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Hello Everyone,
I am considering converting my 150 gallon tank to Zeovit and have a few questions. As some background, this tank was setup in October of 2021 and was an upgrade from an almost three year old 45 gallon tank. All the live rock was transferred to the new tank, but since the new tank is so much larger a significant amount of new rock was also added. Bioload was very low as I only had four fish in the 45 gallon and I have been adding fish slowly to this tank. I am experiencing a ton of issues with this tank from what I believe to be nutrient related. I almost bottomed out my phosphates and did not have any other nutrition supplementation. I am looking at a 90-100% loss of coral in this tank. Hence why I am considering for all intents and purposes starting this tank over with a new system. I want something stable and that can produce results. I like the philosophy of heavy in heavy out and Zeovit has caught my attention. The tank runs an Apex for monitoring and control and I have automatic water changes setup through the Neptune DOS. I change out approximately 1.5 gallons a day for a 30% water change monthly.
My one concern for converting to Zeovit is how this will play out with my already ultra low PO4 levels. I am currently dosing PO4 daily for it to even be detectable on a Hanna ULR Phosphorus checker. Nitrate has been climbing to 10 as I have increased feedings to the point of multiple cubes a day as well as Red Sea AB+ coral food. PO4 usually measures between 0.003-0.018; I dose Brightwell NeoPhos to increase to 0.03 daily but the tank consumes that much PO4, or it is binding to rock, within 24 hours. How can I setup a tank conversion with a system that is already PO4 limited and suffering as a result without completely stripping the water of PO4 and further impacting corals?
1. Gross water volume of your complete system (incl. sump etc.) - US gallons / UK gallons / liter
150 US gallons
2. Net water volume (incl. sump etc.) - US gallons / UK gallons / liter
193 gallons
3. Are you using a CaCO2 reactor or other technique
No; two part dosing
4. Are you using a PO4 reactor (how long, how long ago, etc.)
No
5. Are you using Ozone
No
6. Are you using UV
No
7. What skimmer are you using (type, rated water volume)
Reef Octopus Regal 200INT
8. What are your actual PO4 and NO3 levels
PO4 .0012 average, NO3 10
9. What are your actual Ca, Alk and Mg levels
Alk 8.0, Calcium 420, Magnesium 1350
10. What filtration method do you use (refugium, DSB, Miracle Mud, etc.)
Filter socks, skimmer
11. Type of light (Watt, color temp, how old, etc.)
Kessil A360X & T5 hybrid; 4 A360X & 4 54watt T5's
12. What corals do you keep
Mixed Reef, SPS dominant. LPS include Duncan, Acan, Hammers, Candy Cane
13. Tissue color (light or dark)
Not really applicable as corals dying. LPS shows extremely light coloration to the point of being unhealthy
14. How long has the tank been running
October 2021, previous tank transferred from November 2018
15. Why do you want to use the ZEOvit system
Create a stable ecosystem for proven coral growth
16. Any supplemental dosing (type, amount, why, etc.)
Two Little Fishies Acropower & Red Sea AB+. Supplement coral foods due to low PO4 and coral mortality.
BRS Two Part Soda Ash & Calcium, Magnesium as needed
17. Live rock (how much, how old, etc.)
Three year old live rock from previous tank and new rock for this tank. Approximately 100-120lbs?
Live rock in sump with reverse lighting schedule to help pH, Xenia growing on rock
10lbs live ocean rock from Gulf of Mexico
3lbs live sand from Pacific Ocean
18. Any present problems
Yes, almost complete coral mortality due to what I believe is too low PO4 with not enough coral nutrition input
19. Problem description (tissue loss tips, tissue loss base, diatom bloom, algae, etc.)
Started as burnt tips then SPS proceeded to RTN and STN. Brown diatom light algae growing on sandbed
20. What test kit do you use (how old, recently switched, etc.)
Hanna ULR Phosphorus, Hanna HR Nitrate, Hanna Alkalinity, Salifert Calcium, Salifert Potassium
21. Present dosing, amounts and intervals (ZEOvit, ZEObak, ZEOfood, ZEOstart, ZEOspur2, etc.)
BRS Two Part automatic doser for Trident controlled dosing, Magnesium as needed, once weekly Two Little Fishies Acropower, Daily Red Sea AB+
22. Other water parameters and water stability (salinity, temp, etc.)
35ppt, 78 degrees F, ORP ranges 390-420
23. Which salt brand do you use
Red Sea Blue Bucket
I am considering converting my 150 gallon tank to Zeovit and have a few questions. As some background, this tank was setup in October of 2021 and was an upgrade from an almost three year old 45 gallon tank. All the live rock was transferred to the new tank, but since the new tank is so much larger a significant amount of new rock was also added. Bioload was very low as I only had four fish in the 45 gallon and I have been adding fish slowly to this tank. I am experiencing a ton of issues with this tank from what I believe to be nutrient related. I almost bottomed out my phosphates and did not have any other nutrition supplementation. I am looking at a 90-100% loss of coral in this tank. Hence why I am considering for all intents and purposes starting this tank over with a new system. I want something stable and that can produce results. I like the philosophy of heavy in heavy out and Zeovit has caught my attention. The tank runs an Apex for monitoring and control and I have automatic water changes setup through the Neptune DOS. I change out approximately 1.5 gallons a day for a 30% water change monthly.
My one concern for converting to Zeovit is how this will play out with my already ultra low PO4 levels. I am currently dosing PO4 daily for it to even be detectable on a Hanna ULR Phosphorus checker. Nitrate has been climbing to 10 as I have increased feedings to the point of multiple cubes a day as well as Red Sea AB+ coral food. PO4 usually measures between 0.003-0.018; I dose Brightwell NeoPhos to increase to 0.03 daily but the tank consumes that much PO4, or it is binding to rock, within 24 hours. How can I setup a tank conversion with a system that is already PO4 limited and suffering as a result without completely stripping the water of PO4 and further impacting corals?
1. Gross water volume of your complete system (incl. sump etc.) - US gallons / UK gallons / liter
150 US gallons
2. Net water volume (incl. sump etc.) - US gallons / UK gallons / liter
193 gallons
3. Are you using a CaCO2 reactor or other technique
No; two part dosing
4. Are you using a PO4 reactor (how long, how long ago, etc.)
No
5. Are you using Ozone
No
6. Are you using UV
No
7. What skimmer are you using (type, rated water volume)
Reef Octopus Regal 200INT
8. What are your actual PO4 and NO3 levels
PO4 .0012 average, NO3 10
9. What are your actual Ca, Alk and Mg levels
Alk 8.0, Calcium 420, Magnesium 1350
10. What filtration method do you use (refugium, DSB, Miracle Mud, etc.)
Filter socks, skimmer
11. Type of light (Watt, color temp, how old, etc.)
Kessil A360X & T5 hybrid; 4 A360X & 4 54watt T5's
12. What corals do you keep
Mixed Reef, SPS dominant. LPS include Duncan, Acan, Hammers, Candy Cane
13. Tissue color (light or dark)
Not really applicable as corals dying. LPS shows extremely light coloration to the point of being unhealthy
14. How long has the tank been running
October 2021, previous tank transferred from November 2018
15. Why do you want to use the ZEOvit system
Create a stable ecosystem for proven coral growth
16. Any supplemental dosing (type, amount, why, etc.)
Two Little Fishies Acropower & Red Sea AB+. Supplement coral foods due to low PO4 and coral mortality.
BRS Two Part Soda Ash & Calcium, Magnesium as needed
17. Live rock (how much, how old, etc.)
Three year old live rock from previous tank and new rock for this tank. Approximately 100-120lbs?
Live rock in sump with reverse lighting schedule to help pH, Xenia growing on rock
10lbs live ocean rock from Gulf of Mexico
3lbs live sand from Pacific Ocean
18. Any present problems
Yes, almost complete coral mortality due to what I believe is too low PO4 with not enough coral nutrition input
19. Problem description (tissue loss tips, tissue loss base, diatom bloom, algae, etc.)
Started as burnt tips then SPS proceeded to RTN and STN. Brown diatom light algae growing on sandbed
20. What test kit do you use (how old, recently switched, etc.)
Hanna ULR Phosphorus, Hanna HR Nitrate, Hanna Alkalinity, Salifert Calcium, Salifert Potassium
21. Present dosing, amounts and intervals (ZEOvit, ZEObak, ZEOfood, ZEOstart, ZEOspur2, etc.)
BRS Two Part automatic doser for Trident controlled dosing, Magnesium as needed, once weekly Two Little Fishies Acropower, Daily Red Sea AB+
22. Other water parameters and water stability (salinity, temp, etc.)
35ppt, 78 degrees F, ORP ranges 390-420
23. Which salt brand do you use
Red Sea Blue Bucket
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