Is there a test to know what’s in Zeostart?

[Miami Reef]

ZEOstart is a carbon food source that promotes the reproduction of bacteria which are beneficial to the ZEOvit system. The bacteria will help maintain ultra low phosphate and nitrate.

If you have a high nutrient load and are just starting the ZEOvit system, start by dosing 2 mL per 250 gallons (net water volume) of water each day until nutrient levels drop. Subsequently, dose 1-2 mL per 250 gallons.

I’m just curious what could possibly be in zeostart. I actually just want to know if they use sugar.

How can I find out if zeostart uses sugar? I am willing to pay to find out (I’m that curious).

2mL/250 gallons? This carbon source NEEDS to be very concentrated. How else can 2mL/250gal effectively lower nutrients?


For perspective, 100mL of 5% vinegar currently reduces a few ppm of nitrate within a few days in MY 260 gallon tank.

 

[TokenReefer]

What's it smell like?

 

[Miami Reef]

What's it smell like?

My sense of smell doesn’t work, but many people on reefing forums say it smells like vinegar.

I cannot imagine 2mL of vinegar doing anything to a 250 gallon tank. There has got to be something else.

We do know that zeovit tanks are prone to cyano… Not sure if that’s a hint toward something.

 

[TokenReefer]

Well cyano has been noted with carbon dosing by others on the forum for sure

 

[HomebroodExotics]

Edit. Admins, please delete this thread.

Why delete? I use zeovit. I would love to know what's in it. I am suspecting it has some sugars in it but that's just a feel good reason for me.

Also for what's it worth I can literally put a Cyano covered rock in my tank and watch it desintegrate while using zeostart.

 

[HomebroodExotics]

I watched this Cyano die over a couple of weeks after getting this rock from someone else's tank. This blasto is huge now.

 

[TokenReefer]

Edit. Admins, please delete this thread.

Did someone from zeovit contact you? Lol

 

[Miami Reef]

Why delete?

Did someone from zeovit contact you? Lol

Nobody contacted me. I was just worried people would judge me for asking this question.

I still am curious about what is inside Zeostart. I just don’t want anyone to make fun of making of me for having another liquid carbon thread.

 

[Tamberav]

Does 2ml for 250g actually work as advertised or do you need to use more? Maybe the labeling is.. generous.

 

[Miami Reef]

Does 2ml for 250g actually work as advertised or do you need to use more? Maybe the labeling is.. generous.

I’m not sure. I never used zeostart.

But 2mL/250gal is the highest dose. I believe most zeo tanks get ULN with zeostart and the zeolites. I definitely hypothesize there is a more concentrated carbon source in zeostart, besides for ethanol/acetic acid.

The main reason I’m asking is because I heard sugar can cause browning, so I’m curious if zeostart has sugar (Zeovit corals are the opposite of brown IMO).

 

[HomebroodExotics]

Nobody contacted me. I was just worried people would judge me for asking this question.

I still am curious about what is inside Zeostart. I just don’t want anyone to make fun of making of me for having another liquid carbon thread.

Bro I'm low key obsessed with liquid carbon. I'm pretty sure I couldn't run a reef without it and in particular zeovit. I believe it's an atrocity that a business is allowed to keep such a product secret. I think there is a few people who know what's in it and it's a shame they can't muster the guts to stand up to a corporation. Big sad.

Also don't be afraid of people making fun of you. People be laughing at my acro sorrounded by algae while they can't grow acros in their own tanks. I'm here to learn. Not buy 10k worth of equipment to prove I'm cool and then watch my corals die.

 

[homer1475]

It's the ULN nature of zeo tanks. We used to think corals looked their best in 0 nutrients, we know better now.

Corals look their best when they are close to death. Ask anyone that has had a major RTN issue.

Thats what zeo does, bring them to the brink of death. But leave just enough to not kill them.

 

[HomebroodExotics]

I’m not sure. I never used zeostart.

But 2mL/250gal is the highest dose. I believe most zeo tanks get ULN with zeostart and the zeolites. I definitely hypothesize there is a more concentrated carbon source in zeostart, besides for ethanol/acetic acid.

The main reason I’m asking is because I heard sugar can cause browning, so I’m curious if zeostart has sugar (Zeovit corals are the opposite of brown IMO).

A maintenance dose I would consider around 1ml per 100 gal so that's pretty accurate imo and experience. It's not the zeostart that causes browinving it's the zeofood. Aminos. I'm learning more about Aminos and seeing that it's a form of nitrogen so it's basically a nitrogen fuel for any bad and good things. Need to go very slow with the zeofood.

 

[HomebroodExotics]

It's the ULN nature of zeo tanks. We used to think corals looked their best in 0 nutrients, we know better now.

Corals look their best when they are close to death. Ask anyone that has had a major RTN issue.

Thats what zeo does, bring them to the brink of death. But leave just enough to not kill them.

Yes and no. All zeostart does is lower nutrients. Then you need to feed the corals so they don't starve. If you don't feed them they will pale out.

 

[HomebroodExotics]

also also, i know i sound like a big zeovit fanboy but I'm really not. The product just works. I'm interested in aquaforest products but I haven't tried them yet, if there was a company that disclosed what was in their product and it worked as well as zeovit, i would jump on it in a second.

 

[Dan_P]

I’m just curious what could possibly be in zeostart. I actually just want to know if they use sugar.

How can I find out if zeostart uses sugar? I am willing to pay to find out (I’m that curious).

2mL/250 gallons? This carbon source NEEDS to be very concentrated. How else can 2mL/250gal effectively lower nutrients?


For perspective, 100mL of 5% vinegar currently reduces a few ppm of nitrate within a few days in MY 260 gallon tank.

Is this Zeostart 3?

 

[Miami Reef]

Is this Zeostart 3?

Yes.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

Here's a DIY test for sugars:

How to Test for Simple Sugars | Livestrong.com

Simple sugars, also referred to as monosaccharides, are the basic unit of carbohydrates. Unlike sucrose, which is made of both a glucose and fructose sugar molecule, a simple sugar is either glucose or fructose respectively. Complex sugars, or polysaccharides, are present in foods like...

www.livestrong.com

 

[pshootr]

Here's a DIY test for sugars:

How to Test for Simple Sugars | Livestrong.com

Simple sugars, also referred to as monosaccharides, are the basic unit of carbohydrates. Unlike sucrose, which is made of both a glucose and fructose sugar molecule, a simple sugar is either glucose or fructose respectively. Complex sugars, or polysaccharides, are present in foods like...

www.livestrong.com

Cool stuff, thanks.

 

[TokenReefer]

Btw @Miami Reef I think it's perfectly reasonable to want to know what's in the things we are putting in our tanks. Learned some things from this thread