How come Aquaforest Zeolites Don't Need Shaking?

[DiZASTiX]

How come Aquaforest zeolites don't need shaking, but ZEOvit zeolites do?

I use full Aquaforest and full ZEOvit systems except for zeolites, I use Aquaforest's stones. How come they don't require shaking? Would shaking benefit them at all?

 

[Dr. Dendrostein]

I think they don't push the mulm, that comes off it. Bacteria , that is

 

[Anirban]

There are different types of zeolites. Aquaforest zeolite is mainly an absorbent and hence absorb ammonia before it gets converted into NO3 so faster and lower NO3 levels are achieved. It also absorb other minerals too. It does not house bacteria like zeovit zeolite does so its doesn't need shaking like zeovit to release the mulm.

 

[DiZASTiX]

Thank you for your replies, @Anirban and @Jomama -- Then why not always use Aquaforest zeolite instead of ZEOvit zeolite? Or is it good to have bacteria grow on the zeolites as in the ZEOvit system?

 

[Dr. Dendrostein]

Thank you for your replies, @Anirban and @Jomama -- Then why not always use Aquaforest zeolite instead of ZEOvit zeolite? Or is it good to have bacteria grow on the zeolites as in the ZEOvit system?

If you have/strive for ulns then zeovites. Just saying

 

[DiZASTiX]

If you have/strive for ulns then zeovites. Just saying

I'm a tad confused. Do you mind expounding on that a bit, if you'd kindly?

 

[DiZASTiX]

There are different types of zeolites. Aquaforest zeolite is mainly an absorbent and hence absorb ammonia before it gets converted into NO3 so faster and lower NO3 levels are achieved. It also absorb other minerals too. It does not house bacteria like zeovit zeolite does so its doesn't need shaking like zeovit to release the mulm.

Based on this statement, it sounds like ZEOvit zeolite actually does more?

 

[cmcoker]

I think the bacteria mulm is intended to be food for the coral, feeding the coral is important in a ulns. Not a zeolite user, just what I think I understand about it lol

 

[Dr. Dendrostein]

ULNS= ultra low nutrient system.
Reef tank, with low nutrients, equals, purer environment for corals.
I don't have that in my system, I culture very very difficult corals. Dendronephthya. My setup more like a harbor, but pure enough for that type corals to thrive.

 

[DiZASTiX]

If you have/strive for ulns then zeovites. Just saying

What I meant was: do you mean by this that if I'm going for ULNS, then use zeolites?

 

[DiZASTiX]

I think the bacteria mulm is intended to be food for the coral, feeding the coral is important in a ulns. Not a zeolite user, just what I think I understand about it lol

So basically it doesn't matter which brand zeolites you use, if you have another means to feed the corals?

 

[Dr. Dendrostein]

What I meant was: do you mean by this that if I'm going for ULNS, then use zeolites?

Yes/no, use the zeovit brand. I've used only the zeolites by zeovit, for the bacteria it produces.

 

[DiZASTiX]

Yes/no, use the zeovit brand. I've used only the zeolites by zeovit, for the bacteria it produces.

Currently I've a box of Aquaforest brand that I've been using. I'm about 1/5 way thru. I do follow nearly full ZEOvit and full Aquaforest Probiotic Method. I've been ULNS for a while, but then ammonia started building up and with that, nitrate (now at around 16 ppm, though phosphates are 0.00 by Hanna Checker ULR). I've been dosing disodium phosphate to attempt to raise phosphates as per the advice Randy Holmes-Farley.

 

[Dr. Dendrostein]

Too many organics, food, dead? How's water changes?

 

[Dr. Dendrostein]

With time 5-10ppm no3 would be nice. See if you can have po4 tested at LFS

 

[DiZASTiX]

Too many organics, food, dead? How's water changes?

Triton method. No water changes. What happened was something died causing a chain reaction. Ammonia is back to normal, but I'd like to use non-water change methods--trying to grow some turf algae on the scrubber.

 

[DiZASTiX]

With time 5-10ppm no3 would be nice. See if you can have po4 tested at LFS

Do you think that's okay with ULNS? I had <4 ppm before, measured with RedSea Pro, and 0.00 ppm measured with Hanna Checker ULR.

 

[DiZASTiX]

ULNS= ultra low nutrient system.
Reef tank, with low nutrients, equals, purer environment for corals.
I don't have that in my system, I culture very very difficult corals. Dendronephthya. My setup more like a harbor, but pure enough for that type corals to thrive.

I love those. Well done.

 

[Dr. Dendrostein]

I'm wrong person to ask. I'm in different ball game. But, no3 will go down when? Your guess good as mine. Patience now.

 

[Anirban]

Thank you for your replies, @Anirban and @Jomama -- Then why not always use Aquaforest zeolite instead of ZEOvit zeolite? Or is it good to have bacteria grow on the zeolites as in the ZEOvit system?

You can use. These are two different approaches. AF uses Life biofil as bacteria sources and its zeolite lowers down the nutrients specially NO3 through ammonia absorption. AF uses the same technique in converting NO3 and Po4 into biomass which corals can use but their zeolite dont necessarily house bacteria so you dont shake the zeolite.