how much fish in a zeovit tank?

[adobo]

How densely do you stock/could you stock a reef tank that uses zeovit system?

I'm setting up a new tank with the following "specs":
- 100 gallon display tank
- 20 gallon sump
- deltec or h&s skimmer - haven't decided yet
- lighting schemes being considered (vho's with 2x175 watt mh or T5s with 2x175 watt mh or 20,000 175 watt mh with 2 10,000k 175 watt mh)
- 400ghp return on an OM squirt
- 800gph closed loop on an OM squirt

My objective is to set up a mixed reef tank with lps, sps and clams. Unlike my existing tank, I would like to stock the new tank with enough fish to keep things interesting. I'd like to keep maybe one tang, one butterfly and maybe one pigmy angel. Addiitonally, I want to keep a mandarin and maybe some anthias.

My current tank is a 40 gallon mixed reef with:
- 15 gallon sump
- euro reef cs 6-1 (I am no longer a fan of euro reef. the skimmer's performance is questionable at best and euro reef customer service is almost non existent)
- 175 watt mh on an ice cap ballast
- 2x2ft vhos (1 50/50 and 1 actinic) on an ice cap ballast
- ~300 gph on closed loop, ~150 gph return
- 50 lbs of live rock
- 2 inch sand bed
- 1 cleaner shrimp
- 1 maroon clown
- 3 polyps of ricordia - don't know the specifics..
- 2 colonies of frog spawn
- 1 acropora something colony with an acro crab hitch hiker
- ro/di top off

Though this is my current tank, I've had other tanks in the past. My experience with this tank is that if I keep any fish of substance (like a medium sized yellow tang or something of similar size), keeping the fish well fed becomes a problem as nutrients accumulate. Water changes and phosphate media seem to help but only a little.

So here is the question... using the zeovit system, will I still be limited in the amount of fish I can keep in the new tank or will I be able to stock something close to my "objective" and still be able to get the results that other get using zeovit?

Thanks,

Adobo

[nyfireman3097]

i have 3 fish and im lookin to get 4 anthias and a black tang
Nick

[Aged Salt]

Hi Abdobo, your goal can easily be achieved with ZEOvit. Intially when I 1st began ZEOvit, I reduced my fish-feedings to once every other day in order to reach a nutrient-poor environment, but as the ZEOvit method effectively depletes the nutrients to a ultra-low level, I find that feeding my fish [including 7 anthias] 2x's/day has not increased my nutrient levels or resulted in any algae accumulations, & best of all, my SPS's have maintained their bright colors Bob

[nyfireman3097]

as far as gettin started in the first couple of stages should you cut down on the feedings bob ?
Nick

[Aged Salt]

Hi Nick, the 2x's/day feedings are not heavy but more for the anthias, & chromis, just a pinch or two ea.time, to keep them happy. I agree, Nick, at the beginning with ZEOvit, one needs to optimize feedings for lower nutrients, but again, this also depends on one's tank theme, & goals. In a mixed tank, one may wish to carry a slightly higher nutrient load. I now have a few LPS[yes, I wanted to try the new AALPS] which are thriving in nutrient-poor waters. Bob

[nyfireman3097]

i hear ya thats y i am waitin for the anthias for another month or so where ill be like 5 6 months into zeo
Nick

[adobo]

How do you cycle a new tank with zeovit? I have the fortune or misfortune of starting a new tank. I'm familiar with the process in berlin system and have read about how to move a mature tank into the zeovit system. However, I am foggy as to how to start a system on zeovit from scratch.

Adobo

[Aged Salt]

Hi Adobo, most can cycle a new tank within 2wks. with the bacterai-driven ZEOvit method--just follow the recommendations based on your tank size in the ZEOvit guide Bob

[Orion76]

Hi Adobo, most can cycle a new tank within 2wks.

Bob, I would assume that is with properly cleaned and cured live rock only?

[Aged Salt]

That's correct, Timon, thnx. for the interjection. Of course, in a new tank w/o bioload, one can ramp up the zeo-doses for faster nutrient extraction initially, as opposed to a new reef tank with fish/corals already residing. The longest I've heard with ZEOvit, was Todd March's start-up where his N02's remained detectable for 6wks I'm not sure if he ever figured why the delay & I can't recall if he used old, nutrient-laden LR from a previous system, cured or uncured, etc. Maybe Todd can jump in here with his experience in this matter. Bob

[Orion76]

OK that's an important one to note, lot's of people start a new tank with very dirty live rock.

In that case would you recommend not using Zeovit until the initial nastyness of the LR is gone?

[Aged Salt]

No, IME, the old LR becomes clean with ZEOvit. Bob

[adobo]

If I buy uncured live rock, do I cure it first before starting with Zeovit?

Adobo

[Aged Salt]

Adobo, If the new tank contains no livestock, using ZEOvit for curing LR in the main display is fine as no photoillumination is necessary. If, however, the new tank is hosting corals, I'd recommend curing the LR if at all possible to avoid nuisance algae. Bob

[adobo]

Last question, I promise.

I would not dream of putting precious (and pricey) livestock in a tank with uncured rock. However, you last statement implies that while not recommended, it is something that one could conceivably do provided that zeolith filtration is used. Does this mean that zeolith's capacity for adsorbing ammonium ions is so high that it is reasonably safe to keep somewhat delicate corals during the new tank cycling process?

Thanks,

Adobo