Zeo change after 1 month (kinda)

[commiphora]

Been running (again) for 1 month the Zeo basic 4 along with a skimmer upgrade. Actually, this is my 2nd go, I stopped back in October because I didn't see much change after 10 months of useage. Here's the "test" coral (ID anyone, it's a Tongan stag?) "before" the second round:


Here's the same coral 1 month into the second round of Zeo useage:


I'm really pleased with these recent results, but do you think it's too much too fast? I'm running Phase 1 dosing parameters for 100 gallons even though I have about 125 gallons of actual water volume. Thanks!

Dave

[G.Alexander]

Hi Dave, as long as you do not notice any tissue lost or other problems like a brown film which is caused by overdosing I would keep the way. Now would be a good time to offer the corals some additional food so I would recommend to start the dosage of AminoAcidHighConcentrate (3 drops daily) and PohlsCoralVitalizer (12 drops daily).

Keep a eye on the water parameters & keep them stabile in the recommended range and do the weekly regular water change with a good, well balanced salt.

Make sure you use a good carbon and keep the water flow through the zeo rector as recommended.

This is a beautiful coral. It is very light blue so the dosage of potassium (K-Balance) could help to bring out the blue deeper. Not sure if other blue corals show a similar colour.

G.Alexander

[commiphora]

Thank you for the recommendations. I started PIF at about a month ago as well. I also started Pohl's CV in addition to Reed Aquaculture rotifers and phytoplankton recently. I don't have the AAHC, but do have the SeaChem product and have been using it as well. No signs of overdosing, as I'm trying to go slow with this, but wow, what a change on that one! My other blues have also started coloring up as well.

[Aged Salt]

Very impressive, indeed, Dave. Hope to see you around more often Bob

[commiphora]

Thought I'd reinvogorate this thread to ask a question. I'm well into Phase II now, and the color of this Tongan stag has reverted to its original color or worse (brown with hints of lavendar on the corallites and blue polyps) and I'm not sure why. I added K Balance and CV to the mix about 2 months ago, as well as increased my dosing of Start to 0.75-1.0 mL/day dosed twice per day (0.4-0.5 mL/dose). Other parameters have been stable throughout. BTW, my Start is a mix of 70% Start2 (not the concentrated stuff) and 30% Start1. I don't see any brown film typical of Start overdose, but could I be adding too much Start and causing the color shift? Also, I started using filter socks (100 microns) at about the same time, but have decided to quit that practice except for during water changes. Other corals are stable in color to slightly deteriorating. Thanks for any help you can provide!

Dave

[Aged Salt]

Hi Dave, could you answer a couple of questions/:

1)your nutrient levels currently. Time interval between pane biofilm build-up. Is it thick or thin?
2)your net vol.
3)all that you are dosing & their quantities, including type & amount of carbon, zeolites, Bak, Food, zeo & non-zeo-supplements. Are you using Spur2?
4)any tissue-tip thinning?

Thnx. Bob

[commiphora]

Bob:

Sure, I'll try:

1) Not sure how to characterize nutrient level. Zeo system started in January. Glass cleaned about once a week with a thin haze removed. 7 small-medium fish in the system.

2) Net volume 125 gallons

3) Bak, Food, 5 drops 2X week. Zeoliths 1 liter changed at 6 weeks (on 3rd round now). Flow rate 100 gph through reactor. Start now down to 0.5 mL/day, dosed in a single dose. CV 8 drops/day. K Balance 0.1-0.2 mL/day. Korallin Amino-Life 3 mL/day. No Spur2 yet, but I'm contemplating it (I own a bottle).

4) No tip thinning, but definately better color on the tips and new growth (I state the obvious here).

Dave

[Aged Salt]

Hi Dave, thnx. for the additional info. Based on your good observations, I suspect your nutrients are still too high for the baby-blue coloration & w/o tip-thinning your Start mixture quantity is not the problem. Adding C-V & your dosage of K-B is also not cause for coral darkening. Dave with you only cleaning the pane once a week, I'd push the zeo-dosages abit more:

1)dose 1.25ltrs. zeolites with 100-125gph. Pump clean the stones 20 reps 2x's/day. Still cycle the reactor.
2)dose 1 Cup K-Z carbon & knead it daily. The K-Z carbon is excellent for the ZEOvit method, with improved color over other brands[JME]
3)dose Bak & Food7 4 drops 3x's/wk.
4)dose Start mix 0.25ml 3x's/day
5)continue present C-V & K-B amounts;dose AAHC 1 drop 2x's/day;dose PIF 3 drops 3x's/wk;dose Fe 1 drops 3x's/wk[these coloring supplements should now be useful to enhance stronger colors.

Your thoughts, Dave,? Thnx. Bob

[commiphora]

Bob:

Sorry, I left out the carbon part. I do use SeaChem Matrix carbon, 1 cup changed monthly, placed in a mesh bag on top of my rocks in the reactor. I've never cycled the reactor. I can certainly increase the Start dose, but do have a couple of montis which have severely bleached and I'm concerned they won't pull through if I do increase Start levels. This Start dosing has always bothered me, as there seems to be different recommendations depending on whether you consult the ZeoGuide or other experts, and hence the uncertainty about the levels on this supplement. Also, why did the coral initially respond so well to Zeo at these lower Start levels only to revert with increased levels? Increasing the dosage seems counter-intuitive.

Dave

[Aged Salt]

Hi Dave, assuming the obvious, ie. all parameters inline & steady, carbon can be your problem, removing too much traces, clarifying water to the point of Monti bleaching[even if they're down low] through the use of active flow. Many brands of carbon will darken our corals [browning] very quickly, as they are too aggressive in absorption or leach out P04's.
Did your blue Acro darken soon after changing carbon on it's rountine exchange? Did you change from passive to active flow about that time? Change carbon brands?

Dave, excluding the darkened coral & bleached Monti's, if all others are 100%, then feel free to continue your inclinations on your dosing schedule plus try the additions of coloring supplements, AAHC, PIF, Fe[#5th recommendations] Bob

[commiphora]

Thanks, Bob! The active carbon flow is only in the past week or so, therefore no cause/effect there, but I'll go back to passive in the sump. I'll have to test for PO4 leaching with my Merck test kit, since the Seachem carbon change is relatively recent (but weeks after this particular coral started reverting). I'll try increasing the dosing slightly and using the AAHC as you recommend and update you in a month or so.

Dave