lduncan

Rapidly lowering phosphate is not going to cause problems for corals. It would be like not taking someone out of a room full of carbon monoxide because it may stress them to the point of killing them. It doesn't make sense. Nitrifying bacteria are limited by food. The most important food is ammonia, the rest follow from that. Nitrifying bacteria can not take up acetate (vinegar salts) as a source of carbon. Their carbon comes from inorganic compounds like CO2 or HCO3-. I'm pretty sure that zeovit products don't contain ammonia, and the acetate which it likely contains has not effect on nitrifying bacteria. There is another bacteria species which exists in all our tanks which is capable of using acetate. Hint: It was discovered in 1987. The apparent reduction in phosphate when using zeovit is most likely not due to bacteria. I have a theory, but if I spelt it out now, I would be more than likely laughed away. On zeolites: There are two zeolites which have been shown to have higher affinities for ammonia in saltwater than the usual interferance of Calcium. They are: Clinoptilolite and Heulandite

Iron(II) Oxide/Hydroxide has been shown to inhibit algae growth. This is the concern I have about it. Small amounts can "improve" colouration in acros. I've been trying to find the study I read on it, no luck yet.

That's all right. I have the same problem sometimes. This won't happen. Why? Because you feed your tank, providing a source of phosphate. Combined with the fact that phosphate absorbers are not useful in removing organic phosphates. It is unlikely that phosphate will ever be limiting. All living things require phosphate to do what they do (ATP).

Or this one. http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showt ... did=370825 Personally I wouldn't be using this stuff. Layton

Just a few question for zeo users? Has anyone used phosphate removers while running the system? Even to begin with? Has anyone used the system without carbon, while running ozone or UV?

Can you point me to it? I don't recall it. I'm full on at work, but i'll explain if i get time, but definitely tonight.

What' your theory?

Let's go here then. http://www.fnzas.org.nz/fishroom/viewto ... 2931#52931 It is related to phosphate removers though.

Continuing on from the "Phosphates have reared there ugly head" thread. What happens if you OD on common phosphate removers? Why do you think that using phosphate removers with zeolite is a bad idea? Layton

I consider a healthy 6-7" blue tang to be about a fat as an average index finger. Layton

I don't think my last two posts were incorrect at all. As for the history of this topic, there were a couple of threads where people felt that hard questions about how the system work were a personal attack. They are not. They are just questions. I never said zeolite was responsible for removing phosphate. I have yet to see any research which suggests phosphate can participate in ion exchange in zeolites, it's a fairly large ion, and there are many forms of it. Anyway, even if there is a zeolite which can, it won't remove enough phosphate to be useful for other reasons. How does a zeolite enhance a bacteria's action? Also lets not talk misinformation. The explanation of how zeovit works is pure misinformation. What makes you think you can tilt the balance of this "constant struggle" between bacteria in favour of the ones your adding? It doesn't happen this way. The reason other bacteria will get crowed out is because there is no food for them. Believe me, if bacteria is the only active ingredient in zeobzac, it can be left out and the system will work. You already have all the bacteria needed to do all the processes you need right in your tank at this very moment. As for ozone and UV, I think there is other more serious consequences than killing a small number of bacteria. The more I think about the zeo system, I think the more simple it becomes.

Dosing bacteria (if that is what it is) is not going to help. You've got all the bacteria you need right in your tank already. Bacteria are ALWAYS limited by nutrients, adding a few drops can't change this. In my opinion that's not the reason why it's avoided, along with ozone and UV.

Oh no not zeolites again. It won't get rid of phosphate, best it can do is help change it. It will help with algae though... but not by reducing phosphate. Layton

Pie, that comment was in reference to the fact that Alois and Brendon had obviously had a falling out. Anyway, that's interesting on the GFO. Fay, there is more to not using phosphate removers with zeovit than just the zeovit does it for you. Same thing with using ozone, and UV with it.

If the tang is eating, and not skinny, it will be fine. Just give it time and it will pass. Make sure you are feeding well. Layton

Yeah, that could work. You'd have to elevate the liquid, as it won't be self priming like peristaltic. Also it wouldn't be able to deliver a set volume of liquid. It would depend on how full the reservoir was. Layton

???

Sorry to say that peristaltic pumps are the only reliable way. They are expensive. I've even looked at prices for OEM models in quantity, and they are still very expensive. Layton

I think if you think hard enough you may figure out why. Also I don't believe that a sudden drop in nutrients (nitrate and phosphate included) stresses corals at all, I think it is a myth. Layton

I totally disagree. I think a lot of people underfeed their tank trying to keep nutrients down. Fish need to be fed well. It will keep many other problems like disease away. Your tank will adjust to your feeding schedule as long as it is consistent, but don't reduce feeding to fix algae problems. They invariable fix themselves. Given time. As for phosphate problems. I have never used phosphate remover, so others should be more help here.

It's a mixture of stuff, some is left over kalk, but some is also calcium carbonate (very insoluble) which is formed when the kalk solution is exposed to carbon dioxide in the air. This is why kalk solution goes "off", eventually all the calcium will precipitate out as limestone (calcium carbonate), leaving nothing but water. It's fine to recycle it, but eventually more and more calcium carbonate will be formed, and you'll have to through it out. Layton

I'd look at something like the Sequence Reef Flo pumps from http://www.reefonline.com.au for the closed loop. Good value, and reasonably efficient power usage. Layton

Ira, your brain is in attack mode. Their sweapers are surprisingly long. Layton

A few more pics taken today. A great shaped acro, has been brown for months but now the tips are turning purple. Apparently it was solid purple when imported. Slow grower. Fire Coral (Millepora), had a few blisters from it's sting, reasonably powerful. Grows fast. Sohal Tang Layton

Just for a comparison, here is a pic of the table acro just after I got it. 2/2004 and now; 1/2005 Layton