sailfintang
Member
What is the recommended level for potassium?
Zeovit
- Thread starter sailfintang
- Start date
Greetings All !
The ZEOvit system that I designed was not intended as a display system. It was operated as a multiple-use "working" system. It's primary intent was to mitigate the sometimes massive organic discharge from newly received transshiped corals, and to hold (... as opposed to "improve" ...) the colors of newly received WC corals (either from direct transshipments, or from the 104th street wholesalers).
Specs: 49G All-Glass with 29G Glass sump (average volume is ~64G); Built-in Overflow with 2" PVC plumbing; ASM G-1 Protein Skimmer; 27 lb LR; 2 X 150W 14K MH; 2 X Rio HF14 return pumps; 2 X 3/4" Sea Swirls; Madison ZeoReactor; 250W Visitherm Heater.
The system was setup in the middle of March 2005, and operated through April 2006. It was down-graded to a "typical" Berlin-style system when someone else took over its operation.
The initial set-up ...
The sump configuration ...
After I realized I didn't need hardly any live rock (27 lbs reduced down to 5 lbs. . Yep, a 60 gallon system did what it did with ~ 5 lbs. of LR) ...
After I moved the system out onto the sales floor ...
The kind of organic overload the system was designed to moderate (this is a Ricordea piece from a "direct" Haiti shipment) ...
This system accomodated virtually any nutrient overload that I threw at it. The Salifert tests didn't twitch for more than 8 hours ... mind-boggling. I'll let you folks judge the color holding capacity in the next post ...
:thumbsup:
Not currently running a ZEOsystem, but if my psychotic interest in non-photosynthetic corals digs any deeper into my twisted little mind ... that could change in a hurry.
The ZEOvit system that I designed was not intended as a display system. It was operated as a multiple-use "working" system. It's primary intent was to mitigate the sometimes massive organic discharge from newly received transshiped corals, and to hold (... as opposed to "improve" ...) the colors of newly received WC corals (either from direct transshipments, or from the 104th street wholesalers).
Specs: 49G All-Glass with 29G Glass sump (average volume is ~64G); Built-in Overflow with 2" PVC plumbing; ASM G-1 Protein Skimmer; 27 lb LR; 2 X 150W 14K MH; 2 X Rio HF14 return pumps; 2 X 3/4" Sea Swirls; Madison ZeoReactor; 250W Visitherm Heater.
The system was setup in the middle of March 2005, and operated through April 2006. It was down-graded to a "typical" Berlin-style system when someone else took over its operation.
The initial set-up ...
The sump configuration ...
After I realized I didn't need hardly any live rock (27 lbs reduced down to 5 lbs. . Yep, a 60 gallon system did what it did with ~ 5 lbs. of LR) ...
After I moved the system out onto the sales floor ...
The kind of organic overload the system was designed to moderate (this is a Ricordea piece from a "direct" Haiti shipment) ...
This system accomodated virtually any nutrient overload that I threw at it. The Salifert tests didn't twitch for more than 8 hours ... mind-boggling. I'll let you folks judge the color holding capacity in the next post ...
:thumbsup:
Last edited:
glassbox-design
New member
Very nice Meso. i've also been following your dibs project :thumbsup: please lmk when some nice RBTA's are available!
We use the system as Zedar linked to [here] as a means of nutrient export. It seems to be particularly helpful in situations where skimming production drops from over-sizing and/or not much LR is utilized.
IMO it's a safer version of vodka dosing....but far from Zeovit. Like Meso, we would like to branch into a few non-photosynthetic's and feel the added bacteria will help reduce nutrients from increased feedings and serve as a food source.
We use the system as Zedar linked to [here] as a means of nutrient export. It seems to be particularly helpful in situations where skimming production drops from over-sizing and/or not much LR is utilized.
IMO it's a safer version of vodka dosing....but far from Zeovit. Like Meso, we would like to branch into a few non-photosynthetic's and feel the added bacteria will help reduce nutrients from increased feedings and serve as a food source.
sailfintang
Member
Zedar how often do you dose the sea chem stability for your tank just curious beacuase I think i am going to use that and the matrix rather than the zeo stuff but get the zeo AA and sponge power all other supplements will be from ESV B Ionic
Sailfin,
I dose stability every two weeks. Too start off I would dose twice the first week. Just to put as many of these good bacteria in the system as possible. Its may not be necessary but the price is right
And i would highly recommend using the mix that glassbox has concocted here It has worked very well for me. I was alternating the three ingredients on different days.. mixing them is a better approach.
http://glassbox-design.com/2008/achieved-through-observation-and-experimentation/
Glassbox I hope you dont mind me posting your site without your permission
I dose stability every two weeks. Too start off I would dose twice the first week. Just to put as many of these good bacteria in the system as possible. Its may not be necessary but the price is right
And i would highly recommend using the mix that glassbox has concocted here
It has worked very well for me. I was alternating the three ingredients on different days.. mixing them is a better approach. http://glassbox-design.com/2008/achieved-through-observation-and-experimentation/
Glassbox I hope you dont mind me posting your site without your permission
Greetings All !
Remembering that this is NOT a good regiment to apply to display systems ...
~ 0.75 L Zeovit media.
~ 90 GPH flow through ZEOreactor.
Regularly a 3 hour on, 3 hour off pump schedule, but continuous pump operation during the first 24 hours after a shipment's arrival.
Exchanged 1/2 of the media every 4 weeks.
100% GAC exchange every 4 weeks.
200 micron filter sock changed daily.
10% weekly water change using NSW (... although sometimes less if there was a gap in the shipping schedule).
ZEObak dosing: I dosed the system as though it was 100 gallons net, and as though it was always in the first 2 weeks of ZEOvit media introduction. 12-16 drops daily (3-4 drops/25 G), dependent on shipment schedule. I cut back on this during holiday periods when shipments didn't happen. This is well above the recommended long term dosing.
ZEOfood7: I dosed the system as though it was 100 gallons net, and as though it was always in the first 2 weeks of ZEOvit media introduction. 12-16 drops daily (3-4 drops/25 G), dependent on shipment schedule. I cut back on this during holiday periods when shipments didn't happen. This is well above the recommended long term dosing.
ZEOstart ("original" version): 0.25 mL twice daily. While I never had a bad experience with this version, some other folks did so I used a lower than recommended dosage. I would sometimes add an "extra dose" when a shipment was placed into the system.
ZEOstart2: 1.0 mL twice daily, although I must say that I often wandered waaaay off the commonly accepted range of what most (all?) ZEOusers did with ZEOstart2. If I was in the store all day, I would do things like add 2-3 drops every hour, for 8-10 hours. I would sometimes add an "extra dose" when a shipment was placed into the system.
Potassium iodide/fluoride concentrate: 4 drops twice weekly.
Iron concentrate: 4 drops three times per week (this is 50% above recommended dosage).
Remember ... this regiment was used to mitigate nutrient shifts, and to maintain arrival coloration in Acropora and related genera. The system was inherently "unstable" so I was never able to get at the coloration associated with either phase 2 or phase 3.
Also, I forgot to list a key parameter ... salinity was targeted at ~ 1.0245 (using a regularly re-calibrated handheld refractometer).
JMO ... HTH
:thumbsup:
Thanks for the kind comments, folks ! ...
Remembering that this is NOT a good regiment to apply to display systems ...
~ 0.75 L Zeovit media.
~ 90 GPH flow through ZEOreactor.
Regularly a 3 hour on, 3 hour off pump schedule, but continuous pump operation during the first 24 hours after a shipment's arrival.
Exchanged 1/2 of the media every 4 weeks.
100% GAC exchange every 4 weeks.
200 micron filter sock changed daily.
10% weekly water change using NSW (... although sometimes less if there was a gap in the shipping schedule).
ZEObak dosing: I dosed the system as though it was 100 gallons net, and as though it was always in the first 2 weeks of ZEOvit media introduction. 12-16 drops daily (3-4 drops/25 G), dependent on shipment schedule. I cut back on this during holiday periods when shipments didn't happen. This is well above the recommended long term dosing.
ZEOfood7: I dosed the system as though it was 100 gallons net, and as though it was always in the first 2 weeks of ZEOvit media introduction. 12-16 drops daily (3-4 drops/25 G), dependent on shipment schedule. I cut back on this during holiday periods when shipments didn't happen. This is well above the recommended long term dosing.
ZEOstart ("original" version): 0.25 mL twice daily. While I never had a bad experience with this version, some other folks did so I used a lower than recommended dosage. I would sometimes add an "extra dose" when a shipment was placed into the system.
ZEOstart2: 1.0 mL twice daily, although I must say that I often wandered waaaay off the commonly accepted range of what most (all?) ZEOusers did with ZEOstart2. If I was in the store all day, I would do things like add 2-3 drops every hour, for 8-10 hours. I would sometimes add an "extra dose" when a shipment was placed into the system.
Potassium iodide/fluoride concentrate: 4 drops twice weekly.
Iron concentrate: 4 drops three times per week (this is 50% above recommended dosage).
Remember ... this regiment was used to mitigate nutrient shifts, and to maintain arrival coloration in Acropora and related genera. The system was inherently "unstable" so I was never able to get at the coloration associated with either phase 2 or phase 3.
Also, I forgot to list a key parameter ... salinity was targeted at ~ 1.0245 (using a regularly re-calibrated handheld refractometer).
JMO ... HTH
:thumbsup:
Well This may sound strange but i dosed Potassium nitrate yesterday.
My nitrates have always been unreadable. After seeing tanks with healthy corals with nitrate readings of up to 20ppm I decided to give it A try.
Most people suggest feeding the fish more. And I have. But that releases P04 into the system. This increased just nitrates and a small bump in potassium.
I took a reading before dosing and as suspected it read 0. I mixed up an 8 oz glass of DI water with a teaspoon of nitrate powder. I poured in half the glass.
After allowing a few hours to mix with the tank I took a reading. I now have 10ppm A little more then I wanted. But that will fall on its own.
So far I havent seen any changes No algae, no change in coral color.
I'll post results if when i see them.
Cheers !!!
John
My nitrates have always been unreadable. After seeing tanks with healthy corals with nitrate readings of up to 20ppm I decided to give it A try.
Most people suggest feeding the fish more. And I have. But that releases P04 into the system. This increased just nitrates and a small bump in potassium.
I took a reading before dosing and as suspected it read 0. I mixed up an 8 oz glass of DI water with a teaspoon of nitrate powder. I poured in half the glass.
After allowing a few hours to mix with the tank I took a reading. I now have 10ppm A little more then I wanted. But that will fall on its own.
So far I havent seen any changes No algae, no change in coral color.
I'll post results if when i see them.
Cheers !!!
John
I purchased it from ebay.
http://cgi.ebay.com/1-LB-OF-POTASSI...oryZ2567QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem
http://cgi.ebay.com/1-LB-OF-POTASSI...oryZ2567QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem
sailfintang
Member
This is great guys, I just finished building my reactor out of an old skimmer yesterday night when I got home. I was lucky enough to find the Seachem Matrix and Stabulity at some of LFS' aroun my way. Will start running the two tonight when i get home. All thats left is to purchase some of the ZEO Amino Acids, Sponge power, and the Potassium I tried whole foods thinking they may have the similar product but no luck. Finally I need my ESV suplements to balance everything out. Will keep you all posted on how things go over the next few weeks. I really wish I had a better camera to take photos like a G9 or something.
Heres the potassium. Its potassium chloride.
http://www.iherb.com/ProductsList.aspx?c=1&cid=1841
As far as the increased feedings that will depend.
Your tank should be low nutrient before you increase feedings and dose AA's. If its not nutrient poor you may have an algae outbreak.
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sailfintang
Member
That makes a good point about the dosing and feeding. About how liong did it take for your tank to become low nutrient after starting the seachem mixture. I plan to start mine today after work dosing the stability and running the matrix in a reactor for 3 hours on and 3 hours off?
It took about three months.. It all depends on the tank. My tank was a hair algae forest.
My P04 was .20 with 0 (unreadable) nitrate. I couldn't grow caulerpa. Yet the Hair algae was lush. Thats why I dosed Nitrate. I believe my tank has been nitrate limited due to a deep sand bed.
It seems that caulerpa needs N03 while hair algae prefers P04. Once my tank became nitrate limited the macro died and the P04 started to rise.
I started this tank as a small skimmer/large macro algae system. Everything worked great for the first year. Then the Macro started dying. Thats when the Hair algae started to grow. I upgraded the skimmer hoping to rid the tank of algae but that didn't work.
I removed the rock and cooked it for a month in a 50 gallon drum. I returned the rock to the tank which I converted to BB. In less then a month the algae was back stronger then ever.
It was at this point I was getting ready to quit the hobby. I was so frustrated. I had done everything I could think of.
Thats when i read about vodka dosing. Which lead me to the Zeovit method. After allot of reading I decided to give vodka dosing a try. Ive since modified some things to were they are at present. I continue to modify, as this is a work in progress.
You dont have to turn the reactor on and off like with Zeo, this isnt that aggressive. I run my reactor 24/7 with as much flow as the reactor will allow.
My P04 was .20 with 0 (unreadable) nitrate. I couldn't grow caulerpa. Yet the Hair algae was lush. Thats why I dosed Nitrate. I believe my tank has been nitrate limited due to a deep sand bed.
It seems that caulerpa needs N03 while hair algae prefers P04. Once my tank became nitrate limited the macro died and the P04 started to rise.
I started this tank as a small skimmer/large macro algae system. Everything worked great for the first year. Then the Macro started dying. Thats when the Hair algae started to grow. I upgraded the skimmer hoping to rid the tank of algae but that didn't work.
I removed the rock and cooked it for a month in a 50 gallon drum. I returned the rock to the tank which I converted to BB. In less then a month the algae was back stronger then ever.
It was at this point I was getting ready to quit the hobby. I was so frustrated. I had done everything I could think of.
Thats when i read about vodka dosing. Which lead me to the Zeovit method. After allot of reading I decided to give vodka dosing a try. Ive since modified some things to were they are at present. I continue to modify, as this is a work in progress.
You dont have to turn the reactor on and off like with Zeo, this isnt that aggressive. I run my reactor 24/7 with as much flow as the reactor will allow.
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