Zeovit

[sailfintang]

So I created a list of additives and media to use to obtain a ZEOvit low nutrient starved system. I have a Primary list and an alternative list, the difference in pricing is around 30-40 dollars to use mainly ZEOvit compared to alternatives. Let me know hwta you all think.

ZEOvit System Supplements and Alternatives

Primary Choices
1. Seachem Matrix: 1Liter treats 100 gallons → $10
2. ZEOvit Sponge Power: 1 drop per 25 gallons → $20
3. ZEOvit Amino Acids High Concentrate: 1 drop per 25 gallons → $30
4. Reactor built out of old RedSeaBerlin Skimmer with pump → $0
5. Potassium Chloride: Poweder → $5
6. B-Ionic: 2 part calcium and alk (dkh) → $15
7. B-Ionic Mag: → $9
8. B-Ionic Potassium Iodide: → $7
9. Carbon: ?
10. Iron: ?
11. SeaChem Reef Salt: 150 gallon mix → $39.99

Total Cost approximately = $140

*Only ZEOvit purchases will be Sponge Power and Amino Acids HC
*Undecided on my Iron and Carbon source at the moment.

------------------------------------------------------------------------

Alternative Choices
1. ZEOvit Rocks: 1L treats 100gallons → $12
2. ZEObac: 1 drop per 25 gallons → $13
3. ZEOfood7: 1 drop per 25 gallons → $13
4. ZEOvit Sponge Power: 1 drop per 25 gallons → $20
5. ZEOvit Amino Acids High Concentrate: 1 drop per 25 gallons → $30
6. Reactor built out of old RedSeaBerlin Skimmer with pump → $0
7. Potassium Chloride: Poweder → $5
8. B-Ionic: 2 part calcium and alk (dkh) → $15
9. B-Ionic Mag: → $9
10. B-Ionic Potassium Iodide: → $7
11. Carbon: ?
12. Iron: ?
13. SeaChem Reef Salt: 150 gallon mix → $39.99


Total Cost approximately = $170

*ZEOvit purchases, ZEOrocks, ZEObac, ZEOfood7, Sponge Power, Amino Acids HC

 

[ocd_mariner]

Sorry to hijack the thread-

J.Prostrata: I've seen your sick frag rack posted all over this forum, its time to show the real goods. I need to see your FTS, I've got the shakes man!

 

[miwoodar]

I don't think he's with us any more .

You can see more of his photos in his photobucket account.

http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v467/gqjeff/jeffs reef/

 

[sailfintang]

Thanks for that link all his corals just look amazing almost unreal.

 

[GSMguy]

Its too Bad J.Prostrata is gone, his nitrate levels are really something SPS keepers should investigate

20ppm nitrate and his colors are just amazing.

 

[Zedar]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=12135759#post12135759 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by sailfintang
So I created a list of additives and media to use to obtain a ZEOvit low nutrient starved system. I have a Primary list and an alternative list, the difference in pricing is around 30-40 dollars to use mainly ZEOvit compared to alternatives. Let me know hwta you all think.

ZEOvit System Supplements and Alternatives

Primary Choices
1. Seachem Matrix: 1Liter treats 100 gallons → $10
2. ZEOvit Sponge Power: 1 drop per 25 gallons → $20
3. ZEOvit Amino Acids High Concentrate: 1 drop per 25 gallons → $30
4. Reactor built out of old RedSeaBerlin Skimmer with pump → $0
5. Potassium Chloride: Poweder → $5
6. B-Ionic: 2 part calcium and alk (dkh) → $15
7. B-Ionic Mag: → $9
8. B-Ionic Potassium Iodide: → $7
9. Carbon: ?
10. Iron: ?
11. SeaChem Reef Salt: 150 gallon mix → $39.99

Total Cost approximately = $140

*Only ZEOvit purchases will be Sponge Power and Amino Acids HC
*Undecided on my Iron and Carbon source at the moment.

------------------------------------------------------------------------

Alternative Choices
1. ZEOvit Rocks: 1L treats 100gallons → $12
2. ZEObac: 1 drop per 25 gallons → $13
3. ZEOfood7: 1 drop per 25 gallons → $13
4. ZEOvit Sponge Power: 1 drop per 25 gallons → $20
5. ZEOvit Amino Acids High Concentrate: 1 drop per 25 gallons → $30
6. Reactor built out of old RedSeaBerlin Skimmer with pump → $0
7. Potassium Chloride: Poweder → $5
8. B-Ionic: 2 part calcium and alk (dkh) → $15
9. B-Ionic Mag: → $9
10. B-Ionic Potassium Iodide: → $7
11. Carbon: ?
12. Iron: ?
13. SeaChem Reef Salt: 150 gallon mix → $39.99


Total Cost approximately = $170

*ZEOvit purchases, ZEOrocks, ZEObac, ZEOfood7, Sponge Power, Amino Acids HC

Im quoting the zeo manual

"The functional life of the mix is
limited and has to be exchanged every 6-12 weeks depending on the tanks nutrient
load."

The matrix never needs replacing. So theres some extra cost there.
either system will work just fine.

 

[miwoodar]

If the SeaChem stuff never needs replacement, it is not doing the same thing the zeo stuff is theoretically doing. I'm not commenting on the merits of this - just an observation.

 

[Zedar]

Zeo is doing the same thing, just more aggressively.

Zeovit is a group of zeolites that were chosen for their ammonium absorbing properties in saltwater.

These Zeolites trap ammonium molecules in their pores. This rapidly drops the amount of ammonium in the tank.

"This is why its so aggressive." it short circuits the ammonium cycle that occurs in none zeo tanks.
But thats not the end of the story. After the ammonium gets trapped. Bacteria(Aerobic) feed on the ammonium and reduce it to nitrite. we all know this cycle .. the difference is .. on the inside of the zeolite lives the denitrifiers So the food "nitrate" is brought right to their doorstep. So once the ammonium molecule has been removed by the bacteria, another takes it place and the process repeats itself. But eventually all the pores get blocked and the zeolite can no longer trap ammonium molecules.
Its time to replace it.

With matrix, the story is slightly different. The pore size is perfect for the group of bacteria we want to house. It doesn't trap ammonium its just a really big housing project for bacteria
Its has a tremendous surface area for bacteria to live on and more importantly live in. The difference with this vs zeo is the bacteria have to grab the ammonium as it passes by.. so its not as aggressive as zeo.

Think of matrix as a deep sand bed. The surface houses aerobic bacteria while the inner portion houses the denitrifiers.
So why not just use a deep sandbed? Sandbeds get dirty and cant be cleaned without killing the denitrifiers. Matrix can be cleaned just like zeovit. So no worries that your deep sand bed will go toxic on you.

Now the best part of this is the carbon dosing. Without the carbon dosing, zeovit and matrix wouldn't be able to do what they do. Its the carbon that lets the denitrifiers do their job so well.

This is how a fed denitrifying coil works, except, you dont put the carbon in the coil water it goes directly into the tank water.

 

[Waxxiemann]

Do you guys think it is beneficial to keep a refugium when using a system like Zeo or other super low nutrient system. Would macro algae even be able to grow in this environment?

 

[Zedar]

Wax,

No, macros die off in zeo tanks.

 

[Waxxiemann]

Thanks Zedar, good to know. I'm planning a new sump right now for various equipment related reasons and I've been thinking of dropping the reufium section due to space limitations.

 

[sailfintang]

Good question about the fuge, guess I will have to do something ith mine as well....just what is the question.

First I have to build my reactor will probably order some of the supplements next week will keep you all updated on how things go

 

[Zedar]

Good luck

 

[Waxxiemann]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=12137507#post12137507 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by sailfintang
Good question about the fuge, guess I will have to do something ith mine as well....just what is the question.

First I have to build my reactor will probably order some of the supplements next week will keep you all updated on how things go

Just take everything out of it and run live rock in the dark with tons of flow.

 

[miwoodar]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=12136851#post12136851 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Zedar
Zeo is doing the same thing, just more aggressively.

Zeovit is a group of zeolites that were chosen for their ammonium absorbing properties in saltwater.

These Zeolites trap ammonium molecules in their pores. This rapidly drops the amount of ammonium in the tank.

"This is why its so aggressive." it short circuits the ammonium cycle that occurs in none zeo tanks.
But thats not the end of the story. After the ammonium gets trapped. Bacteria(Aerobic) feed on the ammonium and reduce it to nitrite. we all know this cycle .. the difference is .. on the inside of the zeolite lives the denitrifiers So the food "nitrate" is brought right to their doorstep. So once the ammonium molecule has been removed by the bacteria, another takes it place and the process repeats itself. But eventually all the pores get blocked and the zeolite can no longer trap ammonium molecules.
Its time to replace it.

With matrix, the story is slightly different. The pore size is perfect for the group of bacteria we want to house. It doesn't trap ammonium its just a really big housing project for bacteria
Its has a tremendous surface area for bacteria to live on and more importantly live in. The difference with this vs zeo is the bacteria have to grab the ammonium as it passes by.. so its not as aggressive as zeo.

Think of matrix as a deep sand bed. The surface houses aerobic bacteria while the inner portion houses the denitrifiers.
So why not just use a deep sandbed? Sandbeds get dirty and cant be cleaned without killing the denitrifiers. Matrix can be cleaned just like zeovit. So no worries that your deep sand bed will go toxic on you.

Now the best part of this is the carbon dosing. Without the carbon dosing, zeovit and matrix wouldn't be able to do what they do. Its the carbon that lets the denitrifiers do their job so well.

This is how a fed denitrifying coil works, except, you dont put the carbon in the coil water it goes directly into the tank water.

To clarify your understanding...it looks like you consider the zeolite stones to be nothing more than a fancy strainer. You don't believe that the zeolite material imparts any chemical reaction on the water (other than trapping the ammonium) or provides a nutrient or chemical that aids in the growth of any particular bacteria strains?

 

[Zedar]

No the zeolites dont add any chemical or nutrient that aids growth of bacteria. Thats what Zeobac and Zeostart are for. The zeolites are a molecular absorbing mineral. They preferentially trap ammonium.

heres a good article on how it works.

http://www.wetwebmedia.com/ca/cav1i3/zeovit/Zeolite_Filters/Zeolite_Filters.htm

 

[sailfintang]

So does that seachem stability do the same thing or could there be another alternative to those Zedar?

 

[Zedar]

yes stability replaces zeobac or prodibio or fauna marin etc. they are all just a group of bacteria.

theres some people that argue that they arent needed at all. That all you need to do is add a carbon source and they will grow

 

[sailfintang]

Okay so I could use pretty much any other Aerobic Bacterial supplement in order achive what the 3 ZEO supplements do using 2 cheaper sources Seachem Matrix and a aerobic bateria supplement like marine-max or bacterial balancer etc..

 

[Zedar]

no you dont want just an Aerobic Bacterial supplement. look whats in seachem.

"
Stabilityâ"žÂ¢ contains a synergistic blend of aerobic, anaerobic, and facultative bacteria which facilitate the breakdown of waste organics, ammonia, and nitrate. (Picture at left is for illustration purposes only)"

Zeo doesnt list their product contents but its similar