Neo Zeo method Discussions

Tony

Tony

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Hi all. Seeing as this is a relatively new product to SA, there are going to be a lot of guys out there wanting to use the system to reduce their nutrients. The product is brilliant but extremely dangerous to those seeking a quick fix to their nutrient problems.

I want to start a thread where guys can discuss the pro's and cons of this method of nutrient reduction, what should and shouldn't be used, how fast the system should be implemented and the corerct way of using the zeolite based system.

Here for starters is the neozeo method download from brightwell aquatics.

2shared - download NeoZeo Method.pdf
 
My firs thing that I would like to say to any potential users of the product is to take it easy. Like one has to drip a fish to get it used to your water parameters one has to slowly get your system used to low nutrients. Add your stones slowly and according to recommendations to rpevent your corals from being "shocked" by a sudden reduction in nutrients and ammonia
 
Good advice Tony. I have decided to run half the recommended dose of Zeolites in my tank so as to prolong the introduction of the zeolites so that my system has a better chance of adapting to the new environment and thus reduce unnecessary stress:)
 
Good stuff Tony. Another thing guys must understand, this method is meant mainly for SPS/SPS dominated systems where we are trying to achieve low to zero nutrients.

If you are going to be using it in LPS, softies or FOWLR systems, I suggest using quater to maximum half the recommended dosage.
LPS especially prefer higher nutrient enviroments in order to thrive.
 
A bit of advice to any one looking at this type of method, there are many ways to skin a cat and it is not the only way to keep SPS.
Secondly, it is an advanced system of reef keeping that needs research so give yourself time to get to know your system and understand the different aspects of reef keeping before going for a system like this. The results of these methods speak for themselves but know that you are pushing the limits and the system then becomes less forgiving if an error is made.
 
Well put Alan. These types of systems require more stability with water parameters and are less forgiving as you put it to mistakes.

I would also like to see success stories. Even though it's a new thing in SA (unless you imported Zeovit yourself) maybe guys running this system including myself can posts before and after pics to see differences in colouration and growth. I for one have noticed phenomenal growth in my system.

I added this coral about two months ago
11284aba505884519.jpg


Look at it now
11284aba50b571f73.jpg
 
If you look at the coral to the right of the cervocornis in my first comparitive pic you can see the same one below with the neozeo system. The colours are les sbrown and going their lilac colour like they're supposed to

11284aba51a0128d1.jpg
 
Tony awesome photos...But tell me can you use Neo Zeo on a new system or should it only be used on a system that is stable already...?
 
riyadhessa said:
Tony awesome photos...But tell me can you use Neo Zeo on a new system or should it only be used on a system that is stable already...?
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Tony if I may. The Zeo system can be run from the beginning of a tanks life. Look at my system as an eg. or watch my new system that is going to be up and running in a few weeks time. It will be run on Zeo from the word go.
 
IMO, these methods of running reef tanks wont do anymore for growth, in fact a slightly higher nutrient system may be more beneficial for growth than a nutrient deficient one, where it will make a slight difference is in the colouration of the corals. Running nutrient deficient systems is very much a European mythology of running a reef tank.
 
Its a very clever system and works well. The problem is that you are essentially in some ways starving your corals and pushing them to the edge of sustainability for great colour and thus have to add all the supliments to keep them going.

You have to be a person happy with folowing a fairly strict regime, it is not for nothing that this system was originally Swiss and then a German product.:)
 
Can you please explain a bit more for me bru? what does the carbon source have to do with it and what would happen if i do not add it?
 
ziyaadb said:
Can you please explain a bit more for me bru? what does the carbon source have to do with it and what would happen if i do not add it?
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Ok, the carbon source assists in nutrient export. IT MUST BE DOSED WITH CAUTION. Sorry caps lock was on there :p
You will find your skimmer pulling out much more gunk as compared to what it is currently doing.
It also assists in allowing bacteria to thrive (It feeds you bacteria). But at the same time should there be any nasty bacteria eg. Cyano, it will assist in causing that to thrive aswell.

Carbon needs to be dosed in small quantities (Im talking about Vodka) , no more than 1ml per 100l of water.
You start of with 1ml for the first week, then 2 ml the second week and so on.....
An overdose sign will be a diatom bloom.

Remember, lots of guys including me have used it with success, then there are others that have wiped out their systems using this method. So please be careful.
 
jacquesb said:
Meks - sorry to be abhorrent - but you ALSO get a CYANO bloom if you overdose on a carbon source (ie vodka)......
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From my personal experience, I have not really experienced a Cyano boom from overdosing, just diatoms (like what is stated in the Zeovit.com guide).

On one occasion, I accidently dosed 12ml in the evening instead of 6ml. As I dose 6ml in the morning and 6 in the evening.
My thoughts are, if you are dosing plain Vodka without any bacteria strain, you might end up with a Cyano boom as that carbon will look for the first bacteria to feed?
 
Mekaeel - I dosed vodka (without the zeo method) last year..... I stopped dosing in December last year - due to the huge amount of cyano that was starting to grow in my tank..... a week after dosing the vodka, the cyano dissappeared..... I dosed about 10-15ml in my +-870 litre reef tank.... No diatoms, though......... Diatoms live off silicates, don't they?
 
jacquesb said:
Mekaeel - I dosed vodka (without the zeo method) last year..... I stopped dosing in December last year - due to the huge amount of cyano that was starting to grow in my tank..... a week after dosing the vodka, the cyano dissappeared..... I dosed about 10-15ml in my +-870 litre reef tank.... No diatoms, though......... Diatoms live off silicates, don't they?
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Yip makes sense bud. But, before you had the Cyano issue, were you dosing any bacteria strain? If you werent, and there was the slightest bit of Cyano present (not even visible), the Vodka will cause the cyano to grow wild.

Where as, if you had a decent bacteria strain being dosed in the system, before you had cyano, and then you dosed Vodka, certainly the Vodka will feed the more dominant bacteria present in the system.

Hell, it is past my bed time, i dont know if im making any sense :p
Diatoms live off silicates, correct! But there has got to be something present in the carbon source for it to cause Diatoms if overdosed, otherwise why will Zeovit.com mention it?
 
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