Zeovit - Enough talk, show some pics

[untamed]

There are two aspects to Zeo that would probably stop me from ever getting fully involved.

The first is that they won't tell me what is in their little bottles. "Add 1 drop of this per 25 gallons per day"...What am I putting in there? OK, it is their secret to keep...but it just doesn't feel right to me. (Note that I am currently adding sponge power and one other one....so it's not like I won't do it...just that it doesn't quite sit right with me)

The second is that it feels a bit like following someone else's instructions. Do exactly this...do exactly that...achieve exactly the same thing as everyone else. My tank is too much an expression of my individuality to just follow an instruction manual.

The system seems to produce the results as promised...but that in itself doesn't provide me reason to use it.

[bv_reefer]

i'm starting this wednesday
gonna just start off with K-balance for growth and color and get some coral snow and see how it works out

edited for bitter and disgruntled content.....

[Snappy]

I agree with Tony as well.
I have seen nice looking sps tanks that use zeo and plenty that don't. IMO colourful sps has several variables, one many people don't discuss is genetics. Not all corals of the same species will look exactly the same so don't expect it. Although you can often get lucky with unknowns I generally prefer to get pieces that are from known good parent colonies because over the years I have bought my fair share of duds that I thought might have potential but never lived up to my expectations. That said, low nitrates, minimal alk & ph spikes are key. Proper flow, lighting and skimming are also major parts of the equation. I personally don't use zeo and for the most part have managed to achieve pretty reasonable colour. Using zeo or not is a personal preference and good results are not guaranteed with any husbandry method unless proper care is provided.
Because I tend to over stock my tank with both fish & corals I use an oversized skimmer and dose with AA's to help lower my nitrates. Some may call it a lack of skill or cheating on my part which is fine but I only do a 10% water change every 5-8 weeks so for me it's worth it.

For the "that's a fact" comment here is an example from my tank that I think has colour due to genetics and a healthy environment, not zeo or even AA's. Who knows, with zeo it may get better colour? I don't know but in reality this picture although bright doesn't really do it justice.
(I disturbed it before the picture so the polyps would retract to better show the coralites)

[Delphinus]

Oh my. That thing is insane!!!

I'm not sure but I thought Canadian might have been pulling a fast one with the "need" comment, because Brad had said something a couple weeks ago about needing halides (which I think was also in jest). Maybe I'm off base and maybe I shouldn't be speculating what others mean.

To me, you don't need halides but you do need good light. You don't need a skimmer but you do need careful management of nutrient import vs. nutrient export. You don't need Tunzes or Vortechs but you do need adequate water movement. Etc. Etc.

[digital-audiophile]

For the record.. the "It's fact comment" is a friendly jab against Brad's own comments regarding MH when compared against T5 in these two threads where he loving says that "you NEED MH.. it's a fact"

http://canreef.com/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=40826

http://canreef.com/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=40940

[Jason McK]

Originally Posted by Aquattro

Jason, you're using this, right? I'm interested in your thoughts so far. Are the claims accurate? Or at least worth the almost $400 to get going?

Each time a Thread on Zeovit and it's results is started. It turns into this

Originally Posted by Canadian

You NEED Zeo products to have colorful SPS - it's a fact.

Originally Posted by Willito

Zeovit are for people who haven't master the art of maintaining a stable system naturally. There is a chemical and biological balance that needs to be meet and kept as constant as possible to achieve the colorful stony corals. IMO, most hobbiests lack the true understand of a the biological filtration process and how ph, alkalinity, magnesium affect one another. Once you master how to manipulate these factors and keep them as a constant level, you will see your coral grow with a smile. By no means I've mastered it, but by keeping these levels constant, my corals can give zeoheads a run for their money. My secret weapon was getting my Ca reactor effluent as stable as possible and running the biggest skimmer that can fit into my sump.

Like I would actually take part in this thread.

Sorry Brad. Next time you jump over to the mainland PM me. I'm about 5 minutes from the ferry

J