Zeovit VS Aquaforest

[Perry]

I am going to bring this one to the top to see if I can get some help.

I am also a user of AF products, looking to expand. Started the tank with the sand and Pro Bio products. I currently use the Reef Salt, component 1, 2, 3, element dosing at 150ml/day each (if needed of CA, ALK, Borium, strontium, etc), bio mud, etc. Probably missing a few things. My tank is running with very high nutrients.
Phosphate 0.4
Nitrates 40
ALK 8.1; Cal 450; Mag 1377
PH 8.41
Temp 78.4
Sal. 1.026
Lights are the neptune LED, two over a 140 gallon tank, ~40 gallon sump with macro algae and rocks. Octopus 200 skimmer and a roller mat. Four MP40's on sides of the tank running around 60% and two gyros on back running around 60%.
My tank is almost a year old and the SPS are growing, however quite slow for my taste. Colors are good, but I am getting more darker greens and lime greens as they grow and transition. My pinks are also on the darker side, reds show good color. The only issues I have had are some of my torches have gotten infections when splitting and I have lost them. Also lost a few smaller gonis but the rest of them are doing well. So as you can tell, I have a mixed reef.
I am considering the Zeomix, carbon, phospate minus mix along with the bacteria dosing. Can I get some recommendations or suggestions on a good starter pack? Starting from scratch with no reactor.
Thanks!

Start with the carbon passive, 8n a sock fine. The current ratio @ 100/1 is a sweet spot, albeit tad high. You can use the NP Pro as the carbon source, it will equally limit both, in the same 100/1 ratio. The Pro Bio S should also be considered, as they pair up. I use NP Pro, but another company for bacteria. These 2, should most certainly drive the values lower, in time. Start 1/2 dose, slowly build that based on feeding, bioload, and desired set parameters. Test frequently in the beginning, every 24 hours, especially p04, n03 fine weekly. Maybe daily for a week or 2, but the uptake on p04 more important, and n03 should stay relative. The stones, carbon, and phosphate minus stack is for huge bioload, tread carefully.

 

[dwhanc00]

Thank you so much for your response! I guess that is something I forgot to add... I do dose vinegar, 50ml/day, as a carbon source. I have used the BRS ROX carbon in a filter bag, two of them(generously filled), and still struggled with high numbers. I do have an extremely large bio load with the following fish: Tangs: Powder, purple, freckle face, blue, chocolate (still yellow); 6 anthias, five chalk bass, two striped gobies, yellow gobies, fox face, magnificent fox, and maybe two to three others. So almost 30 fish. I knew I was going to have quite the bio load. I do like to feed heavy as well. My fish are fat and happy.

I ordered the whole system of products yesterday:

000 mL ZEOmix Media - Aquaforest

AF Power Elixir (200 mL) - Aquaforest

5000 mL Phosphate Minus - Aquaforest

5000 mL Carbon - Aquaforest

Fluidized GFO and Carbon Filter Media Reactor - XL - Aquamaxx

50 mL AF Vitality Coral Vitamins - Aquaforest

50 mL AF Energy Growth Acceleration Food - Aquaforest

50 mL AF Build Coral Growth Enhancement - Aquaforest

50 mL Pro Bio S Probiotic Bacteria - Aquaforest

50 mL -NP Pro Liquid Polymer - Aquaforest

Replacement Foam Sponges for FR-SE Filter Media Reactor - Aquamaxx

AF Growth Boost Amino Acids - Aquaforest

AF Pure Food - Aquaforest

 

[Perry]

Thank you so much for your response! I guess that is something I forgot to add... I do dose vinegar, 50ml/day, as a carbon source. I have used the BRS ROX carbon in a filter bag, two of them(generously filled), and still struggled with high numbers. I do have an extremely large bio load with the following fish: Tangs: Powder, purple, freckle face, blue, chocolate (still yellow); 6 anthias, five chalk bass, two striped gobies, yellow gobies, fox face, magnificent fox, and maybe two to three others. So almost 30 fish. I knew I was going to have quite the bio load. I do like to feed heavy as well. My fish are fat and happy.

I ordered the whole system of products yesterday:

000 mL ZEOmix Media - Aquaforest

AF Power Elixir (200 mL) - Aquaforest

5000 mL Phosphate Minus - Aquaforest

5000 mL Carbon - Aquaforest

Fluidized GFO and Carbon Filter Media Reactor - XL - Aquamaxx

50 mL AF Vitality Coral Vitamins - Aquaforest

50 mL AF Energy Growth Acceleration Food - Aquaforest

50 mL AF Build Coral Growth Enhancement - Aquaforest

50 mL Pro Bio S Probiotic Bacteria - Aquaforest

50 mL -NP Pro Liquid Polymer - Aquaforest

Replacement Foam Sponges for FR-SE Filter Media Reactor - Aquamaxx

AF Growth Boost Amino Acids - Aquaforest

AF Pure Food - Aquaforest

All in ;)
The system as a whole, is great for colors. The carbon is excellent, I still use it too, as well as salt. I would use a sponge ring, in the reactor, to separate carbon and phosphate minus, Perhaps introduce these at 50-75% of recommendations in building your stack, obviously zeolites, then carbon, sponge, phosphate minus on top. Set reactor to a gentle tumble on phosphate minus, as to not escape the reactor, or over fluidize.
As with the all supps, 1/2 to start, best of luck :)

 

[Graffiti Spot]

I like aquaforests product that uses the copper sulphate which is how you get the pastel look in both systems for the most part. More options to “tweak” colors with zeo but I haven’t seen anyone really do a good job with it for years. It’s lots of work. The aqua forest stuff is much much milder and easier to not bleach your corals when trying to get the light natural coloration ime.

 

[dwhanc00]

So I travel a lot, any suggestions on setting this up as automated as possible?

 

[dwhanc00]

Thanks for everyone’s advice. I started the reactor and dosing of the above as suggested except for the reactor. I decide to start with 25 percent on the zeo, 50 percent on the carbon and geo. It has been almost a week. My nitrates have remained around 35-40 with phosphorus dropping from .25 to .15 over about 4 days. I also did a probably 15 percent water change during that time.

At what point would you recommend moving up the percentage? I have also been home and feeding heavy. 2-3x per day with several sheet of nori.

 

[dwhanc00]

 

[Perry]

So I travel a lot, any suggestions on setting this up as automated as possible?

There are ways to automation, but typically, a full system seems to favor the user who prefers hand dosing. I have means to automate k, and trace, but feel more connected through my daily regiment. Having a keen eye, to see slight color shifts and other visual indicators also helps these additives make sense. Arbitrary dosing, without observation, could lead to issues down the line. That said, most who are frequent travelers have more considerations than the standard reefing ones, which are already daunting. So, yes and no... Probiotic, might need a tank sitter. Balling, automate on 3 channel doser, no worries. Coral foods, best to hand dose. Bacteria and AF Energy need to be refrigerated, so not easy to automate. The carbon source can be mixed with RODI and dosed, but again, not my thing. Vitamins, aminos, being in doser, hmmm, not easily automated. I suspect, your getting the picture by now...

 

[dwhanc00]

Yes I came to that conclusion and my wife helps when I travel. I decided to start when I know my travel will be limited. Do you see anything I would add to the package? How long would you recommend waiting on increases to the media?

Thanks again for your help and Happy Thanksgiving!