Can we break down the Zeovit system?

Annahra · Aug 5, 2017

I've been watching a lot of the Bulk Reef Supply videos and I'm really curious about the concept of the Zeovit system, but I hate anything that feels so proprietary. It also seems difficult to scale down to nano aquariums like mine. So, in essence, the system consists of:

1) A bacterial supplement that contains nitrate-reducing bacteria
So this is already in our systems, right? Just like aerobic bacteria. We just need to feed them to build up to the levels we need.

2) A carbon dosing system
This is super easy to duplicate in the form of vodka, sugar, NOPOX, etc.

3) Carbon
Lots of options.

4) Zeovit
Again, lots of options for zeolite.

5) Protein Skimmer

6) Amino acid and carbohydrate supplements
Many flavors in different brands.

7) Color specific trace elements
Pick your poison.

Am I missing anything? Anyone have any thoughts? I'd like to try and recreate the concept without the expense of the exclusive product line, and preferably with products that scale down to the size of my aquarium.

Lawlboom · Aug 6, 2017

I believe Zeovit has 'rocks' that are supposed to directly uptake ammonia before it can become nitrate. Those rocks come in a reactor and need to be shaken up daily. Will the absence of those rocks ruin the system? That I don't know.

Annahra · Aug 6, 2017

Yes, that's the zeolite component.

Scorpius · Aug 6, 2017

From what I know if you remove the ammonia before it can start to break down you minimize nutrients before they ever have a chance to start the nitrogen cycle.

Randy Holmes-Farley · Aug 6, 2017

Lawlboom said:
I believe Zeovit has 'rocks' that are supposed to directly uptake ammonia before it can become nitrate. Those rocks come in a reactor and need to be shaken up daily. Will the absence of those rocks ruin the system? That I don't know.

They don't. While a zeolite might bind a small amount of ammonia initially, the thought that this ammonia is then "more" available to bacteria rather than less available is misguided.

Bacteria do not consume nutrients attached to solid surfaces. THe nutrients must come to the the bacteria cell membrane, and they rate that they do so is dependent on the local concentration of the nutrient in question. If anything, binding of ammonia to a solid surface lowers the local concentration of ammonia near the zeolite surface (at least until it is saturated) and makes it less bioavailable.

IMO, the zeolite is just a good surface for growing bacteria, and later shaking it back off. Other surfaces might work just as well. I had a lot of bacteria grow on my GAC, and could easily rinse it off after a while.