I'm going to give this one a try (tank info).

[jac]

1. Gross water volume of your complete system (incl. sump etc.)

58 display + 20 sump w/refuge = 78 Gallon

2. Net water volume (incl. sump etc.)

Estimate about 60 Gallon

3. Are you using a CaCO2 reactor or other technique

Dosing two part + Kalk reactor

4. Are you using a PO4 reactor (how long, how long ago, etc.)

Yes. About four months. Change about 1/2 cup every three weeks.

5. Are you using Ozone

Yes. I know it has to go.

6. Are you using UV

Yes. I know this also has to go.

7. What skimmer are you using (type, rated water volume)

EuroReef CS5-2 rated for 75 gallon.

8. What are your actual PO4 and NO3 levels

My kits show zero but I think the algae is working that issue.

9. What are your actual Ca, Alk and Mg levels

CA 420 ALK 8 Mg 1200

10. What filtration method do you use (refugium, DSB, Miracle Mud, etc.)

Siphoning out DSB over the next couple of weeks. I'm not anti-DSB I'm just tired of it blowing around. Approx 3 gallon refuge that looks like a swamp.

11. Type of light (Watt, color temp, how old, etc.)

Single 400W 10K XM with two 32W PC actinics. Bulbs are about four months old. MH on for 6 hours with actinics on for 12. Will be switching to VHO actinics in the near future.

12. What corals do you keep

Various SPS with a few Zoa's

13. Tissue color (light or dark)

Yes. Some are light, some are dark. Most are shades of brown. The yellows look good though.

14. How long has the tank been running

A little more than a year.

15. Why do you want to use the ZEOvit system

Better color, reduce nutriants/algae.

16. Any supplemental dosing (type, amount, why, etc.)

Dosing about 2Tbs each of Bionic though switching to Oceans Blend when that is out. This will probably be increased when I take the kalk reactor off line.

17. Live rock (how much, how old, etc.)

70lbs mostly in two large pieces about 1 year old

18. Any present problems

While not over run with hair algae it still drives me crazy. Coral colors are blah.

19. Problem description (tissue loss tips, tissue loss base, diatom bloom, algae, etc.)

Tissue loss at base of some corals though it does not currently seem to be progressing. Growth is sporadic while some have never grown. Hair algae as mentioned.

20. What test kit do you use (how old, recently switched, etc.)

Salifert kits for all but PO4 I use Seachem. All within expiration and between 1yr and 6mths old.

21. Present dosing, amounts and intervals (ZEOvit, ZEObak, ZEOfood, ZEOstart, ZEOspur2, etc.)

Not yet started.

22. Other water parameters and water stability (salinity, temp, etc.)

Salinity 1.026 (consistant with auto top off) , Temp is currently between 76f - 79f but will be higher in the summer months. PH between 8.0 and 8.2.

I run about 1/2 cup of BD charcoal in a bag in my sump changed about monthly. I do 6 gallon water changes weekly with IO. I also use RO/DI water for top off and water changes.

I literally stopped feeding my fish about three months ago in frustration over hair algae. It had a major impact but my green slimer browned out and started to stn at the base during the same time.

I have read the docs so I have a pretty good understanding what's involved. I'm posting this because everyone seems to get really good system specific advice.

I intened to use my Phosban reactor for the Zeovit since I have it and space is limited. I know I'll have to shake it but don't feel this is a big deal. After a year I'm kind of in tune with my needs and will probably build a custom sump this summer that will allow for a proper reactor. I'll probably drop the fuge then and just make a pocket for a chaeto ball.

I notice the reccomendation has been to cycle the reactor at 3 hours intervals. I have the timers for this but this isn't in the documentation on Captive Oceans site and am curious as to the whys of this.

I'll probably place an order today. Thanks for your inputs.

John

[Aged Salt]

Hi John, sounds like you're fairly versed in the ZEOvit method which will help as you go deeper into ZEOvitWith ZEOvit, the Mg level should be >1200<1400, so please try for the middle in case our test kits are not as accurate as we think. Also with ZEOvit, KW, UV,03, & P04 removers are not needed or used. Cycling the zeolite filter on & off at 3hr intervals is done to facilitate an even reduction in N03's & P04's. This cycling allows bacterial densities of both aerobic & anerobic strains to proliferate. For your system, I recommend the following:

1)place 1/2 Cup carbon in a filter sock, passively, in your sump, kneaded daily & exchanged monthly. I personally used to use BD carbon but noticed improved colors in my corals after a couple of months of using K-Z's carbon.
2)place 1/2 ltr. zeolites in a reactor with a flow rate ~ 50gph. A little less is fine. Be sure this flow rate is on target, as too much flow can affect our corals negatively. clean the zeolites 1-2 x's/day between 5-10 reps each time, when "on". Be sure when the reactor is "off" the stones remain submerged below the water line. A inline check-valve between the reacto & it's pump maybe necessary to prevent back-siphoning. Exchange the zeolites every 6wks.
3)dose 3 drops of Bak & Food7 every other day for 2wks. then 3 drops each 2x's/wk. Dose these when the reactor is "on" near the reactor pump. Turn off your skimmer for 60min after dosing these components. ZeoBak is refrigerated.[as is Coral-Vitalizer]
4)dose .5ml Start2 2x's/day near the reactor pump. It is not necessary to turn off the skimmer when just dosing Start2.
5)optional but recommended:dose 3 drops AAHC & 8-10 drops C-V daily, directly into the display tank.

John, this IS an amazing sytem which will brighten your reef while ridding you of nuisance algae. Please keep us updated at the first stone exchange & ask any questions as they appear. Bob

[jac]

Thanks Bob!

I still have a lot of BD carbon left but will take a look ath the Z-K stuff when the time comes for purchasing more.

Some of the results I'm reading about with AAHC/C-V sound great and I'm tempted to try them but I want to get the basics in order first.

Now I just have to wait for everything to arrive. I do figure though if all goes well I can probabably finance the first year when I sell off my used equipment.

John

[jac]

I finally got everything set up today and started which sparked a couple of questions.

First, is there some kind of trick to getting the correct number of drops out of the ZeoBak jar? I shake that little sucker and it's near impossible to count. Can I just use any dropper?

I also have a 3 gallon nano and when I do my water changes I usually change the water in it with water I take out of my main display. Will there be any problem doing this or is this something I should stop?

As always your help is appreciated.

On a side note I am really surprised at how well behaved my tank was all week without Kalk and Ozone hopefully I won't have an algae breakout since I dropped the Phosban today.

Thanks,

John

[Aged Salt]

Hi John, you'll do fine. One can use a Salifert's syringe to dose from the small Bak container. I've always use the larger size, so others here who have use the syringe technique may jump in with some helpful "tricks"

You be surprised when you replace the nano water with your discarded ZEOvit water--yes, you should do this. Bob