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.

[TigerReef]

Hello,

I have just completed my first two weeks on ZeoVit. But, I have made a mistake and removed my BioBricks and discontinued BactoBalance too quickly? My PO4 has increased to 0.41 and NO3 is 19.

However, my tank has never looked better! My sand is clean and I’ve had good PE. Some of the brown acro have lightened and seem to be recovering.

Now I will begin:

• running 1.2L of Zeolite at 130GPH for 9 hours on, 3 hours off
• continue 0.5L of KZ carbon in a mesh bag in the bubble trap just before the return
• continue dosing 0.5ML Zeostart 2x a day and pumping the reactor afterwards
• continue dosing 5 drops ZeoBak every other day
• continue 15% weekly water change with TM Pro Salt

Do you have additional instructions for me at this time or shall I proceed as above and report results in a couple weeks?

[jacky]

You can add Zeo SpongePower to the # 2 dosing plan, SpongePower has a positive positive effect on the biological side @ 5 drops every other day, and BioMate @10 drops every other day, 2-3 weeks, otherwise 2 times a week . Verify that the water flow is approximately 130 US gallons per hour. Connect the reaction pump to a clock timer and run the reaction pump at 3 h on/3 h off/3 h on intervals.

[G.Alexander]

I would suggest to additional vacuum the sand regular while doing the weekly water changes for some time to remove sediments from the deeper sand layers.

G.Alexander

[TigerReef]

Many thanks, G.Alexander and jacky I will follow your suggestions above and report results at the end of week 4.

[TigerReef]

Hello!

Almost to the end of week 4! (Pics taken last night after pumping the reactor. The PE from the Zeolite mulm is incredible)

Currently dosing:
32ml TM Part A & 32ml TM Part B
ZeoStart 0.5ml twice per day
ZeoBak 5 drops M-W-F
Sponge Power 5 drops M-W-F
BioMate 10 drops Su-Tu-Th
Coral Snow 5ml Sa after 15% WC/vacuum
Salt mix: TM Pro Reef

Ca: 430
Alk: 7.3
Mag: 1325
NO3: 11
PO4: 0.4
Temp: 77.5F
pH: 7.8
sg: 1.025

This Saturday 8Apr will mark the end of week 4. I will replace the Zeolite in the reactor and replace the passive carbon. Are there any recommended changes to dosing or shall I continue as above?

[NZ-Nick]

Looking good.

what size Reefer?
how are liking the new bbk dc skimmer

do not replace the carbon and stones at the same time

[jacky]

If the first 4 weeks have passed, let's replace the zeolite material 90%, keep the old 10% material, after each material change, ZeoBac x 10 days, otherwise 2-3 times a week. And double check that the reactor flow is correct. If you encounter a carbon replacement cycle, let us extend it by one week to avoid replacing both at the same time. Also let's get potassium test kits to get potassium levels

2 weeks after replacing the zeolite material, if the corals are healthy, switch to continuous flow (check the flow again for correctness), change the water 5-10% every week, and vacuum the sand by siphon to remove the mud. Parameters include Potassium remains stable in NSW

[TigerReef]

Looking good.

what size Reefer?
how are liking the new bbk dc skimmer

do not replace the carbon and stones at the same time

Hi! I have the 625XXL. It’s a nice manageable size for me and it looks like it was made for the space.

And I LOVE my BBK! It is nearly silent, easy to clean, etc. and really happy with the efficiency of the pump. Not cheap, but best skimmer I’ve had. (I tried Tunze, RO and Nyos previously)

Thank you for the tip RE Zeolites and Carbon. Makes sense.

[TigerReef]

If the first 4 weeks have passed, let's replace the zeolite material 90%, keep the old 10% material, after each material change, ZeoBac x 10 days, otherwise 2-3 times a week. And double check that the reactor flow is correct. If you encounter a carbon replacement cycle, let us extend it by one week to avoid replacing both at the same time. Also let's get potassium test kits to get potassium levels

2 weeks after replacing the zeolite material, if the corals are healthy, switch to continuous flow (check the flow again for correctness), change the water 5-10% every week, and vacuum the sand by siphon to remove the mud. Parameters include Potassium remains stable in NSW

Thank you jacky I will follow your and NZ-Nick recommendations and report results in a few weeks.

[TigerReef]

Hello jacky tested with Salifert this morning. Potassium is showing 360. Is this acceptable?

[jacky]

You're doing a great job and glad you're taking this focus seriously. Let's slowly increase potassium to 380g and hold steady.

[Bugger]

Potassium is a macro element that should always be set slightly below the
calcium value (Ca value minus 20 mg/l). The optimum value is between 380 and 420 mg/l.
Potassium is a nutrient and part of the supply process for corals and biofilms.