Too aggressive with Zeolites - the result

[bowkry]

I started zeo 8 weeks ago and I removed some of my things (sun coral and some other) but my other lps (frogspawn favia trupet and a bunch other) are doing great. But I also ran my reactor 3h on 3h off for the first 3 weeks at low flow so not to shock my corals. And WOW I now have some corals that look like the ones I used to drool over online. You prob. hit it way way to hard.

[Myka]

I have a bunch of Euphyllia, they are all doing well. Even a Palau Nepthea is doing really well as with a photosynthetic gorgonian. Ricordea, Cyphastrea, clams, Galaxea, GSP, Trumpet, they are all doing well too. The only ones affected are 5 out of 7 brain corals, the Duncan, and the Acans (only one frag).

I think it was a mistake to add the Zeolites without a reactor to monitor the actual flow (instead of guessing with the passive flow). When I try to reintroduce the Zeolites I will start with a smaller amount, do the 3 hours on 3 off cycle, and I will wait until my reactor is built. I don't foresee any issues with a more conservative approach. I really under estimated the power of the Zeolites.

[mr.wilson]

I don't see any signs of tissue necrosis or infection of any sort in the photos. Your corals are healthy. They just aren't opening to feed due to the lack of nutrients in the water. SPS and LPS aren't usually found together in nature due to their varying requirements. In other words, you can't please all of the corals all of the time. If you feed the tank phytoplankton it will promote the growth of microfauna that will in turn feed your corals. Bioavailable nutrients will get your corals to open again. Target feeding will speed things along.

The favia lost some of its zooxanthellae by the looks of it. This doesn't fit with a low nutrient problem. It is however something that is caused by other Zeovit products that bleach corals for better colours. I'm not too familiar with their product line, so I'm not sure which ones nave this effect, but zeovit media is not one of them. What else are you putting in the tank?

[Myka]

There is some tissue necrosis starting now Wilson. The Zeovit "pros" on the Zeovit forums have come to the conclusion that the corals have been shocked by nutrients being taken out too quick, as well as several other people commenting that their LPS have reacted the same way when Zeolites were introduced. So I am definitely believing this right now.

I know a mixed reef is a difficult thing to obtain. I never meant for SPS to get in this tank...don't know how they got there.

I have never been much of a fan of phytoplankton, always found it raised phosphate. Although it do notice it increases pods. My Assessor would like that...she eats ALL the pods.

I know there is food in the tank, I have diatoms and a small amount of cyano due to increasing the food type Zeo additives.

The tank is dosed with calcium, alkalinity, magnesium, Zeovit food additives (Coral Vitalizer, Sponge Power, Xtra), Zeovit Coral Snow (so-called biological facilitator), ZeoStart (bacteria food). The tank has Kent carbon, and the Zeolites in the sump, both are passively run.

The Zeoheads recommended I quit dosing Zeobac (bacteria), but to continue with the Start to feed the current bacteria. At one point they told me to stop dosing Coral Snow as it can be aggressive too, but now they told me I could start again. Maybe I should stop...I dunno.

The Zeo product that bleaches the corals is Spur2. I have used this a few times with great results. It affected most SPS (within 48 hours of dosing), but didn't seem to affect any LPS at all. My LPS issues didn't happen anywhere near the dosing of the Spur2. I haven't dosed Spur2 since Oct 18. The Favia started showing signs of trouble on Nov 17, the Symphyllia didn't show signs of distress until Nov 24.

I feel like ripping the Zeolites out and tossing them across the room.

[StirCrazy]

Originally Posted by Myka

I feel like ripping the Zeolites out and tossing them across the room.

I think I would have already.

that realy sucks, but LPS are pretty resiliant so they should bounce back.

Steve

[mr.wilson]

Originally Posted by Myka

There is some tissue necrosis starting now Wilson. The Zeovit "pros" on the Zeovit forums have come to the conclusion that the corals have been shocked by nutrients being taken out too quick, as well as several other people commenting that their LPS have reacted the same way when Zeolites were introduced. So I am definitely believing this right now.

I know a mixed reef is a difficult thing to obtain. I never meant for SPS to get in this tank...don't know how they got there.

I have never been much of a fan of phytoplankton, always found it raised phosphate. Although it do notice it increases pods. My Assessor would like that...she eats ALL the pods.

I know there is food in the tank, I have diatoms and a small amount of cyano due to increasing the food type Zeo additives.

The tank is dosed with calcium, alkalinity, magnesium, Zeovit food additives (Coral Vitalizer, Sponge Power, Xtra), Zeovit Coral Snow (so-called biological facilitator), ZeoStart (bacteria food). The tank has Kent carbon, and the Zeolites in the sump, both are passively run.

The Zeoheads recommended I quit dosing Zeobac (bacteria), but to continue with the Start to feed the current bacteria. At one point they told me to stop dosing Coral Snow as it can be aggressive too, but now they told me I could start again. Maybe I should stop...I dunno.

The Zeo product that bleaches the corals is Spur2. I have used this a few times with great results. It affected most SPS (within 48 hours of dosing), but didn't seem to affect any LPS at all. My LPS issues didn't happen anywhere near the dosing of the Spur2. I haven't dosed Spur2 since Oct 18. The Favia started showing signs of trouble on Nov 17, the Symphyllia didn't show signs of distress until Nov 24.

I feel like ripping the Zeolites out and tossing them across the room.

Change isn't always a good thing for a reef, especially sudden ones. I would take out the zeovit media. The absence of bioavailable phosphate and nitrate should slowly starve the corals, not shock them, but I'm certainly no zeovit expert. Zeovit absorbs more than just nutrients so it might be these missing elements that are causing their demise.