Dosing Regimen / Zeovit Filter

[Superlightman]

For the flow I use the aquabee Pompe UP 1000 which came with the filter. I started with aprox 180L/H, then increase it as the phosphate went higher. Now it is set to maximum than mean 1000L/H for the input, output is probably less, but still the phosphate increase.
Actually, the problem is not that the nutriments went down too fast with the zeolite but increased, which was the contrary from what I expected.
Yes I have slowly reduced the sangokai and same time started with the Zeovit. I added the material and the products when I started this post, or maybe one day prior.
Can the Zeofood increase Phosphate?

[G.Alexander]

For me it is still not clear why the PO4 level in your system does increase but to know it would be important.

First problem is that the flow through your reactor is to low, the material does speed down the flow massive so this is something which need to be fixed otherwise it will be really difficult to get PO4 under control. Even if you need a bigger pump I would recommend you to replace it. Therefore please measure the actual flow to see where you are now.

In post 10 you said that the actual PO4 level is 0.2 mg/l, was this level solid for several weeks before or was this the time while the level has increase step by step recently since you have stopped to use the Sangokai components ?

What have you done before to control PO4, did you use a absorber or anything else beside Sangokai ?

At the moment this is my theory: You have reduce the Sangokai components step by step to zero before you have started to use ZeoVit, therefore you have lost / reduced the possibility to process nutrients effective as ZeoVit does need time before it starts to process nutrients so there is a gap of limited PO4 processing at the moment in combination with the reduced reactor flow which in the result will increase nutrients.

To prevent such issues it is better to reduce Sangokai (or any other method) slowly step by step over a 4 – 6 week period when ZeoVit is started.

My first recommendation is to measure the reactor flow and fix it to make sure you are getting ~ 1200 liters per hour out of it.

Be careful to add any kind of PO4 absorber at the moment as a quick reduction in PO4 will cause issues with your corals anyways the level should not increase much more at the moment.

Can you please post a full tank and a sump picture to give us a better feeling of your system ?

ZeoFood does not increase PO4.

G.Alexander

[Superlightman]

1)So I checked the flow it is approx over 600L/H, so you think I need more flow? Because the pump is at the max, that is sad if korallenzucht not send their material with adequate pumps! Do you have one to recommend to me?
2) Yes the level was solid around 0,2 since weeks, but I since ever struggled to maintain it here, sometimes I had to add phosphate absorber. But it raised fast after I switched to zeovit.
3) I have done nothing else
4)No exactly, I decreased it only after adding the Zeovit products, but probably still too fast. But I agree that it was probably too fast, as the zeovit products not compensed the decrease of the sangokai dosing. Prior to switching I scared that my nutriments go done too fast as Zeovit is now to be a low nutriment system. But it not seems to be so strong as people say, or may need more time.

I will now buy a more powerful pump, probably she needs to be around 2000 so that I can get the ouput of 1200L.
I will add also phosphate absorber, I not think that at the level it stays actually that it will drop dramatically, but I have to keep a daily eye on it until I reach the goal.
Today parameter were: PO4 0,29/ Nitrate 10,4 KH 7,2 Calcium 430

[Superlightman]

[jacky]

The amount of material in the zeolite reactor as well as the flow rate does affect the ability to reduce nutrients. Regarding your system, not sure if the reactor model you are currently using is suitable. If this is the problem (incorrect reactor model) then it could be a result of nutrient ramp up, incorrect dosing of the Zeo base product, or Zeo bacteria still building up (incorrect system switching or not stepping).

But I hope that the increase in nutrition is not caused by additional reasons, such as certain materials, or the addition of certain equipment. I also don't know much about the reason for the extra nutrition at the moment. It is good to clarify the material and flow rate of the reactor first.

[G.Alexander]

Sounds like a good plan, keep a close eye on the PO4 level when yuo use the absorber to prevent quick changes, that would be important.

As a replacement pump the AquaBee UP 2000/1 should work, alternatively a electronic pump which can be regulated is another option. If the new pump is installed please measure the flow again to be sure it is ~ 1200 liters per hour.

Use the dosing regimen Jacky has mention over here:

https://forum.zeovit.com/forum/gener...288#post605288

Run the pump for the reactor with the on/off interval first to see if you have any issues with the corals, same as with the PO4 absorber PO4 should not drop to quick. You can additional dose 24 drops BioMate every other day from some time, this should be helpful with the PO4 level. CoralSnow Plus might be a good alternative to a PO4 absorber.

Clean your skimmer daily at the moment to export as much as possible and adjust it to skim ore wet.

Vacuum your sand while each water change at the moment to remove sediments from the deeper sand layers.

G.Alexander

[Superlightman]

The amount of material in the zeolite reactor as well as the flow rate does affect the ability to reduce nutrients. Regarding your system, not sure if the reactor model you are currently using is suitable. If this is the problem (incorrect reactor model) then it could be a result of nutrient ramp up, incorrect dosing of the Zeo base product, or Zeo bacteria still building up (incorrect system switching or not stepping).

But I hope that the increase in nutrition is not caused by additional reasons, such as certain materials, or the addition of certain equipment. I also don't know much about the reason for the extra nutrition at the moment. It is good to clarify the material and flow rate of the reactor first.

the filter has the adequate size, I have 3L zeolite inside as recommended

[Superlightman]

Sounds like a good plan, keep a close eye on the PO4 level when yuo use the absorber to prevent quick changes, that would be important.

As a replacement pump the AquaBee UP 2000/1 should work, alternatively a electronic pump which can be regulated is another option. If the new pump is installed please measure the flow again to be sure it is ~ 1200 liters per hour.

Use the dosing regimen Jacky has mention over here:

https://forum.zeovit.com/forum/gener...288#post605288

Run the pump for the reactor with the on/off interval first to see if you have any issues with the corals, same as with the PO4 absorber PO4 should not drop to quick. You can additional dose 24 drops BioMate every other day from some time, this should be helpful with the PO4 level. CoralSnow Plus might be a good alternative to a PO4 absorber.

Clean your skimmer daily at the moment to export as much as possible and adjust it to skim ore wet.

Vacuum your sand while each water change at the moment to remove sediments from the deeper sand layers.

G.Alexander

Yes I will try this

[Superlightman]

I spoke with M. Pohl yesterday.
The phosphate increase could, maybe, be a result from the bacteria doing their work on my old life rocks.
He said he would not increase the flow in the zeolite for now as the polyp extension actually is not create, maybe later when everything is well.He also said two times per 24H to turn off the zeolite 3H, this alternation between aerobic and anaerobic will make it more effective to process nutriments.
He recommended to use phosphate absorb for now, the time the biologies become well installed. He told me also, that I add the biomat, it works good on phosphates.
He said also I should reduce the zeostart to 1,5ml for now so that the bacteria not feed only on carbon but do their real job. The Zeofood can be give only one time per week, this is enough and what he does himself.

[Superlightman]

So I think i will probably stop this method, because of it I have feel to give up the hobby, lost 70% of my beautiful coral, big colonnies growing from years.. coral start to brownish and then become white frome the base , euphyllia become tine and on die also now, same with plegyropora, phosphat still high and nitrate near 0. The last thing I try now is to put half zeolite and reduce the flow by 50% the last days, if it not work i will stop it, lost anyway all my beautiful corals, I'm very very sad.

[jacky]

Really sorry to hear this news, there are bound to be some mistakes in the process of growing corals, which can cause some problems, but I still don't know exactly why, please stick to this preference, I support you. Regarding the line "the last thing I'm trying now is to put in semi-zeolite", if I understand you correctly, shouldn't it be "put in" again, or an extra addition? Let's reduce the reactor flow to 2/3-1/2. (Did you get the exact flow and how to measure it?) What brand of activated carbon was used, what quantity, passive or active flight?

Also keep in mind one more thing, corals don't always like a lot of fluctuations in nutrient reduction and nutrient increase, this can cause coral tissue to loosen, the ZeoVit system is a bacterial system and it takes time to develop.

Also double check that the base water parameters (including potassium) are correct. They should be stable at NSW levels.

[jacky]

Use high-quality RO/DI water + high-quality salt, and temporarily do larger water changes, which is a good direction for things. In the next 10 days, replace 15% of the new water each time, and do it 3 times in 10 days . This refreshes elements in a balanced manner.

What is the actual PO4 at the moment and what are all the added products/dosages. Are any sorbents currently in use? (Can you describe the dosage and how it is used?)

[NZ-Nick]

Hello.

From what I have read, it seem to me that you have an imbalance meant between ur phosphate and nitrates

you mentioned near 0 nitrate with phosphates 0,28

phosphate are probably leaking from you rock.

-phosphate are always the slows and hardest part of reefing to get under control
regardless of what system you choose to use, it will be that same. Some time we can cheat with GFO.
But the best system will always be a bacteria and carbon source system. But it take time.

I have found zeofood does drop MY nitrates when use as per bottle.

If you on want to continue,
- as you have the reactor and products.

the reactor on and off is very important as well as the correct flow through it.

allows corals to adjust

- water changes 3x 15 -20 % will help
1 reduction of phosphates
2 replacing elements

Water changes are you friend.


dosing the basic is all that is needed,
cv you could try and dose.

potassium is also very important- all corals will suffer if not kept in check

all wet frozen foods have high phosphates
I recommend alway rinsing in tank water.

I knows it hard, but I wouldn’t give up.

[Superlightman]

The 1200 pump fully turned on had a flow of 600l/h outside the filter,now I had turn it down to half wich should be around 300l/h.Phosphate is with the help of absorber and a little lanthan at 0,11 actually.Nitrat between 0,5-1.
I did already 50% water change last week and 20% the week.in a recent icp potassium level was ok,i sent an icp test today again to check.
the problembif i turn the reactor off and on ,their is no water inside during the off phase,this should not not be,so I can do that.
carbon and zeolit are from Kz,carbon is used passevely after the rollermat.
theorically everything seems to be ok but in real not.
also Kz is also not answering to mails where you ask for help,wrote them 3 times already and no reply.but if you place an order they reply to you concerning the order only,this is not serious for me..the lack of support is very problematic

[Superlightman]

Just got the results from the icp,barium is crazy high,over 200 and 1608% high as what fauna larin recommended and this after 50% water change! Have this since use zeolit.Also magan is at 1,67 ,925% higher as recommended!