Zeovit

[glassbox-design]

Husky,

It can be used before ULNS, but it is very potent...a little bit goes a long way. We are LN, not what I would consider ULNS (we feed lots ) and 3ml is giving a light dusting in 100g BB system.

I have not used the stability/matrix but given the array of options available I see no reason to at this time. People are reporting success, but between Zeo, FM, Prodibio, and Polyplab I feel there are plenty to choose from in terms of bacteria and substrate. FYI, Brightwell will further be adding to this market.

It will be interesting to see the effect of zeolites on these hybrid methods. Based on the results users have reported with elos zeolites alone I feel they may be a missing link. Particularly in our case with no sand and <15lbs of LR...

We do not view Fuel as a replacement for zeofood, but more a trace/nitrogen supplement to influence coloration. JMO.

Regarding going zeo, everything has it's pro's and cons...it's something only you can decide

 

[Husky_1]

E&F,
Thanks,
I agree that I can be the only one to decide that. I like the idea of VSV, as I would prefer not to buy into one system. I have to admit that I must look at Prodibio to see what the highlevel view of their system looks like. I am going on vacation at the end of May. This gives me plenty of time to research and decide. In the mean time, I need to bring my Calc and Mag down, start testing for K, and plan out my method.

 

[gotbags-10]

sorry to be a little off topic but I have a question about using the seachem matrix vs. the zeolites. I realize that both have the ability to absorb ammonium, zeo being able to do it more aggresively. But what about stirring up the zeolites and releasing the mulm for the polyps? All the zeo people say this is essential and obviously you cant do that with the matrix so is there something else you could add to make up for this?

 

[sailfintang]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=12308187#post12308187 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by gotbags-10
sorry to be a little off topic but I have a question about using the seachem matrix vs. the zeolites. I realize that both have the ability to absorb ammonium, zeo being able to do it more aggresively. But what about stirring up the zeolites and releasing the mulm for the polyps? All the zeo people say this is essential and obviously you cant do that with the matrix so is there something else you could add to make up for this?

You should stir the matrix and try to get the mulm/debris off of them as well, i plane to clean mine tomorrow, in fact i plan to clean the whole sump out to get rid of any decaying matter that could release nutrients back into the tank.

 

[sailfintang]

I have now cut back the v/s/v to 5ml and may go lower I did notice a few frags show retracted PE. I am not sure if this is do the v/s/v or the bottle of K powder I added. I am cutting back on that as well and will be doing about a 105 water change tomorrow. Will keep you all posted, algae has already returned on some of the cleaned live rock due to po4 leech I believe.

 

[Trotter]

?

 

[Canarygirl]

have now cut back the v/s/v to 5ml and may go lower I did notice a few frags show retracted PE. I am not sure if this is do the v/s/v or the bottle of K powder I added.

Please tell me you didn't add a bottle of KCL powder....:eek2:

 

[sailfintang]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=12347191#post12347191 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Canarygirl
Please tell me you didn't add a bottle of KCL powder....:eek2:

Well i do have some bad news about my system thats has almost made me want to quit the hobby entirly.

I did add a whole bottle of K Cl and am halfway through the next one. I also replaced about half my sand bed over the last two weeks. In doing so I have lost several fish and a few corals have bleached out and am not sure if they will return. I have been dosing AA's but i think its a lost cause. All my levels are spot on tested after the first fish and after the second fish loss. Not sure what caused the die off from the tank buts its quite upsetting to see this occur. Hope others are more fortunate than I was out there.

 

[Husky_1]

Sailfintang,
Sorry to hear your problems, I am sure it will all work out. I think your experience has highlighted and reaffirmed a general feeling I got after glassbox report his cloudiness with dosing any amount of VSV:

1. Breaking ground is great feeling and needs to be done to move the hobby along, but if I cannot stomach the loss because of testing, I am probably better off using high quality additives that are tried and true, dosing the recommended amounts.
2. Too many changes at once is a recipe for problems.
3. Make sure I have all my water parameters in check a few weeks before I start Zeo/VSV or whatever bacteria driven system I will start with.

 

[sailfintang]

Yea be careful is all I can say. I have stopped using the v/s/v for now and am refusing to add any new livestock until things level out. Im not sure what happened. One day all the fish were swimming eating and hapy and day after day one would die. They were all eating and seemed fine but something wasnt. EXPERIENCED NO CLOUDY WATER FROM THE V/S/V. Not sure if it ws low o2 or what but is has been quite depressing. I m sure that when i get hoem today another fish will be belly up been like this all week.

 

[glassbox-design]

Sailfin,

Sorry to hear about your loss. I would do what you're doing... stop any dosing and water changes.

For other's looking to raise their K, I'd recommend Warner Marine's Balanced Potassium supplement, at $8 a bottle it's worth the it for ease of mine IMO.



Husky,

We have gone back to dosing and all is normal again. I believe it was because our skimmer was still new and breaking in? It was very bizarre but now the skimmer is working well and everything appears fine.

We started over the weekend with .25ml and are now up to .75ml. Our mixture is 10ml vodka to 1/8 tsp sugar and vinegar. We had some algae growth so we went with a primarily all vodka mixture. Now back to dosing the algae is wasting away.

I do think you hit it on the head, get params in check before doing any C Dosing. If you're worried about K I'd suggest RBS or SCRS, both have near NSW params and make it easier than manually adjusting.

 

[jennmac415]

sorry for your losses, that is very frustrating and heartbreaking.


Not to hijack, but what is K and what is KCL powder? sorry to be so dumb. Just can't figure out what that is.

 

[Husky_1]

Jennmac,
K=Kalium=Potassium

 

[Husky_1]

Glassbox, I am glad to hear that all is well now. So it sounds like you had a depleted o2 issue if that was the case with the skimmer. Sorry for the dumb question, but why did you just do Vodka for a bit? Also, is that in the same ratio as your old V/S/V

 

[sailfintang]

Cl = Chloride

 

[glassbox-design]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=12349650#post12349650 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Husky_1
Glassbox, I am glad to hear that all is well now. So it sounds like you had a depleted o2 issue if that was the case with the skimmer. Sorry for the dumb question, but why did you just do Vodka for a bit? Also, is that in the same ratio as your old V/S/V

Yeah we're not sure if it was o2 or actual export...either way we're happy things are working again.

In our blog we explain it briefly, but basically we've noticed in our system vinegar can cause "slime" type algaes and sugar more green/brown blooms. We're experiencing some algae right now so we're cutting those back until nutrients get back down.

We adjust our VSV make up according to how the tank looks/reacts...but typically it has higher quantities of S&V.

 

[jennmac415]

Thanks, guys!

 

[Canarygirl]

Auuuuggghh

I have said several times on RC that people should not use KCL powder. I lost a coral colony after dosing my very first (and last) teaspoon!! It's ionically imbalanced with the 100% pure chloride, not like potassium salts in NSW which are a mixture. Also, there's no telling what else is in there.

What happened to you is not, IMO, a result of your "v/s/v" dosing, but of dosing that KCL.

 

[sailfintang]

well unfortunatly there are so many variables that iwas doing I cant say which casue the problem, v/s/v, KCl, replacing sand bed, stability and matrix, o2 depletion. I cant say but all I can do now is slowly attmept to restock when things level out, I think even a clam may be on the verge of dying.

 

[Canarygirl]

well unfortunatly there are so many variables that iwas doing I cant say which casue the problem, v/s/v, KCl, replacing sand bed, stability and matrix, o2 depletion. I cant say but all I can do now is slowly attmept to restock when things level out, I think even a clam may be on the verge of dying.

This is a huge bummer...I get your point about all the different variables. And I know somebody else who lost a few SPS colonies after stirring up his sandbed too much.

Well, keep doing what your doing with the water changes and putting fresh carbon in the sump, and good luck.