Any experienced Zeovit Users Out There??

[rob safron]

I I’m just a short 3.5 weeks into Zeovit but getting a bit discouraged. Converted a 5 year old 100 gallon net water volume reef to Zeovit. Prior to changing I just used a skimmer and very small refugium with literally a softball sized peice of Cheato. It never grew much over a year. With heavy feeding my nitrates stayed at 2.5 and phosphates 0.0-0.02 always. I had no algae in my display tank. Today my nitrates are up to 10 and phosphates are at 0.05. I have green hair algae popping up throughout my tank as well as the med level of cyno that just won’t let up. My corals look good. Yes I have a 7 stage RODI and always measure 0 TDS as well as I have it checked with ICP 4 times a year. All I am dosing is Zeobak x 4 with ZS, Zeostart 0.8 per day and 4 drops SP per day. Have now added Biofil and Zeozyme 3 times a week. I am feeding way less than I did prior to the switch. I’m sure I just have to be patient but would never have assumed switching a low nutrient system to Zeovit would cause a rise in nutrients and algae growth. I would love to hear from anyone with a similar experience.

 

[Perry]

Wet skim or dry, is the reactor after the skimmer? Ideally, return from display, skimmer, zeo rx, return pump. I would set skimmer to dry. Adding media should be ok, keep in mind bio fil is completely different strain of bacteria, not sure how that would interact, maybe a question for Zeovit site? I experienced similar problems years ago, crazy killer colors, but algae everywhere. It drove me mad, as i know it, best to start new build using Zeovit, conversion systems seem to be tricky.

 

[rob safron]

Wet skim or dry, is the reactor after the skimmer? Ideally, return from display, skimmer, zeo rx, return pump. I would set skimmer to dry. Adding media should be ok, keep in mind bio fil is completely different strain of bacteria, not sure how that would interact, maybe a question for Zeovit site? I experienced similar problems years ago, crazy killer colors, but algae everywhere. It drove me mad, as i know it, best to start new build using Zeovit, conversion systems seem to be tricky.

Hey Perry. I have it set to wet skim but not getting as much as I would assume per day regardless. Reactor is in second chamber after the skimmer per your order above. Zeovit admin suggested biofil with Zeozyme for the cyno. Just on 2nd dose. Was hoping conversion would be easy since I was already starting from a low nutrient system verses someone starting with nitrates in the 30’s. Maybe it’s not right for my system. I’ll give it a little more time or go back to Aquaforest. I like trying new things when I get bored to get improvement in color.

 

[Perry]

Set it to dry, otherwise start3 and bak will get skimmed out too quickly to work. Make sure it is much oversized for the system as well. I would reduce start3 by 1/2, it is likely fueling cyano. System can take a year to dapt fully to zeo, patience and time is key. If you have ZERO PO4-, that would explain cyano.

 

[Cristy17]

Any update on how the Zeovit is working for you now Rob? I am almost ready to pull the trigger and start mine up. I am a little concerned because my tank has been up and running about 18 months...I just want better coral growth and color.. Thanks for any update!

 

[rob safron]

Any update on how the Zeovit is working for you now Rob? I am almost ready to pull the trigger and start mine up. I am a little concerned because my tank has been up and running about 18 months...I just want better coral growth and color.. Thanks for any update!

So I’m about 8-9 weeks into this. The cyno has backed down somewhat, still patch’s here or there that I blow off but not bad. Dosing Cyno Clean, Biomate and Enzyme as recommended. My phosphates are staying around 0.02 but still trying to reduce nitrates. Before Zeovit I ran 2.5 nitrate, since converting it went to 10 and won’t budge from there. Against advice I started dosing a small amount of vinegar to try and drop it Faster. My water is more clear than ever, corals are growing very fast. Can’t say colors have changed much yet and my reds/pink coral that turned brown/tan is still pretty much brown/tan. Sooo, I’m sticking with it for a while. I hoping I start to see change in color soon, growth is great but I did this to improve colors. They have a web page but finding out there is not much feedback from users in it. You get basic info from the 2 admins but you won’t get a good all around experience from multiple user like you would here on reef2reef.

 

[Paul Sands]

The forum at zeovit is much smaller group of people and they aren’t on all the time. It was very active when zeovit came out, but much quieter now.

They’ve also been better about giving dosing directions. When zeovit first came out it was much less clear.

 

[rob safron]

Yes the moderators give specific dosing directions but outside of that don’t have much advice. Some older threads are helpful.

 

[Cristy17]

All your comments are super helpful. I have been reading the Zeovit Forum just to get an idea of what I am getting into. I see a lot of people speak highly of it and others not so happy. “Alexander” seems to know his stuff the best. There are a couple other names that pop up. Sometimes I notice contrary advice being given. I am hoping to just stick with one moderator. My nutrients are not bad. I am certainly not an ULN reef keeper though. My acros have suffered and I have lost quite a few but a few have survived and are doing ok. I rarely see any polyp extension but they still have their color. I am really just doing it for growth and coloration. Rob- I appreciate you taking the time to write everything up so well. Do you still regret starting Zeovit on your 5 year established tank? Can you post a picture?

 

[rob safron]

No I don’t regret it. I tend to like change and trying new things. I can say my water has never looked better. My corals are growing and I do see polyp extension. I am learning a lot about my tank as Zeovit forces you to pay close attention to your corals. I’m hopeful that my colors will improve more, especially on the ones that are brown/tan which started red/pink when I bought them. Never worry too much about cyno, used to vinegar dose and used to that. Not sure I want 0 nutrients, just very low. G Alexander is the main moderator on that site. There is a form you fill out about your system and he will give you dosage info. Here is a pick, not really a good photographer and just using my I phone.

 

[Cristy17]

Beautiful! Those acros and montis are sick! Very nice. I hope to have my tank look more like this after starting Zeovit. How much have those acros grown since you started Zeovit? I also see your fungia..is it reproducing? You know they look dead for a while and then they start growing new little specks..Mine has not done that, but I am waiting.. Thanks for this info..I think you have just covvinced me to go ahead and start.. I saw that form I need to fill out. I can only get about 115 on the Zeovit reactor, I know they want 200 but I am not sure I will be able to get that much...I will see.

 

[rob safron]

So you mean 200 LPM flow? So you have around 50 gallon net water in your system? No the plate has not reproduced. Lots of new tip growth since Zeovit. Most started as 1-2 inch frags 3 years ago and need to start trimming really. Most are pretty common corals. Can’t see paying the prices they want theses days. Lot of my money has gone into equipment. Would like to get a new tank some day. It’s a 20 year old 125 gallon, not even drilled. Use an Eshoops dual siphon overflow.

 

[Cristy17]

Oh..so the 200 is in liters not gallons? So I have a new Cor-15 and I added a manifold. My reading for the Cor is about 226 GPH, the Zeovit is about 111GPH and I have a chiller also, but in liters it would mean I only need 56 GPH..is that what you are saying?

 

[rob safron]

How many net gallons of water do you have?

 

[Cristy17]

Approximately 80

 

[rob safron]

So you want .8 L of Zeo and a flow of 80 GPH flow.

 

[rob safron]

Straight from the Zeo site for 80 gallons

1. Place 0.8 liter zeovit in a Zeo Reactor. Water flow around 80 US gallons per hour. Connect the reactor pump to a clock timer and run the reactor pump with a 3 hour on / 3 hour off / 3 hour on interval. Please make sure the zeolite is not exposed to air while the pump is switched off. Clean the material daily. Leave the zeolite 4 weeks in the filter until you do the first change out. This is the first changing interval, others could be lengthen to 6 – 8 weeks.

2. Place 0.3 liters activated carbon in a filter sock and keep it in a passive water flow in your sump, changed every 30 days. Knead the carbon daily to keep the surface clean. Most users get perfect results with korallenzucht carbon.

3. Dose 3 drops ZeoBac daily for the first 2 weeks, flowed by a 2 – 3 x weekly dosage of 3 drops each. Dose 0.3 ml ZeoStart 2 x daily (morning & evening). Dose those in front of the Zeo reactor pump while it is switched on. Dose 3 drops of Sponge Power every other day.

 

[Cristy17]

Straight from the Zeo site for 80 gallons

1. Place 0.8 liter zeovit in a Zeo Reactor. Water flow around 80 US gallons per hour. Connect the reactor pump to a clock timer and run the reactor pump with a 3 hour on / 3 hour off / 3 hour on interval. Please make sure the zeolite is not exposed to air while the pump is switched off. Clean the material daily. Leave the zeolite 4 weeks in the filter until you do the first change out. This is the first changing interval, others could be lengthen to 6 – 8 weeks.

2. Place 0.3 liters activated carbon in a filter sock and keep it in a passive water flow in your sump, changed every 30 days. Knead the carbon daily to keep the surface clean. Most users get perfect results with korallenzucht carbon.

3. Dose 3 drops ZeoBac daily for the first 2 weeks, flowed by a 2 – 3 x weekly dosage of 3 drops each. Dose 0.3 ml ZeoStart 2 x daily (morning & evening). Dose those in front of the Zeo reactor pump while it is switched on. Dose 3 drops of Sponge Power every other day.

Thanks Rob! I have a question, when you say to dose in front if the Zeo reactor, are you saying so it goes through the reactor or where it exits in the last chamber of the sump? I finally set up the rocks and the reactor yesterday. I will do the charcoal and start adding the ZeoStart, ZeoBac, today. I also joined the Zeovit community to get support from Alexander who seems to be the main guru there! Thanks again and wish me luck! I am a bit nervous since I have a fully loaded tank!

 

[rob safron]

Yes. I drip it just prior to the reactor inlet. Really that’s where you want the bacteria to colonize. Good luck. I have a very aged and loaded SPS tank also. I had no issue with corals and Zeovit. I did have a jump in nitrate and phosphate after the switch. The lowest I have been able to reduce after months of use is Nitrate 5 and phosphate 0.01-0.03. My corals are growing and look good. I am seeing hair algae here and there and my glass needs cleaning daily from a green algae film. When on Vinegar I could go a week before major film. Not sure what else to do to lower besides adding some Vinegar to my dosing. May try that.

 

[Cristy17]

Yes. I drip it just prior to the reactor inlet. Really that’s where you want the bacteria to colonize. Good luck. I have a very aged and loaded SPS tank also. I had no issue with corals and Zeovit. I did have a jump in nitrate and phosphate after the switch. The lowest I have been able to reduce after months of use is Nitrate 5 and phosphate 0.01-0.03. My corals are growing and look good. I am seeing hair algae here and there and my glass needs cleaning daily from a green algae film. When on Vinegar I could go a week before major film. Not sure what else to do to lower besides adding some Vinegar to my dosing. May try that.

Thanks for answering my question. I have an independent sicce pump going to the reactor so I can control the 3 hrs on, 3 hours off. I decided to drip the ZeoBak and ZeoStart at the inlet grid on the pump. Does that sound right? Also, do you happen to know how long and how often I should have the mulm shook? I don’t know about hair algae but I have used Vibrant about 4 times and I love it. I have stopped since I was going to start Zeovit. I am not sure if its ok to continue. I think your numbers for NO3 and PO4 are great! My No3 was 18 and PO4 0.03. I change 10 gallons every week. What are you wanting to lower it too?