Zeovit

[Husky_1]

My situation is still the same, still have some HA in the tank. I was thinking of switching from Zeo to a VSV method, but then figured I would give Zeo a shot until the January time frame. Based on recommendations from Bob and the rest, I have upped my Zeo reactor flow, am changing my zeoliths out every 4 weeks, and go on a daily bac dosing for 2 weeks after the stone change.s If my HA issue is still not solved by then, I may be forced to take a different approach.

BTW, I do weekly water changes, have 0 Nitrate, 0 Salifert () measured P04, skim wet, change my filters out every other day, siphon detritus and blow out the rocks weekly, and give the HA a trim a couple times a week. Its also important to note that I have basically increased my feeding 4-6 fold, since starting Zeo. I used to lightly feed every 2-3 days, now I feed 2x day and now my fish are much happier.

 

[t5Nitro]

For dosing zeo do you need an ultra low nutrient tank to begin with? Is there any product that removes PO4 and NO3 by chance?

 

[Husky_1]

Hi T5, Zeo is a means of getting you to the Low nutrient stage. In general you use the basic 4 to remove Ammonia, nitrate and phosphate. The basic 4 is the zeoliths in combination with ZeoStart (The carbon source), Zeobac (the bacteria source), and Zeofood to create a bacteria driven system that reduces nitrates and phosphates.

 

[sailfintang]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13474710#post13474710 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by t5Nitro
For dosing zeo do you need an ultra low nutrient tank to begin with? Is there any product that removes PO4 and NO3 by chance?

I have tried the majority of the products out there for no3 removal and they seem useless and this includes:

AZ-NO3
De Nitrate
Nitrate Sponge
Coil Denitrator

The other products I have not tried that I hear are good possibilities are the RDSB and Sulfur denitrator, I plan to remod my coil denitrator into a sulfur dentrator if I do not see any results in the next month. I would do a RDSB but do not have the rooom to implement one.

As for PO4 the best results I have seen are through GFO HC and V/S/V dosing.

 

[Whalehead9]

did you try vodka dosing? It took a while, but I am now at zero using API's nitrate kit.

 

[sailfintang]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13475511#post13475511 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Whalehead9
did you try vodka dosing? It took a while, but I am now at zero using API's nitrate kit.

Well vodka dosing eliminating my PO4 but left me with no3. The v/s/v fuels the bactera which in turns feeds on the po4 and no3, after some discussion in the v/s/v thread we found there are times when the bacteria consume all of one element on not enough of the other. I had stopped v/s/v dosing recently and my po4 has risen but my no3 is still hanging at 20ppm. I am now back to using the v/s/v and adding prodibio to see what happens this time around. Only issue is I am moving in 2 weeks so I plane to change my substrate and clean the tank thouroughly. So i will be transfering my stock to a 55 while I clean my display.

If you read back a coupl posts Zedar made a good point, even the reefs have po4 and no3 it is needed our goal is not to have 0 but a smal fraction to keep things in balance, acheiving that without full blown Zeo is what we are after, then we can focus on coloration.

 

[Zedar]

Wow its been awhile!!!

Other then Algae growing on my powerheads and lockline, Im still algae free. A once a month cleaning takes care of that.
It appears there is P04 bound up in the plastic.

Corals are growing like weeds.

Hope all is well with the rest of you.

Sailfin,
How is the tank? 0ppm P04 and 20ppm N03 should be fine.

 

[sailfintang]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13476835#post13476835 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Zedar
Wow its been awhile!!!

Other then Algae growing on my powerheads and lockline, Im still algae free. A once a month cleaning takes care of that.
It appears there is P04 bound up in the plastic.

Corals are growing like weeds.

Hope all is well with the rest of you.

Sailfin,
How is the tank? 0ppm P04 and 20ppm N03 should be fine.

Yes long time Zedar, things are well after an alk issue corals are back on track colors are real nice. Liek I said I stopped vodka dosing to bring the PO4 up so I could attempt lowering the no3 and po4 together, this resulted in a smal HA bloom nothing major but I am back to dosing. Also constructiong a new sump to include a reactor for matrix, 2 phosbans, gonna be tryign some new things after I move. But I realy like where I am now. Hoping the corals grow more and more.

 

[t5Nitro]

Will the 4 basic ones as mentioned eliminate GHA problems by reducing the NO3 and PO4? According to my test kits they're undetectable, but the GHA tells me otherwise.

 

[The Saltman]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=12130641#post12130641 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by 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

I had a few questions about this. Are the seachem matrix rocks used for enhanced bacteria production when dosing a carbon source? Can these rocks be ran in a basic TLF phosban reactor? Is the bottle of stability used to make sure that you are replenishing good bacteria in the water needed to break down ammonia, nitrite, and nitrate? I'm just trying to understand each phase of the zeo system.

 

[sailfintang]

Are the seachem matrix rocks used for enhanced bacteria production when dosing a carbon source?

Yes you can imagine them as the Zeo stones or rocks. Just not a nearly aggressive. bacteria will grow on the matrix and consume no3, no2 and ammonia, your carbon source maintains the bacteria population.

Here is Seachem's pitch:
http://www.seachem.com/Products/product_pages/Matrix.html

Can these rocks be ran in a basic TLF phosban reactor?

I would probably recommend a larger sized media reactor for them. Since 500mL is required per 50 gallons, I use a Liter and it nearly filled a 3" Diameter reactor I made. Look into something like this for the matrix stones:

http://www.aquacave.com/detail.aspx?ID=1566

A reactor will increase the efficiency.

Is the bottle of stability used to make sure that you are replenishing good bacteria in the water needed to break down ammonia, nitrite, and nitrate?

Yes the bacteria that get skimmed out or exported need replenished. Zeo uses Zeobac, and there is alway prodibio specifically (BioDigest). I switched to the Prodibio and see quite a difference in clarity wheen dosing with v/s/v. Be sure your water is well oxygenated when dosing.

Hope this helps you out. Its getting to the ULNS that takes some time.

 

[The Saltman]

I went and read about the prodibio biodigest. Its seems like a much better approach of replenshing bacteria. How long does a kit last? What needs replacing out of it when it it used up?

 

[The Saltman]

Also, is there anything wrong with only using vodka as the carbon source glassboxe's article instead of sugar and vinegar as well?

 

[Paul_PSU]

I use the biodigest and there are 30 vials in the box. I dose 1 vial every 15 days. So mine will last me 15 months. I just switched to the vsv mixture. I was dosing just vodka before. Just the vodka worked for me. I am going to go back to just vodka. I am having issues with low ph 7.8-8.0 and I didn't realize that vinegar lowers ph. I can't add buffer cause I have high alk (11) and the buffer will raise the alk also.

 

[sailfintang]

I went and read about the prodibio biodigest. Its seems like a much better approach of replenshing bacteria. How long does a kit last? What needs replacing out of it when it it used up?

It depends on what pack you get as Paul mentioned, they have 6, 12, and 30 vials I believe. I use the 12 and it lasts me 4 to 8 weeks depending on when I dose. OSmetimes I add after a water change and when adding new livestock.

Also, is there anything wrong with only using vodka as the carbon source glassboxe's article instead of sugar and vinegar as well?

The only thing wrong is you can develop a monoculture of bacteria as I understand. This means that bacteria A for example only likes Vodka and will consume that source but baccteria B likes vinegar by not supplementing bacteria B you end up with a less bacteria to aid in the denitrification, but thats why we add the Stability or Prodibio. This is why I use the v/s/v mix.

I can't add buffer cause I have high alk (11) and the buffer will raise the alk also.

Paul you can alway use a lesser amount of vinegar so it does not affect the ph or add baking soda or soda ash one of these raises ph and is not suppose to effect alk much. I can't rmemebr which one though.

HTH

 

[glassbox-design]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13656129#post13656129 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Paul_PSU
I use the biodigest and there are 30 vials in the box. I dose 1 vial every 15 days. So mine will last me 15 months. I just switched to the vsv mixture. I was dosing just vodka before. Just the vodka worked for me. I am going to go back to just vodka. I am having issues with low ph 7.8-8.0 and I didn't realize that vinegar lowers ph. I can't add buffer cause I have high alk (11) and the buffer will raise the alk also.

Hi Paul,

There should not be a significant amount of vinegar to cause the PH suppression you are describing. It sounds like an oxygen / co2 issue. FWIW, many tanks suffer from this, and there has yet to be any real negatives observed. Try cracking some windows open or drawing in fresh air via your skimmer, it should help raise the PH up a few points.

 

[takayan]

Matrix does not ion exchange, but Zeolite does.
If I am right, Zeolite is more efficient than Matrix to get ULN environment.

 

[The Saltman]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13658249#post13658249 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by takayan
Matrix does not ion exchange, but Zeolite does.
If I am right, Zeolite is more efficient than Matrix to get ULN environment.

Will the matrix still maintain the same purpose in the end though of getting a ULN system? What is the downside of not having ion exchange?

 

[The Saltman]

http://glassbox-design.com/2008/achieved-through-observation-and-experimentation/

I think I'm going to use this system. However, I have read the recent article about vodka dosing and how much to start off with. How much vinegar and sugar should I start off with?

 

[takayan]

You may want to read this article for ZEOvit filters.

http://zeovitusa.com/pages.php?pageid=8