<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=12424261#post12424261 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Kolognekoral
I know about Start2 because I was told what it was. I'm a mod on the forum and need to know what I'm talking about, althoug anyone following the forum would find the info. Of course, you could OD on anything, but, if you follow the recommended dosage and keep your eyes open (one will notice a film on the glass, if saturated. This is not an OD, rather a warning sign that more is not required) , this is hardly likely.
As to other zeolith systems, they do have trouble with K+, but it is often not noted as such. FaunaMarin has since brought out a potassium test kit to support their program. I think single carbon source dosing doesn't support the intense populations of bacteria and we don't reach a real deficiency state, if there are occaisional water changes. Also, although this is totally anecdotal, different strains of bacteria may be resonsible for the depletion at different rates. The Zeo products, as well as the other lines, are designed as a system and therefore should not be mixed with each other. They each work with different groupings of bacteria and the supplements work best with these bacteria. Others will work, but not necessarily as desired or expected. For the record, I've played with them all and it was a great learning process. What finally brought me to stay with Zeovit is the constant work being done to push the envelope.
Something I have been trying to put together is an understanding of all the various parameters that are connected to zeolith-bacteria driven filtration systems. There is a synergy built-up in the aquarium, which can be quite delicate at first. We not only have various bacteria directly associated with the zeoliths, but other sub-cultures seem to develope, as well. I find my asymbiotic corals doing much better, but they are often a bit more sensitive to me experimenting around, than, say, the Acroporas. I have hypothesized that Montiporas tend to suffer under a K+ deficit due to their very high metabolisms, which is quickly limited. All of the faster-growing corals seem to be quickly effected by a low K+ level.
Minor organisms, such as sponges, have really taken off in my reef. Before, they were there, but never really an interesting feature. This additional biosphere onan almost cellular level seems to generally support the aquarium. We have been exploring this area for a few decades, but not most of us are seeing it take off in ULNS.
For those that know of the Redfield Ratios, it is clear that carbon is the top limiting factor for general metabolism. The basic reef ratio is 106C : 16N : 1P, which shows just how much more carbon is required to metabolize a single atom of phosphate.
We must, also, consider that nitrogen limiting will often occur as well, if we keep too few fish in an aquarium. What vodka dosing does not do is support phosphate assimilating bacteria, as it does denitrifiing bacteria. These will lead to a nitrate deficiency and thus a rise in the PO4 levels. (this is also a player in phosban oriented systems which have sufficient denitrifiing bacteria, but the PO4 just builds up and must be chemically adsorbed)
The equation looks simple, but we really lack the ability to measure these ratios in an aquarium. At this point in time we are using what test kits we have, plus our observation skills.
Many people moan about not knowing exactly what is in any particular supplement or salt, regardless of manufacturer. I must ask myself, what would we do with this knowledge? It may help us understand the system better, but it won't actually help us keep a better reef. Yes, I would like to know more about the chemistry, but it goes quickly over my head and I have studied biology. I can read an essay of contents on most supplements, but it doesn't tell me what is actually in there, just what the final analysis is. As reef aquarists, we really are on the cutting edge, which means many things are not yet clear, but we are always learning.
