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Aquarist Forums => Saltwater General Discussions => Saltwater Tank Builds => Topic started by: MJChang on November 24, 2012, 06:34:39 PM

Title: Journal of Conversion to Zeovit
Post by: MJChang on November 24, 2012, 06:34:39 PM
 :'(

havin left my tank attended by my coworker during my vacation, i paid the price sufferin a horrible outbreak of all sorts of algae, dinos--what you'll see in the pic with great improvement after dosing ultra algae x, cyano--what is replacing dinos that is fading, red cotton algae--another nuisance you can think about, gha--fading but slower than dinos after ultra algae x dosing, macro algae--i'll leave it grow there right now for combattin dino with ultra algae x requires shuttin down gfo/carbon

the big trophy of my blackfriday. totally worthy it, vertex zeo reactor, fought my claws and tails to get it

(https://www.ovas.ca/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi1109.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fh436%2Fmcwoodhill%2FNov24%2Fnov24reactor.jpg&hash=2e2e1b3883d15282d5ffc8ca7cfcb6055326a6f7)

acropora bushyensis/ humilis aka fiji green bushy, one of my best purchase. it was thought delicate but did survive the disaster

(https://www.ovas.ca/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi1109.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fh436%2Fmcwoodhill%2FNov24%2Fnov24greenhumilis.jpg&hash=8d657acb27b32b239e893627af748f01e7686ba8)

the corals really wash out with very thin tissues. p.e. however is good. possibly the algae assortment scrubbed all the nutrients from the water

(https://www.ovas.ca/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi1109.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fh436%2Fmcwoodhill%2FNov24%2Fnov24greenslimer.jpg&hash=b00daa7e47cb59a997e21d3a4a1701d1137dc24a)

(https://www.ovas.ca/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi1109.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fh436%2Fmcwoodhill%2FNov24%2Fnov24greenslimer.jpg&hash=b00daa7e47cb59a997e21d3a4a1701d1137dc24a)

(https://www.ovas.ca/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi1109.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fh436%2Fmcwoodhill%2FNov24%2Fnov24bluetip.jpg&hash=36d6b12aa54c1df033b50773e83d00a2053e211a)

still work to identify this table coral, possibly pink milli or what

(https://www.ovas.ca/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi1109.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fh436%2Fmcwoodhill%2FNov24%2Fnov24table1.jpg&hash=a8b5c95e4ed69943eb1d3eac92663b370ab12ecd)

my fave survives. when i purchased it, it lost half of its tentacles. now it recovered

(https://www.ovas.ca/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi1109.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fh436%2Fmcwoodhill%2FNov24%2Fnov24ritteri.jpg&hash=d9b191a1b3268c251b4827b6f428ca7cbbc5d616)

a very potential rbta to develop into a rainbow rbta. i randomly feed my anemones so they dont grow that fast. by random i mean i feed when i think about it

(https://www.ovas.ca/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi1109.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fh436%2Fmcwoodhill%2FNov24%2Fnov24rbta.jpg&hash=b9a11ee9e592991dbe11f2f9bbc5a8c57c768cc0)

Title: Re: Journal of Conversion to Zeovit
Post by: MJChang on November 26, 2012, 06:24:03 PM
Received the first patch of conversion materials:

Salifert K Test Kit and K-Balance

The reading was really bad. It was 290 and made my suspicion come true. The monti fails just as described in the manual how it does due to lack of potassium. Start dosin K-Balance and hopefully the situation is to improve.
Title: Re: Journal of Conversion to Zeovit
Post by: xenon on November 26, 2012, 08:00:32 PM
Quote from: MJChang on November 26, 2012, 06:24:03 PM
Received the first patch of conversion materials:

Salifert K Test Kit and K-Balance

The reading was really bad. It was 290 and made my suspicion come true. The monti fails just as described in the manual how it does due to lack of potassium. Start dosin K-Balance and hopefully the situation is to improve.

I use the same test kit and love it.

My SPS corals consume a ton of Potassium also.
Title: Re: Journal of Conversion to Zeovit
Post by: MJChang on November 26, 2012, 08:46:37 PM
Quote from: xenon on November 26, 2012, 08:00:32 PM
I use the same test kit and love it.

My SPS corals consume a ton of Potassium also.

i really forgot this part for a long time. only when i read the kz manual again was i reminded of potassium depletion
Title: Re: Journal of Conversion to Zeovit
Post by: kole18 on November 26, 2012, 10:38:29 PM
I don't dose potassium in my tank, just home made ato drip kalk/vinegar plus the basic additives for zeovit & run zeo reactor plus carbon. My montis seems ok, here's much additives.

Sponge coral
Coralvitalizer
Lps amino
Amino acid
Pohl extra
Ultra bac 2x a week.
Title: Re: Journal of Conversion to Zeovit
Post by: MJChang on November 26, 2012, 10:43:50 PM
Quote from: kole18 on November 26, 2012, 10:38:29 PM
I don't dose potassium in my tank, just home made ato drip kalk/vinegar plus the basic additives for zeovit & run zeo reactor plus carbon. My montis seems ok, here's much additives.

Sponge coral
Coralvitalizer
Lps amino
Amino acid
Pohl extra
Ultra bac 2x a week.

my guess kalk is unnecessary for zeovit

my tank is small so i dose tropic marin bio calcium. at home i have a calcium reactor

usually i go around basic 5, stone, bak, start, food, carbon

dont know what went wrong but k+ readin sucks this time
Title: Re: Journal of Conversion to Zeovit
Post by: kole18 on November 26, 2012, 11:23:38 PM
Corals r doing ok & growing, I don't see any problem lol.
Title: Re: Journal of Conversion to Zeovit
Post by: MJChang on November 26, 2012, 11:38:23 PM
Quote from: kole18 on November 26, 2012, 11:23:38 PM
Corals r doing ok & growing, I don't see any problem lol.

Yup, this biz is like that. You'll finally figure out a system works for you
Title: Re: Journal of Conversion to Zeovit
Post by: kole18 on November 26, 2012, 11:51:27 PM
Simple just learn how to read ur parameters & make sure everything is in right level ;D
Title: Re: Journal of Conversion to Zeovit
Post by: kole18 on November 27, 2012, 01:50:17 AM
i dose coral-vite 2x a week & here what's in it.

Inorganic mineral salts of Barium, Boron, Bromine, Calcium, Cobalt, Fluorine, Iodine, Iron, Lithium, Magnesium, Manganese, Potassium, Rubidium and Strontium; EDTA, Vitamins: L-Ascorbic Acid 2-Sulfate Dipotassium Dihydrate, Vitamin A Propionate, Vitamin A Palmitate, D-Activated animal sterol (D3), Folic Acid, Choline Chloride, Niacin, d-Pantothenic Acid, Thiamine (B1), Pyridoxine (B6), Riboflavin (B2), Vitamin B12, d-Biotin, Tocopheryl Acetate (E), Menadione Sodium Bisulfite Complex (K3) in a base containing Deionized Water, inorganic stabilizing compounds, and preservatives.
Title: Re: Journal of Conversion to Zeovit
Post by: MJChang on November 27, 2012, 09:39:31 AM
Quote from: kole18 on November 26, 2012, 11:51:27 PM
Simple just learn how to read ur parameters & make sure everything is in right level ;D

that's why i switch back to zeo. it sets up a framework of reef maintenance. so next time when i'm away, my dummy coworker can follow a way much clearer guideline :)

no more break disaster
Title: Re: Journal of Conversion to Zeovit
Post by: MJChang on November 30, 2012, 09:29:33 AM
Huge Victory against dinos! And as huge victory to recover the remnant corals.

Few ep's to share:

1, Ultra Algae X works to the point that dinos vanishes in 10 days as the manual says. But it isn't as powerful to kill other nuisance algae.

2, It's important to cut down the photoperiod to 6 max.

3, shuttin down all the other filters except the skimmer makes nutrients soar up. Cyano then thrives. But one time one problem, right.  ;)

Next step i'm gonna combat cyano with zeozym, coral snow, bio-mate + tropic marin reef actif---very powerful powder and it smells to me like some sort of carbon source. But my ritteri reacts rather badly to it.

4, potassium's an important element, or whatever, when it reduces to half what it is supposed, it's bad.

Will update with some pix. Corals r now growin fast and colorin up. :)
Title: Re: Journal of Conversion to Zeovit
Post by: MJChang on January 06, 2013, 08:01:10 PM
Very positive result to date. At the very beginning the tank looked like this. The previous system totally broke down. Dino's thrived on every single corner.

(https://www.ovas.ca/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi1109.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fh436%2Fmcwoodhill%2Foct28tank.jpg&hash=79a1cf75c3d171c19a5e5e65dc5ca765ff9bc7d3)

Then after the Ultra Algae X treatment it looked like this. The very red and hairy cyano mat on sand bed.

(https://www.ovas.ca/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi1109.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fh436%2Fmcwoodhill%2Fdec15tank_zps9e8cdcbb.jpg&hash=d8285dad7d129dc233ac16f23393200cd8ad75f3)

And today it looks like this. My tank's never been so clean, wether on glass or rocks.  ;D There're still some persistent cyano colonies that I have yet to wipe out.

(https://www.ovas.ca/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi1109.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fh436%2Fmcwoodhill%2FJan62013%2Fjan6tank2012_zpsfdc74dc9.jpg&hash=5261b41a99671f053e18c00a83a8a6773a830117)

Few more pix:

The ritteri finally balled up, showing a much healthier sign. The ball was very purple but it's of little pity the tentacles aren't green or purple tipped.

(https://www.ovas.ca/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi1109.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fh436%2Fmcwoodhill%2FJan62013%2Fjan6ritteri2013_zpsf2f42760.jpg&hash=c1f6d68734351eaeacc51ff709db12c0c8ece9d5)

The pink millepora colors up now.

(https://www.ovas.ca/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi1109.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fh436%2Fmcwoodhill%2FJan62013%2Fjan6pinkmille2013_zps3208d192.jpg&hash=fb5459222283e4fd884f9ef5d73af18979c08f2b)

The blue staghorn has yet to color up with xtra and vc. But now my priority is to wipe out cyano remnants.

(https://www.ovas.ca/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi1109.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fh436%2Fmcwoodhill%2FJan62013%2Fjan6bluestaghorn2013_zps61705f61.jpg&hash=e806e77f48212e65612bc7824a15e361bf60e407)

The caroliniana is growing fast and coloring up.

(https://www.ovas.ca/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi1109.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fh436%2Fmcwoodhill%2FJan62013%2Fjan6caroliana2013_zpsd35d445f.jpg&hash=5849a38ed13535641ef1f25ec08c0b3825a407b8)

I'll be getting a very awesome desalwii frag in months. Can't wait to put it in my tank.

;D ;D ;D
(//)



Title: Re: Journal of Conversion to Zeovit
Post by: MJChang on January 09, 2013, 04:23:11 PM
New toy, ultra quiet, cheap and worth every single penny in it: Vertex Omega 150 Skimmer.

In box on arrival

(https://www.ovas.ca/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi1109.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fh436%2Fmcwoodhill%2FIMG_0208_zps96486f2a.jpg&hash=897aaf13c6704dd03731afb556a2d8c74cee438d)

assembled

(https://www.ovas.ca/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi1109.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fh436%2Fmcwoodhill%2FIMG_0209_zps5d7de87b.jpg&hash=8bf254163d39d0f142048d0600b2996653d8f724)

(https://www.ovas.ca/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi1109.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fh436%2Fmcwoodhill%2FIMG_0210_zps713feef0.jpg&hash=d27ac46a8b9e95052b3e2552a05e1925955dd4bf)

Broke in. Very fine and smooth foam

(https://www.ovas.ca/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi1109.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fh436%2Fmcwoodhill%2FIMG_0211_zps562aca35.jpg&hash=65d9f21f79bfa20eda0c999acaea4404d568c07e)

(https://www.ovas.ca/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi1109.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fh436%2Fmcwoodhill%2FIMG_0212_zps55308a97.jpg&hash=260139ed4e6cea2b88f20f1118675927e8daf2b3)
Title: Re: Journal of Conversion to Zeovit
Post by: Severum on January 14, 2013, 10:33:10 AM
Did you have any negative effects or losses from using Algae X? I've read up a bunch on it and many people have lost stuff whether its fish or corals. And its not always easy to tell if they were doing everything correctly.
Title: Re: Journal of Conversion to Zeovit
Post by: MJChang on January 14, 2013, 04:04:08 PM
Quote from: Severum on January 14, 2013, 10:33:10 AM
Did you have any negative effects or losses from using Algae X? I've read up a bunch on it and many people have lost stuff whether its fish or corals. And its not always easy to tell if they were doing everything correctly.

nope, even the very delicate ritteri survived. I guess if there's any loss, it must be something wrong with ORP that results from oxygen depletion. the instruction asks for very wet skimming and I threw an airstone into the sump.