my tank specs for reccomendations

[mufflerguy]

1:240 gal
2:200 gal
3: Precision Marine cal reactor single chamber Carab sea media
4: no
5:no
6:yes
7: Deltec 851 with mag 5 ( 350 GPH)
8:.05- PO4, 0 - NO3 ( cheap redsea test kit though)
9: 375-425 Ca, 8-10 Alk, 1250- Mg
10:2" sand bed in tank & fuge, Refugium also.
11: 2 400 watt MH w/ EVC tech20k bulbs (new) ,3 55watt t-5 retros w/ ATI super blue actinics (4 months old), 1 400 watt 20k XM retro over 40 gallon frag tank (6 months old)
12: Mostly SPS, couple LPS, alot of Zoos, 3 clams.
13: Mostly light, especially the slow growers (GARF PB, Red/ blue danae, etc...)
14: 2 1/2 years.
15: Get better colors out of my SPS
16: Mag, once every couple weeks.
17: 120 lbs, 2 1/2 years old.(tampa bay saltwater)
18: Some slight brown algea forming on open rock surfaces, not a big problem tough.
19: none
20: All redsea, except PO4-Seachem, Mag- Sailfert.
21: none.
22: temp 78-82, salinity 1.025, MHs on for 8 hours, actinics on for 10 hours.
PH 8.2, 2 tunzes with aquatroller. I run Rowaphos, chemipure, purigen, &kent marine carbon currently. 15% water changes every three weeks. I recently changes my RO membrane, because of the finding of a small amount of silicates in the R/O water.
Tank water shows zero for silicates (seachem testkit)
Thanks for your help, Matt

[Aged Salt]

Hi Matt, & congrats on beginning the ZEOvit method. With ZEOvit, parameters are narrowly kept to those of NSW: Ca>400<450/Mg>1200<1400/KH-6-8/salinity 1.023-26. Also chemical filtration products like Purigen, PolyFiter, P04-removers are not used as ZEOvit will lower all nutrients evenly & therefore, these are not needed. Also UV/03 are counter-productive to our bacteria densities & therefore not used. Before beginning read the ZEOvit guide over a few times & stabilize your KH ~7.5 range. For your system, I recommend the following:
1)place 1/2 ltrs carbon in a filter sock, passively in your sump, kneaded daily & exchanged monthly.
2)place 2 ltrs. zeolites in a reactor with a flow rate of ~200gph. A little less is fine but this flow rate should be on target. Cycle the stones on & off at 3hr. intervals--this allows both aerobic & anaerobic strains to proliferate. You may need a inline check-valve between the reactor & it's pump to keep the waterline above the stones when the reactor is not operating. Clean the stones 1-2 x's/day about 5-10 reps each time, when it's "on". Exchange the stones every 6wks.
3)dose 6 drops Bak/Food7 daily for 2wks. then dose 8 drops each 2x's/wk. Dose these near the reactor pump when it's "on", turning off your skimmer for 60min after dosing. ZeoBak is refrigerated.
4)dose 1ml Start2 2x's/day in front of the reactor. It is not necessary to turn off the skimmer when just dosing Start2. When dosing all three, they can be dosed one right after the other in no particular order.
5)dose 6 drops AAHC & 15-20 drops C-V daily directly into the display tank.

Matt, ask any questions as there are many experienced zeo-users who are more than willing to help. Bob

[mufflerguy]

OK, I have everything I need to start, only I have an older bottle of the original zeostart, should this be OK to use? & If so, what should the dosage be with this stuff, it didnt come with a dropper & I dont want to screw it up.
Thanks, Matt

[mufflerguy]

Also, which supplements do I refrigerate?

[Aged Salt]

Hi Matt, Start1[original] was replaced by a safe version, Start2. I'd recommend ordering the revised Start2, & begin the ZEOvit w/o it for now, using the above dosing schedule. If Start1 has yellowed, plz. discard. If you must use Start1, use a old Salifert's dropper or any syringe & dose Start1 at 2-3 drops 2x's/day.

ZeoBak & Coral-Vitalizer are refrigerated. Bob

[mufflerguy]

Hey Bob, 3 days in, so far so good. I got my start 2 & will start dosing that tonight.
One concern, my orange/pink cap is starting to turn whiteish in the middle of each plate, its still mostly orange, but I would say the middle 3rd is whitening up..
What do you think?
Thanks, Matt

[Aged Salt]

Hi Matt, the lost of color is related to photosensivity from water clearing & nutrient lowering. Pull out the carbon for 2 days then restart it at 1/2 the amt. Some carbons are too strong. I highly recommend K-Z's carbon for this reason, it's given me the best coloration after originally using B-D carbon. You also may wish to raise your lighting a little & decrease the photoperiod by an hour or so until the corals adapt to the crystal clear waters. Secondly, dial-down the zeolite reactor flow rate by 25-50% for this 1st zeolite round. Thirdly, Monti-plates are very sensitive in lowering nutrients to K+ deficiency from some saltmixes & K-Balance dosed at 5ml for 3 doses then 1 ml daily until color returns may be necessary. Matt, try the first 2 suggestions then consider K-B only if your corals do not respond. Bob

[mufflerguy]

What is K-balance & where can I get some?

[G.Alexander]

Here you can find some information about K-Balance:

http://www.zeovit.com/forums/showthread.php?t=4027

Every zeo dealer should carry it. It is relative new in the US so maybe their online shops are not updated jet.

G.Alexander

[Diesel3443]

Mufflerguy, is your temp swinging from 78-82 daily? This can contribute to poor coloration as well.

[mufflerguy]

No, temp is at 78% constantly. I just hope because of the zeo stripping the water so quickly that I wont be stuck with constant dosing to put back what the zeo is taking out.
I just did a 10% water change in hopes that will help.
Matt

[mufflerguy]

Would pottassium Iodide help as a quick fix? I see Kent marine makes this additive , so I may be able to get this today...

[Aged Salt]

Hi Matt, the lost of color is related to photosensivity from water clearing & nutrient lowering. Pull out the carbon for 2 days then restart it at 1/2 the amt. Some carbons are too strong. I highly recommend K-Z's carbon for this reason, it's given me the best coloration after originally using B-D carbon. You also may wish to raise your lighting a little & decrease the photoperiod by an hour or so until the corals adapt to the crystal clear waters. Secondly, dial-down the zeolite reactor flow rate by 25-50% for this 1st zeolite round. Thirdly, Monti-plates are very sensitive in lowering nutrients to K+ deficiency from some saltmixes & K-Balance dosed at 5ml for 3 doses then 1 ml daily until color returns may be necessary. Matt, try the first 2 suggestions then consider K-B only if your corals do not respond. Bob

Matt, your corals will get all the iodine & traces they need at this point in ZEOvit by your WC's. Please do not dose more than 3 drops of a iodide product more than 2x's/wk, if you must, as this dosage would be safe, o/w continue as above, Bob

[mufflerguy]

I havent dosed anything yet, just took out the carbon, lowered MH time from 4 1/2 hrs to 3 1/2 hours a day, & lowered flow through the reactor. I also did a normal weekly 10% water change. I will say I have noticed a ton of new buds on alot of my sps, which is a good sign.
Is the K balance available yet?
Matt

[mufflerguy]

Will I have to dose this & other nutrients all the time because the zeo is removing them?