Zeovit System

[DCG1286]

IF you didn't catch this thread already ... just the general info ... figured I would link it to you.
The OP also gave a nice explanation on Reef Sanctuary. Can't find the thread at the moment.

http://www.zeovit.com/forums/showthread.php?t=10354

 

[ClosetFishGeek]

The zeo forum is a great source....So many nice people there to guide you on your way....and lots of experience as well. When I was debating using this system they had a lot of helpful insight that was not in the basic guide.....Best of luck ...

 

[ReeferMadness99]

Thanks guys!

 

[ReeferMadness99]

Hey DCG1286, awesome thread, good read. Thanks a lot!

 

[DCG1286]

Not at a problem.
To be honest with you ... after reading all that cr@p one night ... I came to the conclusion ... it's too much trouble for what it is worth ... I have seen many tanks that have achieved the same colors and growth of this Zeo system ... it all seems like a quick fix to me. Key is indeed good husbandry. If you do choose to run it ... keep us consistently updated with pictures ... i am curious to see what happens!!!

 

[ReeferMadness99]

This may be a dumb question but I really never dealt with photometers before.
I noticed that Hanna makes a good Nitrate meter & Phosphate meter. I'm looking at the Calcium & Magnesium photometer and also the Potassium Photometer. If the mg/L or ppm range does not fall in line with ocean parameters, I assume the photometer cannot be used right? For example, the Calcium & Magnesium photometer for HR levels. Calcium Range is 0-400mg/L which is a little too low. Magnesium range is 0-150mg/L which seems really low considering Mg should be between 1200-1300mg/L. So does it make these unit useless for our purpose or is there a way they can work for our testing?

 

[TheHun]

Have you looked at gettankedaquariums.com ?

They have salt mixed for ULNS systems. Formula 2 salt is great, been using it for about six months and params have been spot-on...

 

[Galantra]

I actually will be starting the Zeo system on a smaller tank to see how it goes. I was going to just setup a complete system for my 300 & 150 DT running a 250g sump but i feel i have to try it out for myself to see how it goes. I would really like to see your results

Will you be using live sand?

I been lucky and have a friend that runs the zeo on a 750g tank thats been giving me info

 

[DHaut]

Someone want to tell me what a zeo system actually does? Are we talking added color/growth?

And seriously, a beer bottle to the teeth? It's just a thread on the internet. Geez.

 

[prattreef]

I have never run a Zeo system and am far from an expert, but my understanding of the approach once you strip away all the jargon and detailed attempts at explanation is that using a zeolite media and bacteria you bring the nutrient content of the system to extremely low levels. This results in most of the Zooxanthellae ( brown colored) in the corals dying off or at least deprived of a nitrogen source with which to produce chlorophyll i.e, they either leave or are inert and clear. This exposes the more colorful coral pigments below them. This also essentially brings the coral to the brink of starvation which is compensated for by elaborate additions of amino acids and targeted nutrient supplements. The result when done right are gaudy pastel colored corals that to me at least seem unatural, but that part is of course a personal aesthetic.

My concern from a vendors POV would be that once I sell these Zeo frags to my customers-- the vast majority of whom do not run ULN ( Ultra low nutrient ) systems --- they will return to their natural coloration making many people very unhappy.

 

[NYreefNoob]

zeo as well as any of the other systems ran basically manipulate the colors of the corals, it will keep nitrates phosphate and others at 0 will allowing to feed more, i personally once my brightwell runs out will not be using any of these systems anymore, do they help, yes, do i really need it, no, with my husbandry i have and the equipment. as a serious reefer, the thing's your planning to use as a selling point wouldnt be a selling point for me, seeing i dont use l.e.d, don't use zeo, and to be honest as a person who runs a million dollar business i couldnt ever imagine saying what you just said to someone on here and ever think my business had a chance, word of mouth is the best advertisement there is. LFS owner gets nice stuff but is a dick, therefor i dont go there, this isnt a personal attack with what was said, but not something i would openly being saying in a forum, while in the process of trying to open a business, and still hope it works out and best of luck, btw any owner or or persona selling something is always going to tell you it isnt that hard and so on as zeo has told you. what do you plan to do if you take a week or longer vacation ? reason alot of the well known vendors site's dont use this product or others like it

 

[DHaut]

What's the probabilty that a coral going from a zeo enviro to a normal one (like my tank) will kick the bucket do to the drastic change? Especially something fragile like SPS?

 

[prattreef]

What's the probabilty that a coral going from a zeo enviro to a normal one (like my tank) will kick the bucket do to the drastic change? Especially something fragile like SPS?

If acclimated properly, I'm sure it could make the transition , but I'm equally sure it won't hold its color.

 

[DHaut]

Thanks P - and lol@ the thread edit/bump to great threads. it's like magic.

 

[ReeferMadness99]

I totally understand that there will be an adjustment for these corals to go from a Low nutrient system to a normal home aquarium. My objective is to create corals that exist as naturally as possible. Its actually just the opposite, our aquariums are the unnatural environment for these corals. They exist in nature with the beautiful pastels and colors you see in a Zero nutrient system because the ocean is just that, an ultra low nutrient system. The normal systems we have at home have forced our corals to live with parameters like nitrate and phosphate where in the ocean, they do not exist. So the Zeo system, brightwell neo zeo, and others are aiming at simulating a more natural environment for corals.

Sorry about blowing off the lid before, but when its 3am in the morning and your trying to have an intelligent debate with a few people about things and someone jumps in and calls you a show off and tells everyone not to ever disagree with you, it well....just kinda pisses me off.

 

[DHaut]

Is it really true that they have those colors in nature? The corals I've seen in the wild are duller than what I usually see in tanks. I also wasn't aware that the ocean is a low nutrient environment. Seems like that's a broad statement for the ocean worldwide. I'd love to see where you found this info (honestly) because it's interesting news to me.

 

[ReeferMadness99]

I know Zeovit has sparked many heated debates and arguments over many different forums across the internet. I guess only time will show how good or bad it is for me. I'm hoping it works from a business sense. I'll start a photo thread that will show my progress...now I just need a good camera...

 

[ReeferMadness99]

The reason why nitrates and phosphates build up in a closed aquarium is because of limited water quantities. The bulk majority of the ocean is nothing but pure water. There are many areas of the ocean where nothing but special plankton can survive. There is never nitrate build up or phosphate build up because there is a never ending supply of fresh water. Its like doing water changes every second in your home system.

 

[kris]

kris - What coral vendor actually buys frags???? Colonies buddy, we buy colonies

I guess I assumed you would be selling ORA frags!

Not trying to be negative here, but there's a lot of research that needs to be done. I used to run it, even sold the stuff at one time. There's not much of a markup in the product or a market for that matter.

You should know that the zeo forum is not an open forum. It's owned by the importer of the product. Mention Brightwell, VSV or Ultralith and you won't get any feedback. One of their mods even uses a competitors product. The leading moderator is a product pimp. He's smart enough to be an MD, yet can't post pics of his results. Most of the list of "their favorite" tanks don't even use zeo. C'mon, doesn't any of this stop and make you think

Try it on a smaller scale before you take the full plung.

 

[jrobbins]

I totally understand that there will be an adjustment for these corals to go from a Low nutrient system to a normal home aquarium. My objective is to create corals that exist as naturally as possible. Its actually just the opposite, our aquariums are the unnatural environment for these corals. They exist in nature with the beautiful pastels and colors you see in a Zero nutrient system because the ocean is just that, an ultra low nutrient system. The normal systems we have at home have forced our corals to live with parameters like nitrate and phosphate where in the ocean, they do not exist. So the Zeo system, brightwell neo zeo, and others are aiming at simulating a more natural environment for corals.

I'm not sure that is correct. while nitrate and phosphate levels in the ocean may be basically at zero, reefs can be very nutrient rich environments, more so than you will ever be able to replicate in a tank (which is why so many dedicated filter feeders are almost impossible to keep).

as for what they look like in nature, most of the corals I have seen while diving look absolutely nothing like what we have in our tanks...they are mostly green and brown, or very muted colors...