nbsdsailor
New member
Very nice. I am starting zeo for the first time next week. Any tips for a zeo newbie?
A couple growth shots of my SPS collection
- Thread starter CUNAReefer
- Start date
CUNAReefer
New member
Hey nbsdsailer,
Hope all is well!
The best advice I can give you is take it slow. You want to test frequently to monitor how your tank reacts. Moving too fast can cause pale colors and tissue recession. In extreme cases, you can cause coral death. I would start with half the recommended dosage and move up. I suggest keeping some nitrate and phosphate in your water column. I keep my phosphate at .02 and nitrate at .5. If I drop below those levels, I dial back the flow through the reactor and up the feeding. Start with the basics (media, start3, zeobac). Once comfortable with the method, you can move onto other additives.
Testing is very important with Zeo. You will also want to pick up a Potassium test kit. I recommend the salifert test kit.
On a final note, feeding and maintained nutrient levels have an inverse relationship. When you maintain an ULNS, the importance of feeding becomes more important. If I do not feed for a couple of days, my phates and trates will go to zero. I have performed extensive testing to match my nuritent import with my nutrient export.
Welcome to ZEO!
James
CUNAReefer
New member
Hi eswgato,
Hope all is well!
I owned the geo reactor at one time. I now own an Avast Marine Works Kalk Stirrer. The way that I used the kalk mixer is with my top off water. Every thirty minutes, my BRS doser kicks on for 4:45. This amount of top off water matches my evaporation. I do not chase after a target Ph level any more. Chasing after a perfect Ph always slowed my growth and caused me more aggrevation than it was worth. With this approach, I dont have to worry about a probe failing and an overdose of kalk going into the tank.
Warmest Regards,
James
mtaquarist
New member
Nice set up
reefmutt
Active member
canureefer! you are a freakishly anal record keeper and a fantastic reefer.
i salute you!!
amazing tank and you make it seem so simple
i love the growth shots.
whats the concentration and dose rate for your kalk mix? also, how often do you add new kalk to the stirrer?
thanks
i salute you!!
amazing tank and you make it seem so simple
i love the growth shots.
whats the concentration and dose rate for your kalk mix? also, how often do you add new kalk to the stirrer?
thanks
CUNAReefer
New member
Thanks for the comments everyone!
LOL@Reefmutt! Very funny:lolspin: My kalk rate depends on my evaporation rate. I have a BRS 50ml doser that kicks on every 30 minutes for 5 minutes. This changes in the summer months when the air isn't so dry. I'll kick on the doser for 4:15 every 30 minutes. The Kalk in my stirrer is changed every two weeks. I'ved tried many different approaches with kalk dosing. I like this the best. My Ph still does drop to 7.9 at night, but it hasn't had any impact on my growth rate. I've had float switches jam and kalk mixers clog. With my BRS timed doser, I dont worry about anything. I even have a spare doser on hand if my doser every goes out.
Warmest Regards,
James
LOL@Reefmutt! Very funny:lolspin: My kalk rate depends on my evaporation rate. I have a BRS 50ml doser that kicks on every 30 minutes for 5 minutes. This changes in the summer months when the air isn't so dry. I'll kick on the doser for 4:15 every 30 minutes. The Kalk in my stirrer is changed every two weeks. I'ved tried many different approaches with kalk dosing. I like this the best. My Ph still does drop to 7.9 at night, but it hasn't had any impact on my growth rate. I've had float switches jam and kalk mixers clog. With my BRS timed doser, I dont worry about anything. I even have a spare doser on hand if my doser every goes out.
Warmest Regards,
James
reefmutt
Active member
great tank!
i quess with a ca reactor, the ph drop is inevitable..
i've never had a problem with an overnight ph of 7.9 either..
have you considered only dosing kw overnight to try to mitigate ph swing?
thanks for all of the simple and concise info.
i might have missed this.. which kalk stirrer do you use?
thanks!
CUNAReefer
New member
great tank!
i quess with a ca reactor, the ph drop is inevitable..
i've never had a problem with an overnight ph of 7.9 either..
have you considered only dosing kw overnight to try to mitigate ph swing?
thanks for all of the simple and concise info.
i might have missed this.. which kalk stirrer do you use?
thanks!
I use the Avast K1. I guess there really isn't a reason why I choose this dosing over the night only approach. It just works for me so I've kept this way. I think either way is fine. I could always try testing the night time only dosing, but I wouldn't want to upset any stability I have built into my tank. I have something that works so well for me, I'm almost afraid to make any changes. to it.
karsseboom
New member
Your not supposed to use kalk with zeo.
blakers82
Member
Nice effort, James. Your documentation and work are appreciated!
Question: Have you always used stirrers or have you tried a reservoir? If so, what concentration kalk to RO/DI water did you use?
I use a reservoir without kalk at the moment, although I have gone kalk/no kalk a few different times through the years. I've done the same 50ml doser on timer for a long time too, although I recently snagged an Osmolator. Not sure if I'll stay or go back to the timer setup. (I've also recently switched to 3 part dosing from a cal reactor so I'm letting things go without adding kalk to see how things settle.) Any input?
The growth and eyeball tests pass with flying colors in my book. :thumbsup: Please share your experience on the no kalk with Zeo rule. I know there's a ton of those Zeo rules thrown around. I can't remember them all. lol
Question: Have you always used stirrers or have you tried a reservoir? If so, what concentration kalk to RO/DI water did you use?
I use a reservoir without kalk at the moment, although I have gone kalk/no kalk a few different times through the years. I've done the same 50ml doser on timer for a long time too, although I recently snagged an Osmolator. Not sure if I'll stay or go back to the timer setup. (I've also recently switched to 3 part dosing from a cal reactor so I'm letting things go without adding kalk to see how things settle.) Any input?
The growth and eyeball tests pass with flying colors in my book. :thumbsup: Please share your experience on the no kalk with Zeo rule. I know there's a ton of those Zeo rules thrown around. I can't remember them all. lol
reefmutt
Active member
Not being an expert on, nor having any experience with zeo, I can only assume the reason one is 'not supposed' to use kalk with zeo is because of Kalk's effect on lowering po4.
With all the bacterial additives to reduce nutrients, one might reduce them too much using kalk in conjunction with zeo...
But clearly, as this system demonstrates, when one is experienced in controlling the nutrient cycle and one knows the relationship between nutrient input and export in one's own system, they can be used together with no problems and can actually have excellent results....
With all the bacterial additives to reduce nutrients, one might reduce them too much using kalk in conjunction with zeo...
But clearly, as this system demonstrates, when one is experienced in controlling the nutrient cycle and one knows the relationship between nutrient input and export in one's own system, they can be used together with no problems and can actually have excellent results....
Last edited:
karsseboom
New member
The kalkwasser will bind PO4 from the water column and this compound will accumulate at the sand and rocks for example. Under several conditions the PO4 can be leached back in the water column, also algae for example can pick up the PO4 directly from the substrate. It can be typical for such systems to have no detectable PO4 in the water column which several kind of algae grow very well.
Kalkwasser does not have a direct impact to the system or its components so its more a general advise.
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Kalkwasser does not have a direct impact to the system or its components so its more a general advise.
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CUNAReefer
New member
No worries, Matt. You have not derailed the thread at all.
I am using a tek 4 bulb T5 fixture. The lights are 2 aquablue, 1 blue+, and 1 actinic. I just replaced the reflector, acrylic shield and all of the bulbs as of three weeks ago.Blakers - I haven't forgotten about your question. Its been a very long day at the office and I want to do a little research before providing an answer.
Have a great night everyone!
James
