection between the NOPOX and nutrients to the coral receding from the bottom.
Please attach a photo of the coral.

Up the NOPOX dose to 2ml a day for a week and monitor NO3 and PO4 at the end of the week.
Adjust the dose until you get to 0.25ppm NO3 and 0.03ppm PO4.
*the dose can be as high as 3-3.5ml\day.

Start supplementing Reef Energy A and B (each) 3-4ml a day.
Reduce lighting time to 7-8h a day.
Keep me posted!

Please consider watching this PDF about the RCP:
http://www.redseafish.com/uploadimag...A2011%204W.pdf

and these short videos about the RCP:
http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/sh....php?t=2078858

Have a great week,
Aviad

cakesby · 03/19/2012, 08:57 PM

Thanks aviad for responding,

I will increase my dose of no pox to 2mls. Is this to get rid of the algae?

I would like to follow the instructions for coral growth. Was your plan to reduce my nitrate and phosphate levels to get rid of the algae then increase them back to the growth numbers?

I enjoyed the videos thank you.

The coral that is receding is the first photo I attached but the photo is sideways

sorry about that...

I have decreased my lighting and will increase my reef energy.

Thanks for your help,

cakesby

RedSea Aviad · 03/19/2012, 09:48 PM

Hi Cakesby ,
Your welcome and keep me posted with your progress.

All the best,
Aviad

cakesby · 03/25/2012, 04:09 PM

Hi aviad,

It has been a week now and I have been adding 2 mls of nopox daily and 2 mls each of reef energy. My new test results are

Nitrate 0.75
Phosphate 0.08

I increased my nopox dose to 2.5 mls today and was going to increase it again tomorrow to 3 mls.

What do you think?

Another question if you don't mind...... Over the past week I have been adding 3mls daily of foundation b and this morning my tests Said my kh was 3.4 is this a concern??? Magnesium stayed high at 520 and my calcium dropped a little to 410 I didn't add any mag or calcium just a 10% water change with red sea salt

Thanks
Cakesby

cakesby · 03/25/2012, 04:12 PM

Hi aviad,

It has been a week now and I have been adding 2 mls of nopox daily and 2 mls each of reef energy. My new test results are

Nitrate 0.75
Phosphate 0.08

I increased my nopox dose to 2.5 mls today and was going to increase it again tomorrow to 3 mls.

What do you think?

Another question if you don't mind...... Over the past week I have been adding 3mls daily of foundation b and this morning my tests Said my kh was 3.4 is this a concern??? Magnesium stayed high at 520 and my calcium dropped a little to 410 I didn't add any mag or calcium just a 10% water change with red sea salt

Thanks
Cakesby

RedSea Aviad · 03/26/2012, 03:59 PM

Hello Cakesby ,
Let the system adjust to the new NOPOX dose(2.5ml/day) at least for 4-7 days.
Which KH test do you use?
Are you sure you’re not testing in mEq?
Look at the units of the test.
Is the Mg 520 or 1520?
What are your goal parameters?

Have a great week,
Aviad

cakesby · 03/26/2012, 04:41 PM

Hi aviad I am using the red sea foundation test kit. Sorry I did mean 1520 for mg.

For the kh it is meq/l I am trying to follow red seas guidelines for growth so I added 25 mls of foundation b yesterday from reading the chart on bottle. I tested kh again this morning and got a result of 4 meq and added another 8 mls of foundation b. I was thinking of testing kh again tomorrow to try and get a daily dose.

I forgot to mention i have reduced my light hours to 8 hours as suggested and am now putting 3 mls each of energy

Regards
Cakesby

RedSea Aviad · 03/26/2012, 05:43 PM

Allow me to summarize, MAX130 aim for Growth:
Alk- 3.4mEq. (bring up and keep at 4mEq for now)
Ca- 410 ppm. (bring up and keep at 450ppm for now)
Mg- 1520 ppm. (let it drop)

NOPOX- 2.5 ml. (stay with it for a week and test NO3 and PO4 again)

NO3- 0.75 ppm. (you need to bring up to 1ppm after the algae are gone)
PO4- 0.08 ppm. (you need to bring up to 0.5ppm after the algae are gone)

Energy- 2 ml each. (stay with this dose for the week)

In order to calculate the daily dose, always test the same time a day.
2 important notes:
The Ca titration ends when the blue is permanent and won’t shift to purple after mixing for 10sec.
The Mg titration ends when the first blue appears, it would return to purple after 5-10 sec. but don’t continue beyond that point.

Good luck,
Aviad

cakesby · 03/26/2012, 11:26 PM

Thanks aviad that is great will keep going and let you know how I go in a week.

I really appreciate you help with this.

Cakesby

RedSea Aviad · 03/27/2012, 01:08 PM

My pleasure my friend.

cakesby · 04/01/2012, 11:31 PM

Hi Aviad,

Here is my weekly update....

Everything is going really well algae is reducing not much left on the sand bed. A little on the rocks.

Tests today were

nitrate 0
phosphate 0.02 (possibly 0)

I have been dosing

2.5mls nopox daily
2 mls each of energy daily

Should i stay at 2.5mls for nopox until algae is completley gone or reduce?

I am amazed at these results thank you avaid for your help and guidance.

RedSea Aviad · 04/04/2012, 12:16 AM

Great to hear, Cakesby!
Now is the critical time.
Up the Energy A+B to 4ml Each a day.
Cut the NOPOX dose to 2ml.
Test every 3-4 days and push the PO4 to 0 ppm.
A few days with NO3 and PO4 at 0ppm, and the algae gone, cut the NOPOX dose to 1ml a day and test both NO3 and PO4 weekly until they get to the right levels.
Once you’re at 1ppm NO3 and 0.05ppm of PO4 cut the Energy dose to 2ml a day each.
I made a typo in my previous pots, with PO4 at 0.5, one 0 slipped out, it should be 0.05ppm PO4.

All the best,
Aviad

cakesby · 04/04/2012, 03:51 AM

thanks Avaid,

I will definitely will start the adjustments and let you know how I go.

Cakesby

RedSea Aviad · 04/04/2012, 04:45 PM

Looking forward to seeing your results!!
Good luck,
Aviad

cakesby · 04/06/2012, 01:15 AM

Quick Question does energy increase nitrates and phosphates? If my nitrates or phosphates rise in the next few days do I increase nopox or reduce energy?

Thanks
Cakesby

cakesby · 04/18/2012, 11:00 PM

Hi Aviad,

I have an update......

I have been testing every 4 days as you suggested and my nitrate levels are 0 but my phosphate is back up to 0.08

because you have been away I have adjusted my dosing to get the phosphates down.

I tried 2mls of nopox and 4mls each or energy (no change)
then 2mls of nopox and 3 mls each of energy (still no change)
yesterday I started dosing 2.5mls nopox and 2mls each or energy.

I have one bit of information that may help.... A few days before I got the first phosphate reading of 0.08 my husband removed a bag of phosguard which I forgot I had in the back of my tank..... I havent put it back in yet.

Can I run phosguard and nopox at the same time?

What would you recommend I now dose of nopox and energy to get phosphates to 0?

Thanks
Aviad

RedSea Aviad · 04/18/2012, 11:27 PM

Hello,
My apologies for the late response, I was on the roads in the last few week.

If your NO3 levels are at 0ppm, you need to add 5ml of each Reef Energy.
Why did your PO4 spiked?(frozen\homemade food again

)
How’s the algae situation?

All the best,
Aviad

cakesby · 04/19/2012, 12:34 AM

Hi Aviad,

Definitley no frozen food! feeding the same amount. The only change was taking out the phosguard. Can I use phosguard and nopox??

The algae on the sand has gone just a little left on some rocks and I noticed alot growing on my magfloat although it is green and flat not fuzzy like the rocks.

Before my phosphate went up I was on 2mls of nopox should I go back to that dose or syat at 2.5mls until it comes back down?

Thankyou again for your help
Sandra

cakesby · 05/14/2012, 05:34 AM

Aviad are you coming back.....

RedSea Aviad · 05/15/2012, 12:01 AM

Hello Sandra,
I’m back for a short while...
If you have algae growth increase the dose back to 2.5ml.
You have a good common sense, and as long as you stick to the guidelines you’re good.
No one knows your tank better than you, if you feel and see that the dose should change, adjust it.
Your PO4 is not off the chart so I wouldn’t use phosguard along with NOPOX.
All the best,

Aviad

cakesby · 05/15/2012, 12:53 AM

Thanks aviad I appreciate your help. There is no algae growth I have been slowly reducing my nopox over the last few weeks and I am currently using 4 mls each of energy and 1 ml of nopox and I am still at 0 nitrates! Just yesterday I moved to 0.5 mls nopox trying to raise nitrate does this sound ok not sure how to raise the nitrates.

RedSea Aviad · 05/15/2012, 02:27 AM

Just keep using Energy A+B and reduce NOPOX.
That's all the balance you need.
Aviad

03/19/2012, 07:45 PM	#2
RedSea Aviad RC Sponsor Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: U.S. Posts: 720	Hi, There are enough nutrients, reducing them would reduce the algae. I don’t think there is any connection between the NOPOX and nutrients to the coral receding from the bottom. Please attach a photo of the coral. Up the NOPOX dose to 2ml a day for a week and monitor NO3 and PO4 at the end of the week. Adjust the dose until you get to 0.25ppm NO3 and 0.03ppm PO4. *the dose can be as high as 3-3.5ml\day. Start supplementing Reef Energy A and B (each) 3-4ml a day. Reduce lighting time to 7-8h a day. Keep me posted! Please consider watching this PDF about the RCP: http://www.redseafish.com/uploadimag...A2011%204W.pdf and these short videos about the RCP: http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/sh....php?t=2078858 Have a great week, Aviad __________________ ~ ~ Red-Sea ~ ~ For perfect results!

03/19/2012, 09:48 PM	#4
RedSea Aviad RC Sponsor Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: U.S. Posts: 720	Hi Cakesby , Your welcome and keep me posted with your progress. All the best, Aviad __________________ ~ ~ Red-Sea ~ ~ For perfect results!

03/26/2012, 03:59 PM	#7
RedSea Aviad RC Sponsor Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: U.S. Posts: 720	Hello Cakesby , Let the system adjust to the new NOPOX dose(2.5ml/day) at least for 4-7 days. Which KH test do you use? Are you sure you’re not testing in mEq? Look at the units of the test. Is the Mg 520 or 1520? What are your goal parameters? Have a great week, Aviad __________________ ~ ~ Red-Sea ~ ~ For perfect results!

03/26/2012, 05:43 PM	#9
RedSea Aviad RC Sponsor Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: U.S. Posts: 720	Allow me to summarize, MAX130 aim for Growth: Alk- 3.4mEq. (bring up and keep at 4mEq for now) Ca- 410 ppm. (bring up and keep at 450ppm for now) Mg- 1520 ppm. (let it drop) NOPOX- 2.5 ml. (stay with it for a week and test NO3 and PO4 again) NO3- 0.75 ppm. (you need to bring up to 1ppm after the algae are gone) PO4- 0.08 ppm. (you need to bring up to 0.5ppm after the algae are gone) Energy- 2 ml each. (stay with this dose for the week) In order to calculate the daily dose, always test the same time a day. 2 important notes: The Ca titration ends when the blue is permanent and won’t shift to purple after mixing for 10sec. The Mg titration ends when the first blue appears, it would return to purple after 5-10 sec. but don’t continue beyond that point. Good luck, Aviad __________________ ~ ~ Red-Sea ~ ~ For perfect results!

03/27/2012, 01:08 PM	#11
RedSea Aviad RC Sponsor Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: U.S. Posts: 720	My pleasure my friend. __________________ ~ ~ Red-Sea ~ ~ For perfect results!

03/19/2012, 08:57 PM	#3
cakesby Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: Sydney, Australia Posts: 15	Thanks aviad for responding, I will increase my dose of no pox to 2mls. Is this to get rid of the algae? I would like to follow the instructions for coral growth. Was your plan to reduce my nitrate and phosphate levels to get rid of the algae then increase them back to the growth numbers? I enjoyed the videos thank you. The coral that is receding is the first photo I attached but the photo is sideways sorry about that... I have decreased my lighting and will increase my reef energy. Thanks for your help, cakesby

03/25/2012, 04:09 PM	#5
cakesby Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: Sydney, Australia Posts: 15	Hi aviad, It has been a week now and I have been adding 2 mls of nopox daily and 2 mls each of reef energy. My new test results are Nitrate 0.75 Phosphate 0.08 I increased my nopox dose to 2.5 mls today and was going to increase it again tomorrow to 3 mls. What do you think? Another question if you don't mind...... Over the past week I have been adding 3mls daily of foundation b and this morning my tests Said my kh was 3.4 is this a concern??? Magnesium stayed high at 520 and my calcium dropped a little to 410 I didn't add any mag or calcium just a 10% water change with red sea salt Thanks Cakesby

03/25/2012, 04:12 PM	#6
cakesby Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: Sydney, Australia Posts: 15	Hi aviad, It has been a week now and I have been adding 2 mls of nopox daily and 2 mls each of reef energy. My new test results are Nitrate 0.75 Phosphate 0.08 I increased my nopox dose to 2.5 mls today and was going to increase it again tomorrow to 3 mls. What do you think? Another question if you don't mind...... Over the past week I have been adding 3mls daily of foundation b and this morning my tests Said my kh was 3.4 is this a concern??? Magnesium stayed high at 520 and my calcium dropped a little to 410 I didn't add any mag or calcium just a 10% water change with red sea salt Thanks Cakesby

03/26/2012, 04:41 PM	#8
cakesby Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: Sydney, Australia Posts: 15	Hi aviad I am using the red sea foundation test kit. Sorry I did mean 1520 for mg. For the kh it is meq/l I am trying to follow red seas guidelines for growth so I added 25 mls of foundation b yesterday from reading the chart on bottle. I tested kh again this morning and got a result of 4 meq and added another 8 mls of foundation b. I was thinking of testing kh again tomorrow to try and get a daily dose. I forgot to mention i have reduced my light hours to 8 hours as suggested and am now putting 3 mls each of energy Regards Cakesby

03/26/2012, 11:26 PM	#10
cakesby Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: Sydney, Australia Posts: 15	Thanks aviad that is great will keep going and let you know how I go in a week. I really appreciate you help with this. Cakesby

04/01/2012, 11:31 PM	#12
cakesby Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: Sydney, Australia Posts: 15	Hi Aviad, Here is my weekly update.... Everything is going really well algae is reducing not much left on the sand bed. A little on the rocks. Tests today were nitrate 0 phosphate 0.02 (possibly 0) I have been dosing 2.5mls nopox daily 2 mls each of energy daily Should i stay at 2.5mls for nopox until algae is completley gone or reduce? I am amazed at these results thank you avaid for your help and guidance.

04/04/2012, 12:16 AM	#13
RedSea Aviad RC Sponsor Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: U.S. Posts: 720	Great to hear, Cakesby! Now is the critical time. Up the Energy A+B to 4ml Each a day. Cut the NOPOX dose to 2ml. Test every 3-4 days and push the PO4 to 0 ppm. A few days with NO3 and PO4 at 0ppm, and the algae gone, cut the NOPOX dose to 1ml a day and test both NO3 and PO4 weekly until they get to the right levels. Once you’re at 1ppm NO3 and 0.05ppm of PO4 cut the Energy dose to 2ml a day each. I made a typo in my previous pots, with PO4 at 0.5, one 0 slipped out, it should be 0.05ppm PO4. All the best, Aviad __________________ ~ ~ Red-Sea ~ ~ For perfect results!

04/04/2012, 03:51 AM	#14
cakesby Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: Sydney, Australia Posts: 15	thanks Avaid, I will definitely will start the adjustments and let you know how I go. Cakesby

04/04/2012, 04:45 PM	#15
RedSea Aviad RC Sponsor Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: U.S. Posts: 720	Looking forward to seeing your results!! Good luck, Aviad __________________ ~ ~ Red-Sea ~ ~ For perfect results!

04/06/2012, 01:15 AM	#16
cakesby Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: Sydney, Australia Posts: 15	Quick Question does energy increase nitrates and phosphates? If my nitrates or phosphates rise in the next few days do I increase nopox or reduce energy? Thanks Cakesby

04/18/2012, 11:00 PM	#17
cakesby Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: Sydney, Australia Posts: 15	Hi Aviad, I have an update...... I have been testing every 4 days as you suggested and my nitrate levels are 0 but my phosphate is back up to 0.08 because you have been away I have adjusted my dosing to get the phosphates down. I tried 2mls of nopox and 4mls each or energy (no change) then 2mls of nopox and 3 mls each of energy (still no change) yesterday I started dosing 2.5mls nopox and 2mls each or energy. I have one bit of information that may help.... A few days before I got the first phosphate reading of 0.08 my husband removed a bag of phosguard which I forgot I had in the back of my tank..... I havent put it back in yet. Can I run phosguard and nopox at the same time? What would you recommend I now dose of nopox and energy to get phosphates to 0? Thanks Aviad

04/18/2012, 11:27 PM	#18
RedSea Aviad RC Sponsor Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: U.S. Posts: 720	Hello, My apologies for the late response, I was on the roads in the last few week. If your NO3 levels are at 0ppm, you need to add 5ml of each Reef Energy. Why did your PO4 spiked?(frozen\homemade food again ) How’s the algae situation? All the best, Aviad __________________ ~ ~ Red-Sea ~ ~ For perfect results!

04/19/2012, 12:34 AM	#19
cakesby Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: Sydney, Australia Posts: 15	Hi Aviad, Definitley no frozen food! feeding the same amount. The only change was taking out the phosguard. Can I use phosguard and nopox?? The algae on the sand has gone just a little left on some rocks and I noticed alot growing on my magfloat although it is green and flat not fuzzy like the rocks. Before my phosphate went up I was on 2mls of nopox should I go back to that dose or syat at 2.5mls until it comes back down? Thankyou again for your help Sandra

05/14/2012, 05:34 AM	#20
cakesby Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: Sydney, Australia Posts: 15	Aviad are you coming back.....

05/15/2012, 12:01 AM	#21
RedSea Aviad RC Sponsor Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: U.S. Posts: 720	Hello Sandra, I’m back for a short while... If you have algae growth increase the dose back to 2.5ml. You have a good common sense, and as long as you stick to the guidelines you’re good. No one knows your tank better than you, if you feel and see that the dose should change, adjust it. Your PO4 is not off the chart so I wouldn’t use phosguard along with NOPOX. All the best, Aviad __________________ ~ ~ Red-Sea ~ ~ For perfect results!

05/15/2012, 12:53 AM	#22
cakesby Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: Sydney, Australia Posts: 15	Thanks aviad I appreciate your help. There is no algae growth I have been slowly reducing my nopox over the last few weeks and I am currently using 4 mls each of energy and 1 ml of nopox and I am still at 0 nitrates! Just yesterday I moved to 0.5 mls nopox trying to raise nitrate does this sound ok not sure how to raise the nitrates.

05/15/2012, 02:27 AM	#23
RedSea Aviad RC Sponsor Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: U.S. Posts: 720	Just keep using Energy A+B and reduce NOPOX. That's all the balance you need. Aviad __________________ ~ ~ Red-Sea ~ ~ For perfect results!