Aquavitro Element Z for Zeovit?

[muffin]

Would this reactor be a good fit for the Zeovit media/system? Has anyone tried it? I like that it's compact and automatic, but can't find any reviews online.

Video introduction on YouTube: https://youtu.be/bK1riDza6pA?t=97

Product page from the official website: https://www.aquavitro.com/element-z.php

I know it's "just" a zeolite reactor, but the addition of air to the washing function, made we wonder whether this was conceived to be compatible with the zeovit system.
I thought anaerobic bacteria on the zeolites might be important to the zeovit system.

An important factor in use of the element™ Z Reactor is to utilize the wash feature of the reactor on the media 1-2 times per day. The wash of the media allows for more efficient filtration by keeping the bio film that grows on the media at a minimum while also feeding reef aquarium inhabitants the bio film itself.

"Two Pump Feature for Easy Flow Reversal"
Using the “Easy Wash” feature will release bacteria into the system for corals by alternating cycles on the pumps - reverses direction of flow easily. The "Easy Wash" feature includes the ability to add aeration.

[jacky]

I haven't used this type of reactor, I can't say much. But I think 1. We should avoid remaining air bubbles on the material as much as possible 2. We need a water outlet so that we can collect the exact actual flow 3. The mud released by the zeolite material is an excellent food for corals

[G.Alexander]

I do also not have experience with this reactor but in the past some manufacturers offered similar devices which use air to clean / move the material. As much as I know in most cases this does not work as the air bubbles are not “strong” enough the move / tumble the stones. Models with a second strong pump using water to clean the material seem to work better.

The filter sock at the reactor outlet is also something I would remove as it will remove all the beneficial biofilm which is releases while cleaning which is a excellent food source for the corals.

I do also miss the information about the reactor flow in the product description. Ideal is a flow of 400 liters / 100 US gallons per hour for each 1 liter of the zeolite material.

G.Alexander

[muffin]

I do also not have experience with this reactor but in the past some manufacturers offered similar devices which use air to clean / move the material. As much as I know in most cases this does not work as the air bubbles are not “strong” enough the move / tumble the stones. Models with a second strong pump using water to clean the material seem to work better.

The filter sock at the reactor outlet is also something I would remove as it will remove all the beneficial biofilm which is releases while cleaning which is a excellent food source for the corals.

I do also miss the information about the reactor flow in the product description. Ideal is a flow of 400 liters / 100 US gallons per hour for each 1 liter of the zeolite material.

G.Alexander

The reactor doesn't only use air to clean/move the zeolite. There's a separate pump, twice as powerful as the main one, that uses both water and air to clean the zeolites.

• The main pump for reactor flow is a Sicce 0.5 - 650 liters per hour for 1.2 liters of zeolite
• The secondary backwash pump is a Sicce 1.5 - 1150 liter per hour, with a hose attached to bring large bubbles. The air is optional.

Both pumps have check valves.

There's a video of the washing in action: https://www.facebook.com/seachem/videos/875924506521739
You can see some zeolites at the top moving, not sure if what I see in the video is what's expected in the zeovit method?

I suppose you could just cut the filter sock at the end, so the water would be silenced without the filter sock retaining the biofilm?

[jacky]

Material movement/rolling (similar to the movement/rolling of lottery balls). As G said, air cannot do this efficiently and adequately. The effect is greatly reduced.

In addition, in the use of certain types of reactors, some people will take noise into consideration, or are deeply troubled.

[G.Alexander]

The video does not show the cleaning process very well as the material is not tumbled around. It might just because the cover plate does not have space between the material ?

Basically the reactor should be fine if the material is moved enough while the cleaning process and if the filter bag is removed to transfer the scrubbed off biofilm to the corals instead of getting filtered out immediately.

G.Alexander

[kennya]

Would this reactor be a good fit for the Zeovit media/system? Has anyone tried it? I like that it's compact and automatic, but can't find any reviews online.

Video introduction on YouTube: https://youtu.be/bK1riDza6pA?t=97

Product page from the official website: https://www.aquavitro.com/element-z.php

I know it's "just" a zeolite reactor, but the addition of air to the washing function, made we wonder whether this was conceived to be compatible with the zeovit system.
I thought anaerobic bacteria on the zeolites might be important to the zeovit system.

An important factor in use of the element™ Z Reactor is to utilize the wash feature of the reactor on the media 1-2 times per day. The wash of the media allows for more efficient filtration by keeping the bio film that grows on the media at a minimum while also feeding reef aquarium inhabitants the bio film itself.

"Two Pump Feature for Easy Flow Reversal"
Using the “Easy Wash” feature will release bacteria into the system for corals by alternating cycles on the pumps - reverses direction of flow easily. The "Easy Wash" feature includes the ability to add aeration.

Hi Muffin, did you ever use this reactor and if so was it OK.