18.3mb
Observations & Experiences
"Observations and Experiences" that expand on those already outlined in the ZEOvit-Guide.New and experienced users may find this useful when fine tuning/setup/dosing/targeting colour/product use/side effects/benefits etc.
These observations are subjective and as every tank is unique,any suggestions may have differing results requiring modification to suit your own reeftank.
Lights out:Zeo recommend to stir/shake/pump the reactor twice a day if possible.When possible coincide your dosing and mulm with your lights out time,this is when the corals will extend to feed and benefit from elements added.
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Zeobak:Dose your zeobak in or near the reactor.If you are running 3 hours on/off,easy to dose bak to the reactor during the off cycle.This ensures the dose goes to work directly on the zeovit.Start2 may also be dosed to the reactor at this time if desired.
--------------------------------------------------------------
Double Dosage:If starting specific new products, having not used it previously, it has been noted that a larger hit to replenish missing minerals/elements is beneficial.A good example of this is B-Balance "For the initial use you can dose 50-100 ml per 100 L / 25 gallons tank water
to refill missing minerals. Then pause for 2 days.Resume normal dosage".Sponge power/PIF(Potassium iodine fluoride) may be doubled on first dose also.
--------------------------------------------------------------
Kh:When starting the Zeovit system,recommended Kh levels are approx 6-8DKh.Most tanks prior zeo run 10-12DKh,possibly higher.Take your time, very slowly reducing this to zeo levels.Its been my experience hard corals dont cope well with rapid Kh change,possible rtn/stn precursor,so monitor and reduce it slowly over a month at least.
--------------------------------------------------------------
Sponge Power:Amazing results within a couple of weeks!wow!After using this for over two months,acro colour/ growth is terrific,sponges,fan worms,lps,thrive and all myriad of biological diversity has been increased.Acting in broad spectrum the odd aiptasia likes it too!.Its been observed,cutting back dosage after the first months to 2/3 doses per week maintains the consistent improvement without turning your aiptasia into superfreaks;)Easier to see,easier to kill!!
--------------------------------------------------------------
Cost Effective:The only element that has (recommended) to be dosed daily is ZeoStart2..Even then,no harm done,missing the odd day(s)Guilty! 20 drops= 1 ml approx
--------------------------------------------------------------
Zeospur2:For those that use the mighty blue Zeospur2,if you need to help out a new or stubborn coral to renew its zooanthalae,try targeting the dose around this particular coral next time you dose,it will spread to the whole tank but has a prominent effect on the target coral.Less is more!
-------------------------------------------------------------
K-Balance:Potassium deficiency can be diagnosed in different corals.
Montipora, especially plating types, display slower growth and appear washed out to
grey. Latent potassium deficiency may also lead to tissue loss, spreading from one or
more spots.
Stylophora and Pocillopora appear as if they have been exposed to air for a
long period of time. Polyps are completely withdrawn and colors are light and without
depth.
Seriatopora may completely loose all tissue, starting from the base, within only a
few days. The pink coloration may turn into a light brown.
Acropora may loose their
color and get lighter and pale. Growth stops completely. If the potassium deficiency
continues tissue is lost, mostly starting from the base.
-------------------------------------------------------------
Zeo film:)After several years it has been recognised that after wiping down the zeo reactor in the sump,the slime film mulm which adheres to the outside of the reactor and around the base,is a valuable kind of bacteria plankton that is absorbed by many corals.This in turn leads to more intense coloration. Furthermore it enhances the vitality of Goniopora, Alveopora, seriatopora corals and Heliofungia.So periodically give the outside a wipe over in sump,for an extra colour kick:)
-------------------------------------------------------------
Seperate your carbon/zeovit exchange.After a recent maintenance day,i noted some basal recession after carrying out both carbon & zeolite exchanges at the same time.The suggestion is spacing these apart by 7 days, resulting in no coral stress. Together may cause too rapid water chemistry changes for the corals to adapt.
Culprits towards a base recession are drifting parameters so things to check:
Alkalinity-Kh too high/low
Calcium
Salinity
Restabilise these and recession will cease.
-------------------------------------------------------------
SPS Colorization,fine tuning ideas to assist as a basic map for tweaking colours.
This assumes the minimum suggested standards to keeping SPS; strong lighting, calcium at the appropriate levels, strong skimming and live rock.
Yellows
Highly dependent on Nitrate and PO4 levels.Yellows are sort of you baseline; yellows will tell you a lot about what is going on in your tank, what is needed and what is overdosed. Nitrate and/or PO4 reduction is most important,Carbon dosing and/or water changes . Basically, if you want to do SPS, I would suggest starting with an acropora that is yellow. If you can get it to stay yellow for several months, you should be ready for something else.
-------------------------------------------------------------
Greens(Iron concentrate)
Most green colouration can be achieved through the small addition of an Iron Concentrate . You must be very careful with Iron because it is also an Algae accelerator; this is why it is so important for you to get your yellows colours first (your N and P will be lowered).
* Greens can clash somewhat with the blue supplementations of Potassium and you end up with an off green/yellow coral (shimmer).
Additionally, I use my yellows as indicators for my greens and blues. Youll notice an Iron deficiency if your greens are brown color or they are paling in color. I start off by dosing Iron at about 1 drop per 50 usg twice a week and take note of what happens, color changes, algae growth, until my yellow acroporas display a green shimmer (it wont be a solid green but a shimmer of a green/yellow).
Please note, a sign of overdosing is a darkening of tissue, when this happens too much iron is being added. Another sign of overdosing is algae growth, stop immediately and possibly do a water change if necessary. Like everything else reef, go slowly.
------------------------------------------------------------
Blues and some purples(PIF-Potassium Iodide Fluoride)
This is mainly for blues but it has been found it can also have an effect on purples. The supplement for this is Potassium Iodide Concentrate (Zeovit PIF)Dont get something that says Potassium because that is a little different. Dosing should be done when blue colors become less bright. Again, using yellow corals as indicators, stop dosing when yellow corals display a green shimmer.
------------------------------------------------------------
Reds/Pinks and some Purples(K-Balance/B-Balance/Coral Vitalizer)
Primarily for coloring reds and pinks in Montiporas, Pocilloporas, Birdsnest, other Stys and Seriatoporas. The supplement is Potassium (K, not potassium iodide).
B-Balance replenishes missing minerals and vitamins,and really enhances red stylos pocs.
For dosing you can use your monitporas, especially caps as indicators. Supplementing is required when Montiporas display slower growth and appear washed out to silver/grey appearance. Indicators on Stylos and Pocs are when they look like they have been exposed to air (sucked in or when they have been touched by your hand). Polyps are completely withdrawn and colors are light. Other indicators of potassium deficiency are when the pinks turn into a light brown and when acroporas loose their color and get lighter and pale. A major potassium deficiency is seen when tissue is receeding or lost, mostly starting from the base opposed to spotting (patchy look). An overdose can lead to tip burning so avoid mistaking tip burn for new growth. Tips burn will be white with no polyps.
------------------------------------------------------------
Purples(Coral Vitalizer/Sponge Power)
Probably one of the hardest coloration of all acroporas from my experience since it is a combination of several variables.
First and foremost is water clarity, which means Carbon and/or filter socks. Zeo Sponge Power, which can be used in any system, feeds sponges. Sponges are great because they can filter a mass amount of water for better water clarity.
From what I have noted, increased water clarify will first effect SPS tips but not the complete base. I have seen the same coral with really nice purple tips but brown/tan/white bases. In another tank,the same coral,which met all other parameters will have full purple from base to tip.
Second being lighting. From observations,purples seem to love 420-440nm range light spectrum, those found in actinics and 20K halides. Some of the best purples I have seen are in tanks that have 440nm blue actinics
Third, supplements such as Iodide and Potassium (see blues and Reds/Pinks). Again, make sure your greens are green and yellows are yellow. Your blues should be bright with depth. Iodide will also help if you have tip burn.
---------------------------------------------------------
Darkened tissue/Browned out corals(Xtra/B-Balance)
Pohls Xtra will have a mild lightening effect on acropora corals.The zooanthalae is gently shed to be replenished a couple of days later resulting in brighter deeper tissue colours without coral any stress,works great with a BB combo
These observations are subjective and as every tank is unique,any suggestions may have differing results requiring modification to suit your own reeftank.
Lights out:Zeo recommend to stir/shake/pump the reactor twice a day if possible.When possible coincide your dosing and mulm with your lights out time,this is when the corals will extend to feed and benefit from elements added.
--------------------------------------------------------------
Zeobak:Dose your zeobak in or near the reactor.If you are running 3 hours on/off,easy to dose bak to the reactor during the off cycle.This ensures the dose goes to work directly on the zeovit.Start2 may also be dosed to the reactor at this time if desired.
--------------------------------------------------------------
Double Dosage:If starting specific new products, having not used it previously, it has been noted that a larger hit to replenish missing minerals/elements is beneficial.A good example of this is B-Balance "For the initial use you can dose 50-100 ml per 100 L / 25 gallons tank water
to refill missing minerals. Then pause for 2 days.Resume normal dosage".Sponge power/PIF(Potassium iodine fluoride) may be doubled on first dose also.
--------------------------------------------------------------
Kh:When starting the Zeovit system,recommended Kh levels are approx 6-8DKh.Most tanks prior zeo run 10-12DKh,possibly higher.Take your time, very slowly reducing this to zeo levels.Its been my experience hard corals dont cope well with rapid Kh change,possible rtn/stn precursor,so monitor and reduce it slowly over a month at least.
--------------------------------------------------------------
Sponge Power:Amazing results within a couple of weeks!wow!After using this for over two months,acro colour/ growth is terrific,sponges,fan worms,lps,thrive and all myriad of biological diversity has been increased.Acting in broad spectrum the odd aiptasia likes it too!.Its been observed,cutting back dosage after the first months to 2/3 doses per week maintains the consistent improvement without turning your aiptasia into superfreaks;)Easier to see,easier to kill!!
--------------------------------------------------------------
Cost Effective:The only element that has (recommended) to be dosed daily is ZeoStart2..Even then,no harm done,missing the odd day(s)Guilty! 20 drops= 1 ml approx
--------------------------------------------------------------
Zeospur2:For those that use the mighty blue Zeospur2,if you need to help out a new or stubborn coral to renew its zooanthalae,try targeting the dose around this particular coral next time you dose,it will spread to the whole tank but has a prominent effect on the target coral.Less is more!
-------------------------------------------------------------
K-Balance:Potassium deficiency can be diagnosed in different corals.
Montipora, especially plating types, display slower growth and appear washed out to
grey. Latent potassium deficiency may also lead to tissue loss, spreading from one or
more spots.
Stylophora and Pocillopora appear as if they have been exposed to air for a
long period of time. Polyps are completely withdrawn and colors are light and without
depth.
Seriatopora may completely loose all tissue, starting from the base, within only a
few days. The pink coloration may turn into a light brown.
Acropora may loose their
color and get lighter and pale. Growth stops completely. If the potassium deficiency
continues tissue is lost, mostly starting from the base.
-------------------------------------------------------------
Zeo film:)After several years it has been recognised that after wiping down the zeo reactor in the sump,the slime film mulm which adheres to the outside of the reactor and around the base,is a valuable kind of bacteria plankton that is absorbed by many corals.This in turn leads to more intense coloration. Furthermore it enhances the vitality of Goniopora, Alveopora, seriatopora corals and Heliofungia.So periodically give the outside a wipe over in sump,for an extra colour kick:)
-------------------------------------------------------------
Seperate your carbon/zeovit exchange.After a recent maintenance day,i noted some basal recession after carrying out both carbon & zeolite exchanges at the same time.The suggestion is spacing these apart by 7 days, resulting in no coral stress. Together may cause too rapid water chemistry changes for the corals to adapt.
Culprits towards a base recession are drifting parameters so things to check:
Alkalinity-Kh too high/low
Calcium
Salinity
Restabilise these and recession will cease.
-------------------------------------------------------------
SPS Colorization,fine tuning ideas to assist as a basic map for tweaking colours.
This assumes the minimum suggested standards to keeping SPS; strong lighting, calcium at the appropriate levels, strong skimming and live rock.
Yellows
Highly dependent on Nitrate and PO4 levels.Yellows are sort of you baseline; yellows will tell you a lot about what is going on in your tank, what is needed and what is overdosed. Nitrate and/or PO4 reduction is most important,Carbon dosing and/or water changes . Basically, if you want to do SPS, I would suggest starting with an acropora that is yellow. If you can get it to stay yellow for several months, you should be ready for something else.
-------------------------------------------------------------
Greens(Iron concentrate)
Most green colouration can be achieved through the small addition of an Iron Concentrate . You must be very careful with Iron because it is also an Algae accelerator; this is why it is so important for you to get your yellows colours first (your N and P will be lowered).
* Greens can clash somewhat with the blue supplementations of Potassium and you end up with an off green/yellow coral (shimmer).
Additionally, I use my yellows as indicators for my greens and blues. Youll notice an Iron deficiency if your greens are brown color or they are paling in color. I start off by dosing Iron at about 1 drop per 50 usg twice a week and take note of what happens, color changes, algae growth, until my yellow acroporas display a green shimmer (it wont be a solid green but a shimmer of a green/yellow).
Please note, a sign of overdosing is a darkening of tissue, when this happens too much iron is being added. Another sign of overdosing is algae growth, stop immediately and possibly do a water change if necessary. Like everything else reef, go slowly.
------------------------------------------------------------
Blues and some purples(PIF-Potassium Iodide Fluoride)
This is mainly for blues but it has been found it can also have an effect on purples. The supplement for this is Potassium Iodide Concentrate (Zeovit PIF)Dont get something that says Potassium because that is a little different. Dosing should be done when blue colors become less bright. Again, using yellow corals as indicators, stop dosing when yellow corals display a green shimmer.
------------------------------------------------------------
Reds/Pinks and some Purples(K-Balance/B-Balance/Coral Vitalizer)
Primarily for coloring reds and pinks in Montiporas, Pocilloporas, Birdsnest, other Stys and Seriatoporas. The supplement is Potassium (K, not potassium iodide).
B-Balance replenishes missing minerals and vitamins,and really enhances red stylos pocs.
For dosing you can use your monitporas, especially caps as indicators. Supplementing is required when Montiporas display slower growth and appear washed out to silver/grey appearance. Indicators on Stylos and Pocs are when they look like they have been exposed to air (sucked in or when they have been touched by your hand). Polyps are completely withdrawn and colors are light. Other indicators of potassium deficiency are when the pinks turn into a light brown and when acroporas loose their color and get lighter and pale. A major potassium deficiency is seen when tissue is receeding or lost, mostly starting from the base opposed to spotting (patchy look). An overdose can lead to tip burning so avoid mistaking tip burn for new growth. Tips burn will be white with no polyps.
------------------------------------------------------------
Purples(Coral Vitalizer/Sponge Power)
Probably one of the hardest coloration of all acroporas from my experience since it is a combination of several variables.
First and foremost is water clarity, which means Carbon and/or filter socks. Zeo Sponge Power, which can be used in any system, feeds sponges. Sponges are great because they can filter a mass amount of water for better water clarity.
From what I have noted, increased water clarify will first effect SPS tips but not the complete base. I have seen the same coral with really nice purple tips but brown/tan/white bases. In another tank,the same coral,which met all other parameters will have full purple from base to tip.
Second being lighting. From observations,purples seem to love 420-440nm range light spectrum, those found in actinics and 20K halides. Some of the best purples I have seen are in tanks that have 440nm blue actinics
Third, supplements such as Iodide and Potassium (see blues and Reds/Pinks). Again, make sure your greens are green and yellows are yellow. Your blues should be bright with depth. Iodide will also help if you have tip burn.
---------------------------------------------------------
Darkened tissue/Browned out corals(Xtra/B-Balance)
Pohls Xtra will have a mild lightening effect on acropora corals.The zooanthalae is gently shed to be replenished a couple of days later resulting in brighter deeper tissue colours without coral any stress,works great with a BB combo
