Zeovit

Well I know I am low on potassium for sure. Unfortunatly my suplpies are on back order. I decided to try that Warner balanced potassium first. The colors of the corals look better in person but the monti is not as popping as it once was. As for the seachem salt i plan to switch over once i use the last of what i have which wont be for a month or two. But your input on my tank not being that bad is good news. I changed my mind about the v/s/v dosing i plan to rotate in a 5ml dose once a week and stick to the slow increase as well. Will keep you all posted
 
so i just have a question about starting a new tank. Should you try to achieve a LN tank from the start or just let it mature first and stock it before trying these methods? Would it hurt adding new sps to an already LNT or will they adapt?
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=12239359#post12239359 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by gotbags-10
so i just have a question about starting a new tank. Should you try to achieve a LN tank from the start or just let it mature first and stock it before trying these methods? Would it hurt adding new sps to an already LNT or will they adapt?


when starting a new tank it will be easier to achieve a LNS tank but you would not want to add any sps for 6 months to a year it will take time for beneficial bacteria and your levels to stable out. You will need to monitor the system to be sure your levels stay at a constant sps do not like a whole lot of flux. As for adapting I believe anything will survive in any tank as long as it is acclimated properly. Always drip new additions before adding them to the tank. Hope this helps.
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=12239690#post12239690 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by sailfintang
when starting a new tank it will be easier to achieve a LNS tank but you would not want to add any sps for 6 months to a year it will take time for beneficial bacteria and your levels to stable out. You will need to monitor the system to be sure your levels stay at a constant sps do not like a whole lot of flux. As for adapting I believe anything will survive in any tank as long as it is acclimated properly. Always drip new additions before adding them to the tank. Hope this helps.

Not sure where you read this bit of info but its simply not true. Ive seen SPS go in tanks and look awesome within weeks of the cycle ending. I know GQJeff (the guy who posted all those awesome pics in earlier pages) put SPS in his tank after only 2 weeks and using the Zeo system from the start. I will also tell you that I have never once drip acclimated a coral, and never have I lost one as a result. I simply temp match them and drop them in, as do 99% of the stores you buy from.
 
I agree with what Horace just said...lots of people get their new tanks stocked after only 4-6 weeks of dosing the bacs and fuel.
 
Well I would assume that all true depending the equipment and setup ypou are running. Many books and articles i read stated six months to a year. I guess if you were runninga zeo system from a start or using all ro/di and bacteria supplements you could cut the time in half. many reefers i know usually wait to be sure their system is fully mature. Now that does not mean you cant keep other corals besides sps and inverts. I guess it is different for everyone i nthe hobby.
 
Many people repeat what you did sailfin, your not alone. However, I can tell you from personal experience that its not a hard and fast rule. So long as you know what your doing, its definitely doable.
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=12240910#post12240910 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Horace
So long as you know what your doing, its definitely doable.

The key word :)

If you dont have any experience with corals I would not encourage anyone to start off with acros
 
so what would be a good way to start up a new tank? I had planned on using two 40g breeders, one for display and one for sump. Two of the two little fishes reactors filled with seachem phosguard and matrix. Along with dosing stability. Would it be worth dosing v/s/v at the start?
I was also thinking going BB because it seems that no matter what over time sand beds release Po4 and thats what we're trying to avoid. I plan on once the tank gets running a while to start all the other supplements like the Zeo AA's sponge power, Iron, lugols, potassium and stuff like that.
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=12244590#post12244590 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by gotbags-10
so what would be a good way to start up a new tank? I had planned on using two 40g breeders, one for display and one for sump. Two of the two little fishes reactors filled with seachem phosguard and matrix. Along with dosing stability. Would it be worth dosing v/s/v at the start?
I was also thinking going BB because it seems that no matter what over time sand beds release Po4 and thats what we're trying to avoid. I plan on once the tank gets running a while to start all the other supplements like the Zeo AA's sponge power, Iron, lugols, potassium and stuff like that.

Have you kept corals or is this your fisrt attempt?

The matrix IS your deep sand bed. But one that doesn't clog up with detritus :) i prefer the look of sand so my tank has sand in it. Its not a deep sand bed.

You dont need or want to run GFO... yes dose v/s/v from the start.
 
I agree with zedar BB or Sand it is the reefers preferance. I prefer the look of sand as to bare bottom. Of course a BB tank is easier to clean and maintain than one with sand. But then again a sand bed is more like a real reef and isnt that what we are all striving fora repordution of the real thing
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=12240206#post12240206 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Horace
Not sure where you read this bit of info but its simply not true. Ive seen SPS go in tanks and look awesome within weeks of the cycle ending. I know GQJeff (the guy who posted all those awesome pics in earlier pages) put SPS in his tank after only 2 weeks and using the Zeo system from the start. I will also tell you that I have never once drip acclimated a coral, and never have I lost one as a result. I simply temp match them and drop them in, as do 99% of the stores you buy from.

Yup - tons of books and people definitely say to wait. It seems to me though...if you are trying to create an ecosystem of sorts...it might be easier to do if you try to include all of the diversity you can from early on in the process.
 
IMO, you can start adding SPS in a month old tank ONLY if your using one of the ULNS like UltraLith or Zeovit. If your not using those methods then I'd give it 3 months before adding any SPS.
 
Guys, I have read the thread over the past few days, and think I maybe in information overload. Is there any consolidate page out there that has the best practices for starting the Zeo alternative, what to dose in addition, general guidlines and recommendations etc.

I am considering this method as well, since I am sick of underfeeding, and will continue to read for the next few weeks, but right now I still feel completely lost.

BTW, Thanks for all of the info everyone.
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=12247248#post12247248 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Husky_1
Guys, I have read the thread over the past few days, and think I maybe in information overload. Is there any consolidate page out there that has the best practices for starting the Zeo alternative, what to dose in addition, general guidlines and recommendations etc.

I am considering this method as well, since I am sick of underfeeding, and will continue to read for the next few weeks, but right now I still feel completely lost.

BTW, Thanks for all of the info everyone.
PM sent
 
Husky thats a good idea ....Ok guy/gals lets summarize.

Stop using GFO
Start using (if not already) Carbon
I use purigen but carbon will work fine

1.) Matrix is used in a reactor. @ 1 liter per 100 gallons.

2.) Stability is added weekly @ 5ml per 20 gallons. Once low nutrients are achieved dose every two weeks.

3.) V/S/V is mixed

vodka @ 400ml
Vinegar @ 100ml
sugar @ 3tbsp

Credit glassbox-design for this formula
read about it here http://glassbox-design.com/2008/achieved-through-observation-and-experimentation/

Ive doubled Glassbox-designs amount. He was worried about it going bad but I havent seen anything to worry about.

start out slow and increase daily

day 1 @ .1ml
day 2 @ .2ml
day 10 @ 1ml
day 11 @ 2ml
day 19 @ 20ml
etc

When you notice the P04 starting to drop hold that amount
eg: day 19 you see a drop in p04 stay at 20ml and continue dosing this amount till p04 is .03 or below.

Once the tank is at .03 or less, decrease the dosage in half.
eg: decrease the 20ml per day to 10 ml per day. This is your maintenance dosage.

At this time the corals will be getting a pale look to them.

thats when you start dosing
K
Iodide
iron
AA's
Feed the corals 2 to 3 times a week your choice of food
eg: oyster eggs, rotifers, zooplankton, sponge power etc

And feed the fish as much as you want. Or they want :)

Help me out here ...did i missed anything?
 
When you notice the P04 starting to drop hold that amount
eg: day 19 you see a drop in p04 stay at 20ml and continue dosing this amount till p04 is .03 or below.

Once the tank is at .03 or less, decrease the dosage in half.
eg: decrease the 20ml per day to 10 ml per day. This is your maintenance dosage.


This is the part that concerns me. Just to remind readers...don't trust your phosphate kit unless you sold your kidney to buy it. The nicest one at your LFS is not likely even close to being accurate enough to give you this sort of information - regardless of whether or not it says it can.

Nice summary Zedar! :beer:
 
Back
Top