Zeovit vs Aquaforest

[Bill Nye]

I have been looking into zeovit and aquaforest. Most of the amazing tanks that you see on the SPS forums are using some type of system, many using zeovit or aquaforest. One of my main concerns switching to one of these programs is my lack of nutrients already. I run just run GFO and my Nitrates are ~2 and Phosphates .03. I would need to use less than the required amount of zeolites to make sure I don't strip the nutrients too much?

I was hoping someone could give me some insight into both of the systems and double check to make sure my purchase lists makes sense! For Aquaforest I was planning on running my BRS Carbon and GFO at 1/2 strength till I use up what I have left.

Zeovit
Zeovit Stones
Spongepower
Zeobak
Zeostart
Fish Street Reactor

Aquaforest
Component A, B, C
Pro Bio S
NP Pro
Build + Energy
Power Food
ZeoMix

 

[Bpb]

I know you're asking one vs another. I don't use AF so can't comment. But I do use several zeo products. Honestly. Your nutrients are already where they need to be. You don't need to lower them any further.

I'd suggest actually picking up 3-4 of their nutrition products first and try them out and keep watching nutrients. No need to dose any bacteria or run zeo stones now. The ONLY purpose of that stuff is to reduce nutrients.

I may suggest an alternative (which was suggested to me and has worked swimmingly) which is to use a cheaper simpler method of nutrient reduction and take advantage of the coral health benefits of some of the food and nutrition products.

I chose to dose vodka, which brought my NO3 and PO4 down from 40 ppm and 0.5 ppm to 1.5 ppm and 0.04 ppm respectively. And I use KZ Sponge Power, KZ Pohls Xtra, KZ Bio Mate, KZ Coral Vitalizer, and KZ LPS Amino Acids. Nutrients are low and under control. It's a lot cheaper and easier than a zeo reactor which would perform the same job. Fewer things to buy, and coral colors, growth, and PE are excellent by my standard. The one KZ product that is absolutely no joke and has the most dramatic and obvious impact within a couple weeks of daily dosing is the sponge power. You will notice an explosion in the growth of sessile inverts and sponges (unfortunately aiptasia loves it too)


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[Bill Nye]

I know you're asking one vs another. I don't use AF so can't comment. But I do use several zeo products. Honestly. Your nutrients are already where they need to be. You don't need to lower them any further.

I'd suggest actually picking up 3-4 of their nutrition products first and try them out and keep watching nutrients. No need to dose any bacteria or run zeo stones now. The ONLY purpose of that stuff is to reduce nutrients.

I may suggest an alternative (which was suggested to me and has worked swimmingly) which is to use a cheaper simpler method of nutrient reduction and take advantage of the coral health benefits of some of the food and nutrition products.

I chose to dose vodka, which brought my NO3 and PO4 down from 40 ppm and 0.5 ppm to 1.5 ppm and 0.04 ppm respectively. And I use KZ Sponge Power, KZ Pohls Xtra, KZ Bio Mate, KZ Coral Vitalizer, and KZ LPS Amino Acids. Nutrients are low and under control. It's a lot cheaper and easier than a zeo reactor which would perform the same job. Fewer things to buy, and coral colors, growth, and PE are excellent by my standard. The one KZ product that is absolutely no joke and has the most dramatic and obvious impact within a couple weeks of daily dosing is the sponge power. You will notice an explosion in the growth of sessile inverts and sponges (unfortunately aiptasia loves it too)


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Thank you for the reply.

The reason I want to run the full system is to be able to follow the instructions. Do you just dose carbon and follow the directions for the other zeovit supplements? I already have some red sea nopox floating around from when I was bringing my nitrates down that I might use.

I also wanted to run the full program because many recommendations that people give is to bring nitrates below 5 before starting zeovit for example. It seems like having low nutrients is a prerequisite then you strip everything and add it back with supplements. If I just add supplements wont my nitrates be too high?

edit

Im going to go with Pro Bio S, NP Pro, Coral A, B, V, E, and Power food. I'll start dosing the additives very slowly until I start seeing my nutrients go up. Then I will start carbon dosing.

Do I need to still run GFO with carbon dosing or is it dependent on your testing?

 

[Bpb]

The coral food/supplement products are completely separate of any of the core line nutrient reduction products and have their own specific instructions. It's not a "if using this much of product A, then dose this much of product B situation."


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