Zeovit

[Zedar]

Sailfin,

Ive achieved low nutrients WITHOUT zeo.
My corals are pale in comparison to J's. But its not because I don't use zeolites.

Getting the colors after you achieve low nutrients is stage 2. Thats where im at now.

That requires proper (NSW) levels of potassium. Amino acids and a food source.

 

[sailfintang]

So what do you suggest to get my nutrients even lower in the tank than they are. I am using Ro/DI water that reads from my TDS. I am running standard carbon and phosgaurd in my sump. Should i upgrade to the phos reactor or just lookingo using some of the ZEOvit additive to eliminate the excess nutrients?

 

[Zedar]

How low are they? Do you have algae control problems? browned out acros?

My nitrates = undetectable (with any hobbiest test kit.)

Phosphates = .02

I don't use ZEO but I DO use the ZEO method, which requires a carbon source and bacteria replenishment.

Plenty of folks have achieved great coral colors "without zeo" in the past. Just look at some of the TOTM from years past.

I think Zeo makes it easier to achieve a tank of that caliber. Some may argue that point. Thats just my opinion.

 

[j.prostrata]

Zedar, I would suspect your pale colors r lack of NO3. Start feeding more for 3-4 weeks and then get back to me. I am one of the guys that think sps love no3. My tank never gets under 20-25ppm and my colors r always popping. Just my feeling but it seems to be catching on.

 

[Ty1e]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=12123093#post12123093 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by sailfintang
So Ty1e you are just running with the zeolite+zeobac as well as their featured salt mix and zeovit mix, do you use the ZEOfood or the reation chamber for the media? Just curious. I am not worried about lighting I have plenty of that as well as excellent skimming. Also some oictures would be great to se from anyone.

There's one thing about getting in to zeovit, you will become hooked on the buy every new zeo product that comes out just like me. It become a $$ problem but when you see your corals coloring up and the PE like you've never seen it, then it balances out.
Right now i'm useing zeobac,zeofood7,zeostart2 because they are a must in order to run the zeolith rocks in a RX, the coral snow,spongepower,aminoacids,k-balance,b-balance,potassium iodine,coral vitalizer food and i run the zeolith rocks in a 2 little fish phos ban RX on the back of my 30gal reef on a 3hours on 3 hours off timer.
And there still more supplements i want too get, at the start you can use all the color aidding supplements because of the time needed for the corals to adjust to the new water quality and food source's.
Now i'm seeing huge change in the corals, it took 4-6 months but i can't wait to see what it will look like in a year or set up in a bigger system.

 

[Zedar]

J,

I ordered some potassium nitrate and was going to dose that to see how they respond.

My thought on that is feeding fish food adds phosphates Im trying to raise my nitrates only.

What do you think?

 

[Ty1e]

here's some 4month old pics of the tank and chem lab

i'll try and get some new ones up soon.

 

[Waxxiemann]

I've been seriously considering the ZEOvit method as well, I'll be following along here.

The thing that gets me is, how expensive is it to run long term. The startup costs don't really scare me all that much, it's more the long term that I am concerned about.

I guess I'm wondering if the additives actually last long or not.

 

[sailfintang]

I've been seriously considering the ZEOvit method as well, I'll be following along here. The thing that gets me is, how expensive is it to run long term. The startup costs don't really scare me all that much, it's more the long term that I am concerned about.

Agreed some of the stuff isnt really too costly and some of it is, so I gues fining out what works the best and what is needed to manitain the system would be great help. All the pictures look great. Do you all use the "Reefers Best Salt" or another high end brand. i am going to try and compile a list of the ZEOvit additives and supplements that seem universally used by the poeple who have posted so far.

To answer an earlier post I am unsure how low my nutrients are but I do have some small limited algae growin on my glass and rocks, I have been trying not to dose any thing to alow the algae to startve tested paremeters this morning

ph: 8.3
alk(dkh): 6
Ca: 500'
Salinity 1.25-1.26
temp: 78-83
phos: 0 using test kit but cant be trusted

All make uop water and top off is RO/Di

 

[Waxxiemann]

If I do go with Zeo, I'm not changing to their salt (unless my LFS gets it in for a reasonable price), I probably wouldn't change to their carbon either.

I've been running TMPR as long as I can remember and even though it's not a perfect salt (which is), I like it.

 

[Ty1e]

i used ocean pure pro for the first 2months and then went to reef crystal and then reefers best. and alot of the other tanks use instant ocean and kent so i think if you want to you can keep the same salt you have now and if you want to try something alittle more $$$ then i would go with reefers best, i've had great results already.

 

[Waxxiemann]

for me, shipping costs for a box of salt make it prohibitive.

 

[Zedar]

Sail and Wax,

I researched the Zeo method and came up with my own method based off it. Well I and another reefcentral member.

I have 120 gallons total tank volume. So you may need to increase the numbers accordingly if you choose to try this.

I used an old phosban reactor. Instead of zeolites Im using seachem matrix:

http://www.seachem.com/products/product_pages/Matrix.html

I used 1 liter @ $8.99
http://www.marinedepot.com/ps_ViewItem~idProduct~SC3171.html

This never needs replacing just shakin to remove any detritus.

Instead of zeobac I use this: http://www.amazon.com/Seachem-Labor...3?ie=UTF8&s=home-garden&qid=1205959673&sr=8-3

For AA's i use zeovits product.
I use vodka for a carbon source.
In a zeo tank you need potassium levels to be at NSW levels.
Zeo sells k+ strong to bring the levels up. I again used an alternative.

http://www.iherb.com/ProductDetails.aspx?c=1&pid=777&at=0


In three months my tank went from .20 phosphate to .02
I had a plague of hair algae. Now theres barely a trace.
This is a work in progress. Right now my corals don't look like J's
But i believe they will soon.

I may be wrong, but i dont think you need to use all the zeo products to achieve the same results.
Im waiting for ups to deliver their AA's as i type this. From what im seeing they have the best AA's . Ive also heard that their new product "SPONGE POWER" is suppose to be great.

So If you achieve low nutrient levels "i mean starving corals low" Then i think the Zeo products can get you results like J's

These are my opinions based on allot of reading and my own observations.

As for salt, allot of Zeo users are switching to seachem reef salt "not the marine!!!"
It has NSW levels for potassium etc. Borates is a little high.
Since Ive switched Ive seen positive results. And again the price is right.

http://www.drsfostersmith.com/Product/Prod_Display.cfm?pcatid=14916&c=3578+4685

 

[sailfintang]

Thanks for all the tips Zedar I will look into all this and determine whats best for my situation.

 

[sailfintang]

Zedar, how much of that potassium chloride powder are you adding; weekly, daily?

Also how much of the Seachem Stability?

 

[BradR]

I don't understand, if zeo strips nutrients from the water why algae would even be an issue?

 

[Paulairduck]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=12128546#post12128546 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by j.prostrata
Thanks guys and gals. Lighting 4-400 watt xm20k off m59 5 hrs day. 2 vho actinic and 2 fiji purples 12 hrs a day on IC660.

Dosing schedule is going to look a lot different then most on here I am sure.. My colors r popping though so I wil not change anything. I do get some algae but I just use snails and a few tuxedo urchins to help with that. For the colors I am having I can handle some algae. Plus I honestly believe with these systems we can almost be to steril of an environment for overall health of out animals SPS that is.

Start2 .75 x2 daily
Reg K 4ml daily
SP 12 drops daily
Gold 12ml daily
BB 6 ml daily
Snow 6ml daily
Bac 10-12 drops 2x week
food 2 drops 2x week
AAHC 4 drops daily
Pif 12 drops 3-4x week
Iron 12 drops 2-3x week
PSG 24 drops 3x week
NO ME used
CV 12 drops daily
3 liters liths
150 grams gfo changed ever 2-3 weeks.
1.5 cups carbon changed every 2 weeks put on top in the z rx. I also add2ml strontium mixture daily.

I mix snow,bb,sp,gold and Cv and add in the morning with lights off. I cycle the rx 3on3off also. I think that covers about everything.

Just a question. Have you had any problems with running GFO, using zeovit? What type of GFO are you running.

 

[Zedar]

sail,

I added 2 teaspoons a day for az week. That brought my levels up to NSW.

Stability is added twice a month.

BradR,

Are you asking me? I'll answer in case you are
I "HAD" an algae problem. Till I started dosing.
Now the problem is my nutrients are TOO LOW. Thats why im asking J if i should dose nitrate.

I started feeding more. And im thinking of buying a few more green chromis. To dirty my water Fish poop seems to be a good thing for acro's

Paulairduck,

Zeo tanks dont need to run GFO. They become Po4 depleted just using the zeo method.

These methods zeo,prodibio, FM etc strip the water of nutrients so efficiently that the corals starve if not fed regularly.

Some of the ways hobbiest's can feed the corals are using zeovit or some of the other manufacturers products and/or add more fish and feed the hell out of them.

cheers
John

 

[sailfintang]

Zedar, again thanks for the tips and money saver alternatives. I am in the process of compiling a list of items i will swutch too in the next month to try and make my tank pull a 180 on itself. One thing I was wondering would I really need the Zeobac or alternative the Seachem Stability wont the ZEOrocks or Matrix do the job alone. Seems like extra money that does not need to be spent.

 

[Paulairduck]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=12135527#post12135527 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Zedar
sail,

I added 2 teaspoons a day for az week. That brought my levels up to NSW.

Stability is added twice a month.

BradR,

Are you asking me? I'll answer in case you are
I "HAD" an algae problem. Till I started dosing.
Now the problem is my nutrients are TOO LOW. Thats why im asking J if i should dose nitrate.

I started feeding more. And im thinking of buying a few more green chromis. To dirty my water Fish poop seems to be a good thing for acro's

Paulairduck,

Zeo tanks dont need to run GFO. They become Po4 depleted just using the zeo method.

These methods zeo,prodibio, FM etc strip the water of nutrients so efficiently that the corals starve if not fed regularly.

Some of the ways hobbiest's can feed the corals are using zeovit or some of the other manufacturers products and/or add more fish and feed the hell out of them.

cheers


John

That is why I was asking J P about using GFO, he is the first zeo tank with spectacular colors that I have seen using GFO???

I guess I'll just PM him, but i wanted everybody to see his answer