Just Getting Started with the ZeoVit Method

[TigerReef]

Hello all,

I am just beginning the ZeoVit method on my SPS dominant tank that I rebooted 6 months ago.

1. Gross water volume of your complete system (incl. sump etc.) - US gallons / UK gallons / liter
165 gallon gross volume
2. Net water volume (incl. sump etc.) - US gallons / UK gallons / liter
140 gallon net volume
3. Are you using a CaCO2 reactor or other technique
No
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)
RE Bubble King Supermarin 160
8. What are your actual PO4 and NO3 levels
PO4 is 0.05; NO3 is 6
9. What are your actual Ca, Alk and Mg levels
440 Ca, 8.1 dKh, 1300 Mg
10. What filtration method do you use (refugium, DSB, Miracle Mud, etc.)
(2) Brightwell Xport-NO3 Bricks; ClariSea SK-5000
11. Type of light (Watt, color temp, how old, etc.)
(2) GHL Mitras LX 7206, (1) GHL Mitras LX 7204 (Light Composer: AB+ Clone)
12. What corals do you keep
SPS, Zoas, Mushrooms, Leathers, Hammers, Gonis
13. Tissue color (light or dark)
Dark
14. How long has the tank been running
Rebooted 6 months ago
15. Why do you want to use the ZEOvit system
I'd like to maintain NSW parameters
16. Any supplemental dosing (type, amount, why, etc.)
Dosing TM Balling A, B, C and TM Bacto Balance. Currently switching to BRS 2-part.
17. Live rock (how much, how old, etc.)
Rebooted with new Marco rock cycled though my old system 17 months
18. Any present problems
No
19. Problem description (tissue loss tips, tissue loss base, diatom bloom, algae, etc.)
Dull SPS, Aiptasia
20. What test kit do you use (how old, recently switched, etc.)
Red Sea for Ca, KH Director for Alk, Salifert for Mg, Hanna for PO4 & NO3, refractometer for Salinity
21. Present dosing, amounts and intervals (ZEOvit, ZEObak, ZEOfood, ZEOstart, ZEOspur2, etc.)
I have not started KZ yet
22. Other water parameters and water stability (salinity, temp, etc.)
Salinity 35 ppm, Temp 78.7F
23. Which salt brand do you use
Currently switching from TM Syn-Biotic to TM Pro Reef


I have read the guides on the KZ site and have been reading through this forum. First, I'd like to say I am very excited at the wealth of information available here. One of my favorite parts of reefing, is the community. I am in process of purchasing the additives and equipment. I should be good to begin ZeoVit by next weekend (3/18).

Steps I have taken/am taking:
1. Switching my salt from TM Syn-Biotic to TM Pro Reef. I know probiotic salt is a no-no with ZeoVit.
2. Switching from TM A & B to BRS 2-Part. I have discontinued dosing TM C.
3. Reduced daily dosage of TM Bacto Balance from 3.3ml to 2.0ml. This will be replaced with ZeoStart, correct?
4. Partitioned my sump in preparation for the reactor in the second chamber.

Will you please help me with an initial recommendation for starting: Zeolites, Carbon, ZeoFood and ZeoBak?

Thank you!

[G.Alexander]

The first 4 steps you have already started are important and well done. To start with ZeoVit I would recommend you to follow these steps:

First start with the basics products to decrease nutrients:

1. Place 1.2 liter zeovit in a Zeo Reactor. Water flow around 130 US gallons per hour. Connect the reactor pump to a clock timer and run the reactor pump with a 3 hour on / 3 hour off / 3 hour on interval. Please make sure the zeolite is not exposed to air while the pump is switched off. Clean the material daily. Leave the zeolite 4 weeks in the filter until you do the first change out. This is the first changing interval, others could be lengthen to 6 – 8 weeks.

2. Place 0.5 liters activated carbon in a filter sock and keep it in a passive water flow in your sump, changed every 30 days. Knead the carbon daily to keep the surface clean. Most users get perfect results with korallenzucht carbon.

3. Dose 5 drops ZeoBac daily for the first 2 weeks, flowed by a 2 – 3 x weekly dosage of 5 drops. Dose 0.5 ml ZeoStart 2 x daily (morning & evening). Dose those in front of the Zeo reactor pump while it is switched on.

Later on you could use the additional products for coral coloration. Adjust your skimmer to skim wet, keeping it clean to export as much as possible. Do a weekly water change of 5 – 10 % with a good salt. ZeoFood can be used later additional if necessary onec nutrients are constant low.

When you start ZeoVit reduce the carbon source you already use (TM Bacto Balance) to 50%, than reduce the dosing quanttiy step by step slowly to zero over the next 4 -6 weeks. Once the system is running well after the „migration“ you should also be able to remove the NO3 bricks step by step.

Basic water parameters looking good, try to keep them as solid as possible close the NSW in the following ranges:

KH 6.5 – 7.5
Ca 400 – 420 mg
Mg 1250 – 1300 mg
K+ ~ 380 mg

For a nutrient poor environment K+ (potassium) seems to be a important element. I would recommend you to get a test kit for this element also, posting your results.

This is a start-up dosage which might have to be adjusted later.

G.Alexander

[TigerReef]

Thank you G.Alexander I will follow your recommendations and report back with initial results in the next couple weeks.