Zeovit in a Nano (detailed update dec 5th)

[sphelps]

Hi Sean, I may be able to provide you with a little useful information, however I haven't read this entire thread so hopefully I don't repeat too much others have said, if I do I apologize.

I helped a friend setup a nano with zeovit, his post can be seen here:
http://www.canreef.com/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=35489

In addition I've been using zeovit for quite some time and have learned a lot about the system over this time. The most important thing I've discouvered is the guide is a guide and is only really useful to get an idea on how to use the system. You have to basically find a balance and find your own dosing and media requirements to best fit your system and needs.

My main question for you is why do you need zeo? Basically if you're planing on doing weekly water changes and keeping an average bio-load nutrients shouldn't be much of a problem. I think it will be more beneficial for you not to use the full system, forget the reactor and media and simply dose a few of the zeovit additives that do not require the reactor. There are many people that do this and get what they want and need from the system.

You have to be careful not to do too much, too many water changes and/or too many additives will create too many elements for the system which will actually darken corals and have other negative effects. I don't believe the system will work without a skimmer, but I could be wrong. As I understand it the system basically provides a type of bacteria that brakes down nutrients into more skimable organics. Water changes will help remove these organics but no more than water changes alone, in fact you with water changes you can only remove a percentage each time which will not have the same effect as a skimmer. A skimmer will be much more effective for the system, so basically if you're just planing doing more water changes what's the point of the zeovit?

Basically you skim heavy, the zeovit helps the skimmer skim more organics, and you make up for the lost elements with consistent water changes and the addition of extra zeovit elements not found in most salt mixes. In addition other additives are available to improve coral health, color, growth, and so on.

The best advice I can give you is try without zeovit first, see what you get by maintaining levels constant. Keep you nutrients low and be consistent with weekly water changes. Then try some of the additives available from zeovit such as the amino acids, potassium, and Macro elements. You can also use zeofood without a system as it provides corals with food, amino acids and vitamins, just dose quite a bit less than recommended for the full system. Zeostart can also be used as it simply provides a food source for nitrifying bacteria, however you may not want to use this very much as too much of this bacteria isn't necessarily good. Finally a really good additive to use with caution is Zeospur2 as you can flush out zooxanthellae from the coral improving color.

Unless you honestly cannot control your nutrient level I can't see why you would want to use the full system. Even if you can't with such a small tank I think you need to find the source of this problem and correct it. Zeovit is by no means a miracle system for saltwater, many people do extremely well without the system and many people who use the system have not had good results.

HTH,
Steve

[kwirky]

I have the zeovit system except for the stones, I'm waiting for those to come in. I'm getting my levels where they should be in the mean time and setting up the last of the components in the tank. Once I have the rocks (few more days probably) I'll post pictures and log the set up.

The K Balance and the test kit where the whollop of the cost. But maintaining potassium has produced good reaction from corals so it's a thing I should be maintaining anyways. I think I'll aim towards sps though, keeping the easier ones because of the 150W lighting. Even if I have to move in 9 months if I move correctly everything should be ok.

I've decided on a Fluval underwater filter, model "1plus", as the reactor. It has a throughput of 50gph. I'm going to restrict the output to bring it to aproximately 20gph. I'll shake up the chamber daily when the media needs cleaning. Great choice for a little tank I think, especially with it only costing $30!