Dear David
thanks for your comment and interest. Actually, the sangokai system has nothing in common with the zeovit method!
I guess the main difference between the sangokai reef aquarium system compared to many or even any other is, that it doesn't primarily focus on the establishment of an oligotrophic environment (which is characterised by low inorganic nutrient levels), so, on the direct removal of accumulated nutrients. What the sangokai system does, is to apply a set of physiologically important and specially selected micronutrients, both inorganic and (most of them) organic. The provision of these nutrients develop a complex organismal structure in the aquarium ecosystem, and as a conequence the food chains expand. This is mostly due to the increase in population growth of the microbial community (bacteria, microalgae and the microfauna), but also because corals and macroalgae grow healthy due to an optimal nutrient supply.
Thus, nutrient elements like nitrogen or phosphorous stay bound in the food chain in various active (reduced) forms, and the accumulation of the nutrient elements as stable oxidised forms like nitrate or phosphate is minimized. So, the decrease in nitrate and phosphate levels is a secondary effect, through the increase in ecosystem productivity and nutrient recycling!
Actually, the sangokai systems works very similar to the natural tropical coral reef, because it adopts the functional principle of a broad spectrum of nutrients which are constantly available in small portions and introduced into a highly diverse organism community.
The sangokai systems works with any filtration methode, whether it is zeolite or biopellet filtration, or the Berlin methode, DSB, whatever. All you need to do is to dose a set of 3 basic nutrient products. These products are called sango nutri-amin basic (amino acids and amino sugars), nutri-element basic (various organic micronutrients, most of them play a role in energy metabolism), and sango nutri-spur basic (inorganic and organic forms of trace metals). Additionally, two products called kai mineral and kai geos provide important minerals, both dissolved and particulate, which increase the growth of calcifying and filter feeding organisms.
If you have any further questions don't hesitate in asking me!
Cheers
Joerg
