New Setup - Going ZEO - Old Rock?

[tanglovers]

Hi All,

We in the next few months are going to be upgrading our tank to a 150 with a 40 gallon sump (180 gallons water volume). Anyway pretty much everything is going to be new, all new water (RO/DI), skimmer, getting a calcium reactor etc. This is going to be our first try with the ZEO system. Our question is we have about 200 or so lbs of live rock that has been in our current setup. Rock is about 3 years old some maybe a little older, anyhow the rock has no problems (no aiptasia, hair algae etc). The rock is coated in beautiful coraline algae growth. We are going to be doing a shallow sand bed (for looks only) with all new Southdown sand. Wanted to know your opinions/suggestions on using this rock from our current setup. Just got done reading the ZEOguide again and it says the fresher the better. I also understand that in a ZEO system you will not get the heavy coraline growth so this is more reaosn why we would like to use this rock.

If using this rock is going to have an impact on how the ZEO system is going to work or give us issues in the future we would like to know.

Any advise/suggestions/opinions are appreciated. Thanks!

[OUinLA]

if you don't have any problem algaes on the rock, then I say it's fine. There could be some stored nutrients in the rock but it won't be too much of an issue. ZEO will take care of that.

[nyfireman3097]

where hes roght shouldnt have aproblem nuttin zeo wont take care of it
Nick

[mesocosm]

Greetings All !

If using this rock is going to have an impact on how the ZEO system is going to work or give us issues in the future we would like to know.

The type/quality of LR that you describe should not have any negative impact on ZEOvit system operation. Indeed, it sounds like you'll be getting some nice biodiversity transfer action. Only a small suggestion ... if you weren't planning on it already ... would be to briskly shake each rock piece, in a separate container, to dislodge any accumulated detritus from the LR prior to its introduction into the new system.

I also understand that in a ZEO system you will not get the heavy coraline growth so this is more reason why we would like to use this rock.

While this is appears to be the "average" experience ... if there is such a thing ... with the ZEOvit system, some folks appear to be having good coralline growth. Here's a thread where what you've commented on is discussed in a little more detail.

Thread Title: Zeovit & coralline algae (Skipper, 1/25/05)
Link: http://www.zeovit.com/forums/showthr...&referrerid=63

JMO ... HTH ...