Very Curious!!!

[fishnugget]

I have been a reefer for many years. I have a 210 gallon. Always fighting nitrates, algae, phosphates. Use Rowaphos, refugium, big skimmer, calcium reactor. Live rock, DSB.

Please explain in laymans terms what the advantages of the Zeovit system has over what I am doing. What changes would I have to make? Get of of refug?

Please enlighten me. Can I use phosban reactors? Carbon? I don't understand how or what the daily cleaning is all about or how to do it. What are the long term advantages?

Rich

[Aged Salt]

Hi Rich, & welcome to ZEOvit.com Plz read all the stickies at the top of "General Forum-English" & especially the ZEOvit guide. At first I reread this guide several X's, each time assimilating info that I glossed over previously.

ZEOvit method is a bacterial-driven reduction in both N03's & P04's in a even manner through the utilization of the bacteria-hosting zeolites & the innoculation with the specialized "pacman"-like bacteria[ZeoBak] & their carbon source[ZeoFood/ZeoStart2]. This achieves a nutrient-poor environment[diminished zooxanthellae density] for our corals while the zeo-supplements enhance coral color, by providing the needed energy to our corals for chromosynthesis[tissue coloration]. Bob

[fishnugget]

Getting started

Any suggestions? Changes?

[Aged Salt]

Any suggestions? Changes?

Hi Rich, I'm not sure what changes or suggestions you are referring By doing the research reading as suggested above, most of your questions will become clear & really to use this method successfully, understanding the stickies is ultmost important. Plz. feel free to ask away here on our friendly forum, Bob

[fishnugget]

Refugium

Do I do away with the refugium?

[CAReefer]

You will eventually as the necessary nutrients that the algae in fuge need to grow are reduced, the algae will quit growing and eventually die out. There is no need to remove it right away, just need to keep an eye on it and when the algae starts to degrade, remove as necessary or all if desired. I removed the DSB from my fuge and this helped with getting the nutrient poor environment desired. HTH.

Marshal

[mesocosm]

Greetings All !

fishnugget ...

Please explain in laymans terms what the advantages of the Zeovit system has over what I am doing. ...

As Bob alluded to, the ZEOvit system nurtures and sustains an enriched bacterial guild which metabolizes NH3, NO2, and NO3 ... consumes and sequesters PO4 ... and is "fed to corals", or exported from your ecosystem via protein skimming.

Any suggestions? Changes?

Until I have a better understanding of your aquarium system (hardware, lighting, plumbing, ...), husbandry habits, and your ecosystem's inhabitants ... I really can't say whether or not there would be any advantage to you.

Do I do away with the refugium?

Personally, I would prefer exploring adoption, before considering euthanasia ... but this is a personal choice.

Always fighting nitrates, algae, phosphates. Use Rowaphos, refugium, big skimmer, calcium reactor. Live rock, DSB.

Apologies if that last answer came off wrong ... it's been a long day in the fish game ...

But seriously ... I'd take a big step back away from the "buying new toys", "acquiring alternative technology", and "pursuing alternative philosophies" approaches to resolve issues with your system's behavior. It seems to me that now is a good time to "ponder" ... at least until you conclude that you can't resolve the isssues with what you already have. JMO.

Having said that, it seems to me that you already have the stuff you need ... depending on what your "goals" for your ecosystem are, the varieties of corals that you're trying to culture, and the husbandry patterns that you are applying.

Relatively large tank to give time to adapt to chemical shifts ... check.
Big skimmer for nutrient export ... check.
Calcium reactor for dissolved minerals and pH stabilization ... check.
ROWAPhos for phosphate binding ... check.

Adequate (species appropriate) lighting? ... presumptive check.
Adequate circulation (>= 40X)? ... presumptive check.
Appropriate, non-excessive ecosystem feeding habits? ... presumptive check.
Weekly water changes (~10%)? ... presumptive check.
Refugium for algal nutrient export? ... presumptive check.

This leads me into the realm of "nutrient reserves/pools" within the system. It seems to me that you might consider addressing this fundamental issue ... and resolving it ... before changing system methodologies. After all, the ZEOvit system ... or any other system methodology, for that matter ... may not be able to overcome sustained "nutrient pool issues" that originate with your ecosystem's inhabitants, sustained over-feeding, and/or from malfunctioning devices (if any of these variables are actually in play).

How old is this ecosystem? What is the condition/appearance of the surface of the live rock? What is the appearance of the surface of the DSB? Any cyanobacteria outbreak history? Any problems with the ROWAPhos? Any "issues" with the calcium reactor? What alga are you using inthe refugium, and how is it growing? What type of "cleanup crew" is operating within the ecosystem?

More data would be much appreciated. TIA!


JMO .. HTH

[fishnugget]

Thanks

My goal is to have a spectacular reef with high coloration. In the past have many leathers & some sps and lps. After surfing net, the tanks that really overwelm me are the very colorful sps & lps.

I have @28 fish in tank. Using 3 400 Watt 10K MH & 2 Super Atinic. Always having algae powder on glass- hate it. Have DSB and recently had a cyno outbreak all over rockss. I feel this was from having Chaeto in sump acting as both refug lights on 24/7 and sump. Always having a red slimey substance growing in sump. I feel this is from 24/7 lighting. Considering separate fuge.

I am now about to sttart using rowaPhos to help with lowering phosphate issue that has always hovered @ .5. I believe it is from original rock that retailer sold me. I am now using 2 Tunze 6100 in tank for flow. Ampmaster 2100 for recirculation. Have a Dart Sequence in a box waiting. I was going to replace Ampmaster for more flow but I think it would be too much after all I have read. My temp hovers at 78.7morning-82.1 after lighting goes off. Actinc on 10hrs. MH 7 hours. Rock is covered with coraline but constantly fighting aptisia w/ Joes Juice. Considering rerocking wall of rock with a more open setting for flow between rocks. While everyone loves my tank, I see a rock wall with corals instaed of corals supported with rock.

Feeding habits- 4 times week fish get Spectrum TherA pellets. 2 times weeks tank inhabitants are feed Mysis with cyclopeze and Nori.

Water changes done by service once ever 6 weeks filtered ocean water @ 50% change. Have caeto in refug which I never feel grows much. No substate in refug.

Originally had MM in eco but took out after 1 year. It never appeared to do anything. My tank did better when I removed MM and added a skimmer.

Have over 400 blue leg crabs in tank. Some small snails, & 2 large mexican turbos. 1 large green serpent and a cucumber. 1 red blood shrimp, 12 shrimp peppermint that are supposed to eat aptisa but don't. 2 cleaner shrimp. 5 assorted clams.
I was just about to add phsoban reactors to my system with rowaphos when I read about Zeovit system. Don't want to throw money away. Can sell this stuff and convert immediately if the bigger picture makes sense.

My system just turned 2 years old.

In summary I am looking to create the most colorful living picture ever seen.

[mesocosm]

Greetings All !


Many thanks for an excellent reply ... very helpful!

Using 3 400 Watt 10K MH ...

When it is time to replace the MH bulbs, you might consider 14Ks, 20Ks, or some combination. Higher K is less useful to nuisance algae, and will present much better fluorescence from your corals.

Always having algae powder on glass- hate it.

Welcome to the club ... ...

There's a definite issue with dissolved nutrients in the water column going on. (Tell you something you don't know, right?)

My system just turned 2 years old.

Definitely enough time for a significant "nutrient pool" to have developed within the system.

... and recently had a cyno outbreak all over rocks.

There's also a circulation issue at play. JMO.

I feel this was from having Chaeto in sump ...

I hear what you're saying, but I would suggest that it has more to do with excess nutrient in the ecosystem, and inadequate circulation. JMO.

Considering separate fuge.

A separate refugium dedicated to Chaetomorpha exclusively is not all that bad of a strategy, but it will need to be able to hold enough algae (and have strong enough lighting) to make a significant impact. If you use the ZEOvit system, the Chaetomorpha will eventually need to be removed, or it will disintegrate from a lack of nutrients.

I am now about to sttart using rowaPhos to help with lowering phosphate issue that has always hovered @ .5. I believe it is from original rock that retailer sold me.

What test kit do you use? It's been my experience that the PO4 level is needs to be driven down to < 0.04 ppm before PO4 will begin to behave like a limiting nutrient ... so you've got a ways to go. I bring up the test kit issue because you'll probably need a Hanna phosphate meter to accurately assess PO4 levels as the PO4 level approaches the point where PO4 becomes limiting. Also, dropping PO4 levels too rapidly can create additional issues as well. JMO.

... but I think it would be too much after all I have read.

Opinions and experiences vary. The more I work with SPS, particularly Acroporas, the more I've moved away from 25X - 30X circulation rates ... my next SPS system will have a circulation rate in the 60X - 70X range. JMO.

Considering rerocking wall of rock with a more open setting for flow between rocks. While everyone loves my tank, I see a rock wall with corals instaed of corals supported with rock.

More open flow betwen the pieces of the rock structure is almost alwaysa good thing. I'm right there with you in terms of the aesethetics of the "rock wall".

Feeding habits- 4 times week fish get Spectrum TherA pellets. 2 times weeks tank inhabitants are feed Mysis with cyclopeze and Nori.

Hard to comment without knowing species and their sizes, but ... nori is definitely a phosphate source. Then again, it's hard to know what it's contribution is in relation to the overall sources from feeding. My general "rule of thumb" is that anything < 95% of "complete consumption" within 5 minutes of food being introduced constitutes "over-feeding".

Water changes done by service once ever 6 weeks filtered ocean water @ 50% change.

This is an issue ... IMO. Six weeks is a long time, and "strategically" I much prefer smaller, more frequent water changes (as opposed to larger, less frequent water changes) ... particularly when assaulting nutrient reserves. Also, the ZEOvit system recommends a 10% weekly water change ... if that doesn't work into your schedule, then you may not be able to replicate the maximum benefits from the use ofthe system. JMO.

Have over 400 blue leg crabs in tank. Some small snails, & 2 large mexican turbos. ...

Plenty of clean up beasties ... more evidence that we're talking about both "introduced" and "nutrient pool" issues. JMO.

I was just about to add phsoban reactors to my system with rowaphos when I read about Zeovit system. Don't want to throw money away. Can sell this stuff and convert immediately if the bigger picture makes sense.

You're definitely at one of those "important decision points". Given the choice, I much prefer the use of bacterial guilds to address nutrient issues. Then again, plenty of folks apply synthetic resins and binders with good success.

IMO ... the first 2 phases of the ZEOvit methodology require brief, but frequent activities by the aquarist (... daily pumping of the ZEOreactor, periodic dosing, and weekly water changes ...). Definitely be sure that your schedule and "personal husbandry style" fit with what needs to be done in order to achieve maximum results from the system before making an investment in the system. The good news is ... once you move beyond phase 2, the frequency issue melts away rapidly because you'll have achieved a nice stability.

My goal is to have a spectacular reef with high coloration. In the past have many leathers & some sps and lps. After surfing net, the tanks that really overwelm me are the very colorful sps & lps. ... In summary I am looking to create the most colorful living picture ever seen.

Again ... Welcome to the club ...


JMO ... HTH