Setting up ZEOvit System

[Doug]

So if I may question something, just as a point of discussion. We so many beautiful sps and mixed reef aquariums not running zeovit. Several stunning sps displays on here for example.

How would they attain this, without zeovit and what do they do different? If this product & others are able to help in such a manner, are the non users lacking something in their systems?

Or are non Zeovit users not able to get the same colours in their sps corals, period. I assume this is because of superior water conditions for the corals from using this product.

Anyways, just wondering. As this has turned into a discussion on zeovit, I hope the thread originator does not mind and if so I can split it and move the discussion portion to its own thread.

[Delphinus]

My take on this is: you don't need Zeovit to run a successful tank. But you can use it to help run a "really successful" tank. For example, going back to Brad's thread about "not all live rock is created equal", what can you do to promote the ideal bacterial growth to consume nitrates and phosphates? If a bacterial based system can be managed to promote a low-nutrient system, then it can level out the playing field a little. Plus, encouraging the rampant growth of these bacterias to rapidly consume things like nitrate and phosphates and then be skimmed out via the skimmer, allows you to in turn ramp up your feeding, which in turn, has its own benefits (since ordinarily you're limited by the bioload capacity of the tank - so the limits are increased ).

[surgeonfish]

Doug
I agree with Tony. I think there are many ways to have an amazing tank. So far I haven't found one that works for me. I was seeing some improvement with the Reef-resh and felt the ZEOvit system was much more established and also used Zeolith.

andestang
I did get the K-balance (strong) as well. I was told that potassium is usually depleted in most systems. I started using it for 2 days, but then decided to wait as I didn't want to change too many variables at once. ZEOvit also makes a potassium test kit, but they were not in stock last week. Once they are available, I will test my K+ and dose accordingly. I am nervous about dosing K without knowing the levels in the aquarium. Does anyone else dose any of the multiple additives available?

[kwirky]

i'd have to say i'm quite pleased with zeovit so far. I've been running it for 2 weeks and some of the algae waves i've had in new tanks just haven't happened. The tank's been running for 2 weeks now with 50% new rock. Here are some nitrate tests that are pretty damned interesting:

24g sumpless tank. aqua-c remora skimmer, DIY zeo-reactor, aquaclear HOB for carbon.
Nov 16: started zeovit
Nov 19: 5ppm Nitrate, 10% water change. Theoretical nitrate now 4.5ppm
Nov 21: 2.5ppm nitrate
Nov 30: 10% water change
Dec 3: undetectable nitrate (salifert kit)

FAST results I tell you . It's a low-nutrient tank in only 2 weeks. Crazy...

my only complaint is my own DIY reactor. I didn't break up the zeolyte media at all when I put it in my reactor made of 1.5" pipe. There are some large chunks that make washing the media a *****. When I change the media on the 7th I'm going to break the larger (1.5") pieces in half so they fit better in my tiny reactor.

Oh and the recommendations to run the carbon "passive" wasn't cutting it for my system. I had my carbon in a bag just sitting on the liverock and i had huge microbubble problems and never had skimmate from the skimmer. put an AC30 on the back of the tank and threw the tiny carbon bag inside and the next morning I started getting skimmate. I don't think it'll be an issue because the size of the media bag inside the filter is so small there's enough bypass to ensure the carbon's not being assaulted with flow but there's enough flow through it to ensure it's working. I knead the carbon daily as part of the dosing routine.

[24storm]

Any update on this Shane? I am thinking about start Zeo and wanted to know how yous is coming along. I have approx the same size tank.

Keith

[digital-audiophile]

I'd love to see the results too. I've been running zeo now for just a week but have already realized major improvements mainly in water clarity and the reducion of film algae.

[Delphinus]

In one week? Wow, that settles it, I'm setting my reactor up tonight.