To zeo or not to zeo

[Pan]

Originally Posted by Edmonton Eskimo

I hate zeo. Let me explain. I started zeo in december and everything was fine for the first couple weeks and then my montis started dieing and then my acros started to brown out. Not all of them though just most of my nice ones. I followed the guide but misinterpreted it I guess. I started with about 60% of the zeolites as suggested for starting out and ran it on the 3hr on/off cycle, also as suggested in the zeoguide. Nothing was stated to dose less so I dosed as per a nutrient rich tank starting out. That was apparently my problem. The dosing seems to be directly linked to how much zeolites used and not necessarily water volume. Anyways, I tried to correct the problem but still I lost about half my corals and I'm not very pleased at all. I always have considered myself to be very diligent in following directions and that's what I did. I followed the zeoguide almost to the letter so I think it needs to be added to, to include more variables especially when starting out on it, as this is the most crucial(and dangerous)time.

Wow sorry to hear that, I found zeo kinda fool proof in my experience. I even have a nice brown acro start to turn greenish yellow and purple...i'm a bit overstocked as well...i think the key is to ask on the zeo forum rather than following the guide. the guide is to generic...the guys on the zeo forums help me out and what they said did no match what the guide said. All in all my corals look great now, but whether it is zeo or dilligence in maintaining my aquarium now....who knows.

[Johnny Reefer]

Originally Posted by Pan

...i think the key is to ask on the zeo forum rather than following the guide. ....

Wow man! You beat me to it! I was going to say exactly that .

Originally Posted by Edmonton Eskimo

.... I followed the zeoguide almost to the letter so I think it needs to be added to, to include more variables especially when starting out on it, as this is the most crucial(and dangerous)time.

The variables come from posting and asking questions on Zeovit.com. I totally agree that the guide is too generic. Some of my dosing regimin was not what the guide said to do. There are basically two gurus on there who eat, sleep and breathe Zeovit. They'll help with adjusting dosages based on the system information provided to them. They both have something like 15,000 posts each,...in how many years? Not many. Don't know how they find the time, but they do. As far as I can tell, they are basically two hobbyists who care about other hobbyists. The site is not run by KZ and I do not believe they are affiliated with them at all (could be wrong). These guys have run Zeo and gone through all the growing pains and are more than willing to pass their knowledge on. The site has a sticky called "Tell Us About Your Tank", or something like that, asking all kinds of detail about the system. Do a copy paste of that and fill in the answers to the questions and start a thread specific to your tank. And repost it updated every 4 weeks or so. I suspect over a period of 6 months or, things get so one can just cruise with the dosing and not have to worry about adjustments and relying on those guys so much anymore. Takes a bit of time, but worth it in the long run, IMO.

I started Zeo 3 months ago, with almost zero problems so far. My NO3 is down and continuing to fall. My coral colours are way improved. My tanks have never looked better. The only thing I can't figure out is the high PO4 I have. Will be posting an update to try to get an answer on that soon.

On the advice of my LFS, I started posting on Zeovit.com right from the get go, and I think this was key to my avoiding any problems.

Edit: On the other hand, this all does not explain why christy is having problems. Obviously she's talking to them. ...Christy, did you do that "Tell us about your tank" thing, providing them detail?

Cheers

[digital-audiophile]

With all due respect to the guru's on the zeo forum, I think even with the help of some of those people it's still up to trial and error with your own tank. It's hard to make a good dosing regime by just looking at a few stats about water volume and a few test results.

When I ran zeo the first time my tank was amazing, I loved zeo as the water was so clear. Now running the second time I am not having the same great results and I was following the exact same dosing plan I did before. I have been adjusting my dosing a bit on my own.

[Pan]

Originally Posted by digital-audiophile

With all due respect to the guru's on the zeo forum, I think even with the help of some of those people it's still up to trial and error with your own tank. It's hard to make a good dosing regime by just looking at a few stats about water volume and a few test results.

When I ran zeo the first time my tank was amazing, I loved zeo as the water was so clear. Now running the second time I am not having the same great results and I was following the exact same dosing plan I did before. I have been adjusting my dosing a bit on my own.

Yes this is a good point as well, I asked on the forum and then afterwords adjusted according to how my tank ran. I mostly want their input as to what they think i would need, but every good reefer tailors what they do to their tanks specifically to THEIR tanks...even two tanks in the same house will be completely different, unless they are plumbed in. I am still not sold on whether or not it is the zeo or due dilligence on my part that is makig my tank look good. I am going to start dosing some zeospur and will find out.

[Johnny Reefer]

Originally Posted by digital-audiophile

With all due respect to the guru's on the zeo forum, I think even with the help of some of those people it's still up to trial and error with your own tank. It's hard to make a good dosing regime by just looking at a few stats about water volume and a few test results.

When I ran zeo the first time my tank was amazing, I loved zeo as the water was so clear. Now running the second time I am not having the same great results and I was following the exact same dosing plan I did before. I have been adjusting my dosing a bit on my own.

Well, it's a bit more than just water volume and test results that they ask, but yes, this is a good point. No two tanks are the same and trial and error certainly might come into play. I guess I got lucky. I should also mention that, IME I did not follow the guru's advice exactly. I dosed, and continue to do so, some other additives over and above the "starting" regime that they "prescribed". The decision to dose the additional additives during start-up was based on discussions with my LFS. Piece meal bits of info from here and there. One of the things that makes this message board great.

In your case, I'm wondering....nothing changed in between?