SCA 66G SPS Build: Equipment Questions

[DylansGolden]

I'm getting my SC Aquariums 66G tank (32"L X 24"D X 20"H) with stand tomorrow morning. I'll be running a Radion Gen3 With (4) 24" T5's, two bulbs in front and back of the Radion.

I'll be using a Trigger System Ruby 20C Cube sump paired with a Ecotech Vectra L1 Return pump, with a SCA-302 pinwheel skimmer for now until I upgrade.

Going to utilize the refugium area for cheato and some live rock, the display with have a minimal scape.

My question is what filtration shall I use other that the fuge and skimmer? I was thinking of picking up a bio-pellet reactor and I've also got a phosban 150 reactor full of Seachem Matrix that I'll run low flow through for some added biological filtration. Would you guys suggest running bio-pellets?

I've never kept a SPS only system before, just looking to get some input from you guys.

 

[agiacosa]

Since it's a start up, why don't you consider Zeovit?


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[Hentz]

Agreed with agiacosa. Start ZEOvit. It's probably one of the easiest methods I've ever used in my life. I'm not expert, but I've definitely never seen the growth/coloration I'm getting now. I've been full ZEOvit for 6 months now.

Everything you're listing can be simply put in one reactor, ZEOvit Reactor

With some extremely easy dosing, everything you listed above can be achieved without stuffing your sump with equipment.

 

[DylansGolden]

Since it's a start up, why don't you consider Zeovit?

Mainly due to talking with some local reefers and their experience. They said they didn't really see it worth the cost of running ZEOvit. And besides that, I don't see me having room to run the reactor in my sump but then again I haven't done much research based on a few reefers experience.

If I were to run ZEOvit, what reactor setup would you reccomend?

 

[DylansGolden]

Agreed with agiacosa. Start ZEOvit. It's probably one of the easiest methods I've ever used in my life. I'm not expert, but I've definitely never seen the growth/coloration I'm getting now. I've been full ZEOvit for 6 months now.

Everything you're listing can be simply put in one reactor, ZEOvit Reactor

With some extremely easy dosing, everything you listed above can be achieved without stuffing your sump with equipment.

Hardly have looked into running it. What ZEO setup would you recommend me looking into? Also don't they have to be ran in sump?

 

[agiacosa]

I just received the one from Fish Street and it's fantastic for the price.

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[DylansGolden]

I just received the one from Fish Street and it's fantastic for the price.

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Can they be ran externally? Or do they need to be in-sump reactors?

 

[agiacosa]

I suppose with serious modding you can make it run external. However, you can place in your fiuge area of the sump. With Zeovit, you don't need chaeto.


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[Hentz]

Hardly have looked into running it. What ZEO setup would you recommend me looking into? Also don't they have to be ran in sump?

All you need to begin is the following:
ZEO Reactor
ZEO Stones for the reactor (order ONLY Zeovit brand)
ZEOstart
Sponge Power
ZEObac

I run a tank 10 gallons smaller than yours. I can honestly say the most expensive part is up front which really isn't even that bad. I'm JUST now getting through half my bottle of ZEOstart lol.

 

[DylansGolden]

I suppose with serious modding you can make it run external. However, you can place in your fiuge area of the sump. With Zeovit, you don't need chaeto.


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Right on, I'll start my research on it. After 5 minutes of research already I can see what you mean by combining everything I listed into ZEOvit.

All you need to begin is the following:
ZEO Reactor
ZEO Stones for the reactor (order ONLY Zeovit brand)
ZEOstart
Sponge Power
ZEObac

I run a tank 10 gallons smaller than yours. I can honestly say the most expensive part is up front which really isn't even that bad. I'm JUST now getting through half my bottle of ZEOstart lol.

Yeah the $300 start up kit from BRS isn't bad at all. I'll look into it more. Thanks for the advice!

 

[Hentz]

Right on, I'll start my research on it. After 5 minutes of research already I can see what you mean by combining everything I listed into ZEOvit.



Yeah the $300 start up kit from BRS isn't bad at all. I'll look into it more. Thanks for the advice!

Don't buy that kit. It comes with ZEOfood which isn't really necessary according to ZEOvit.com. They actually recommend you to replace it with Sponge Power

 

[DylansGolden]

Don't buy that kit. It comes with ZEOfood which isn't really necessary according to ZEOvit.com. They actually recommend you to replace it with Sponge Power

Is there a starter kit you recommend or should I find a good reactor and piece it together?

 

[Hentz]

Is there a starter kit you recommend or should I find a good reactor and piece it together?

Buy these items to start out with;
ZEOvit Reactor
ZEOstart3
ZEObac
ZEOstones (For the reactor)
Sponge Power

These are the only things you NEED to be full ZEOvit. Once you complete the 14 days cycle and start adding corals, you're able to use other additives to adjust your corals color. Very simple process. At first, for me at least, it seems overwhelming. When I first got into it I thought I bit off more than I could chew. Though I quickly learned it's incredibly easy!

Also you need to read what everything does. Here is a great and informative write up from G. Alexander on ZEOvit.com forums. He's incredibly helpful and usually responds within a day of your postings.
G. Alexander's Write Up

The starting setup I just showed you is incredibly easy to do.
For your tank exactly, you'll be dosing the following:
ZEOstart3 : 0.25ml morning/night
ZEOReactor: Shaking morning/night
ZEObac: 2 drops daily for 2 weeks until stones in reactor are settled, then you dose 2 drops twice a week
Spongepower: 2 drops daily

Toned down version of the above write-up:
Shaking of the stones will release mulm that the bacteria has produced. The mulm flows out of the reactor and up to the DT, feeding your corals.
ZEObak is dosed to colonize the stones, rock, and your sand bed (if you have one) which reduces nutrients like Phosphates and Nitrates.
Zeostart will be your carbon source.
Sponge Power basically says it in its name. It will increase your sponge population and promote new growth for them, in turn, acting as a natural water filter.

 

[DylansGolden]

Thanks for the links and info! ZEOvit seems like a no brainer, other than the cost and daily need of attention, what's the down sides?

 

[Hentz]

Thanks for the links and info! ZEOvit seems like a no brainer, other than the cost and daily need of attention, what's the down sides?

Downsides would be cost.. Though the cost is minimal unless you're running a 2-300+ gallon tank. Bhut that's a given.

Another downside is the tank can go 1-2 days without dosing without having any negative impacts. Though I believe negative impacts will quickly follow.

The only other real downside would be adjusting it to your tank, dosage wise I mean. But just like anything you have to find that sweet spot.

If starting ZEOvit after having an established tank, like myself, it gets a little scary. Why? Because your tank starts stripping nutrients which is great, but your corals take a small hit. They adjust quickly but for a second I was worried due to how pale and terrible most of my acros looked until the ZEO system set in.

You really learn to read your corals.

 

[DylansGolden]

Downsides would be cost.. Though the cost is minimal unless you're running a 2-300+ gallon tank. Bhut that's a given.

Another downside is the tank can go 1-2 days without dosing without having any negative impacts. Though I believe negative impacts will quickly follow.

The only other real downside would be adjusting it to your tank, dosage wise I mean. But just like anything you have to find that sweet spot.

If starting ZEOvit after having an established tank, like myself, it gets a little scary. Why? Because your tank starts stripping nutrients which is great, but your corals take a small hit. They adjust quickly but for a second I was worried due to how pale and terrible most of my acros looked until the ZEO system set in.

You really learn to read your corals.

Good info, thanks again!

I plan on getting two gyre 150's for the tank. It will be Bare bottom and Have a minimalist aquascape. Think that would be enough flow? I've never ran them myself but it seems that they do a good job and I also see people removing their MP10/40's form putting them in.

 

[agiacosa]

I think you will get differing opinions on flow. I like to controllability of the Vortechs over the gyres.

Also, Zeovit recommends having a sand bed. I'm going with a 1/2 inch sand bed as opposed to running BB.


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