Zeovit System

[Steve...]

Good to know! My tank is also pretty big and I think it will be too costly . Where do you get the prodibio? Is that the actual name or is it short formed?

[BlueTang<3]

I am using it on my tank now have around 540 gallons. I was using it on and off on my last system 300 gallons or so, I estimate between using the more expensive salt and supplements 1000 a year. When I dosed religiously on the old tank it was amazing. But I got lazy. Search Dez or lobster boy amazing tanks using it. When I used it before I was dosing by the bottle amounts, now I am doing zeo start everyday morning and evening. Zeo back every few days as well as sponge power. I am going to slowly introduce one product at a time and see the results I get as I assume from before some prouducts didn't show amazing results.

[sphelps]

I always thought Prodibio was the more expensive option for larger tanks. I know for my tank I worked it out to around 2 full kits a month which is around $120 or so. I think I spend about half that on zeo for a similar line up of additives plus the reactor media.

In terms of which is better, peoples opinions will differ but in general comparing reviews will suggest zeovit is more demanding, contains higher risk but offers the best results. Prodibio is less demand, less risk but lower results. Which is right for you depends on the goal, if it doesn't relate to SPS coloration I wouldn't use either and stick with bio-pellets & gfo if anything at all.

[Aquattro]

I run the full system on about 220g of water. I'm more than happy with it. I even get lazy and forget to dose often, and I'm still happy with it. I buy the supps every boxing day and they last me the year.

[reefermadness]

Originally Posted by Aquattro

I run the full system on about 220g of water. I'm more than happy with it. I even get lazy and forget to dose often, and I'm still happy with it. I buy the supps every boxing day and they last me the year.

I didnt know you are a zeohead Brad. I had you pegged as more of a basics old schooler.

[Aquattro]

Originally Posted by reefermadness

I didnt know you are a zeohead Brad. I had you pegged as more of a basics old schooler.

Ya, mostly, but I got a good deal on the gear when I started the tank, and it works out well, even with my forgetful nature Mental note, change rocks this spring -lol

[albert_dao]

Well, coming from a guy who has handled and used more of the product than anyone else in North America, I can assure you that it can be used on a fairly casual basis. As Brad says, it all boils down to expectations.

I've used it with schedules similar to Prodibio with good results. This is something I'd recommend for systems where you are just trying to maintain low and stable nutrient levels, e.g. dose ZeoBak twice a week, ZeoStart3 3/4 times a week sans media.

If you are looking to turn your corals into a palette and manipulate colors, then you'll want to follow the system closely. However, it is unforgiving if you get lax for an extended period of time since the system is operating at extremely low energy/nutrient levels. You're playing on a knife's edge and should treat it correspondingly so.

I should also mention that the additives can be used within or without the system and they're all pretty amazing as long as you have a ULNS (although some are quite good at getting you there... Coral Snow...).

HTH

[waynemah]

I've been using Zeo on my tank (300 gallons total) for a year now. I run the basic system. Zeolites in the reactor, bak, food and start. I feed heavily and it keeps my nitrates / phosphates down to a minimum. I dose 1/2 of what is recomended on the bottle (values determined by experts at zeovit.com) and the cost is really low. I dose 0.5ml start twice per day, 10 drops of bak/food twice per week, replace zeolites every few months. Total monthly cost might be in the $20 range for my system.

The biggest thing that leads to the success of this system is consistency and expectations. If you run the base system, expect good color, phosphate / nitrate control and most importantly the requirement to keep water changes consistent (5% a week). Don't expect anything to change overnight.

I ignored my duties for a month and the tank developed hair algae, cyano and the corals lost color / slowed growth. It's taken a couple of months to recover.

[asylumdown]

Originally Posted by waynemah

I've been using Zeo on my tank (300 gallons total) for a year now. I run the basic system. Zeolites in the reactor, bak, food and start.

How long does a bottle of Zeobak last you? I ask because this weekend I looked at my zeobak under the microscope and didn't see anything that was even remotely alive. There was barely even any debris that could have once been alive. My bottle was a couple of months old, so maybe it was just that it was too old, but even though the bacteria in the other 'no refrigeration necessary' bacteria supplements I've looked at were mostly dead, they at least were filled with plenty of cellular debris. If it was that it was too old and considering how long they last when you're dosing drops at a time... the whole thing makes me so very suspicious.

[waynemah]

50 ml bottle twice per year-ish.

Interesting you say that! I never noticed a difference if I skip bak/food but notice a huge difference when start is missed... Also when zeolites are changed/missed I see no difference.