I think it depends on how strictly you follow the guide/procedure for a zeovit system. I know when I use to use it I got really good results when following proper schedules and keeping up with the exchanging and dosing. If I would slack off for a while it was noticeable which is why my favorite product soon became Zeospur2. Using the proper reactor and pumping it daily is key IME and often neglected by many users.
So really you get what you put into it, and like everything else constancy is key. In Doug's case if the stones are exceptionally old chances are they aren't doing much but switching them out now may not produce instant results and it may take a few regular changes to get things back on track to 100%. However that said 100% is a relative term as people set their own standards.
Some info from Zeovit.com
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Originally Posted by G.Alexander
Zeolites
Think of these as porous man made rocks that absorb something, specifically reef toxins (I would say nitrate and phosphate but nobody knows for sure if these actually remove them or help bind them so your skimmer can easily remove them). Zeovit uses a mixture of different zeolites that have been found to best reduce toxins in a saltwater system. Exactly how they work has been much debated; from a theory of bacterial colonizing to locking-up or removing ammonia, to a transformation process of nutrients to a different ion. Sorry, I have no idea of how it works just that it does.
The zeolites are stored in a reactor, which looks a lot like a Calcium reactor without all the extra do-dads on it. It is a single chamber with a second chamber inside the first with a handle that protrudes out of the top. The Zeolites are placed in the second chamber and once a day the second chamber is ‘pumped’ to clean the zeolites of mulm (algae build up). This mulm is said to actually feed corals.
Zeolites are changed out at approximately every six to eight weeks (I have never had good results with zeolites lasting past eight weeks). I assume the exchange rate is based on the amount of nutrients you have in your system much like activated carbon.
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