Need Help... confused!

[30reef]

Hey everyone

So I'm planning my next build and working on the sump details right now.

And I have some questions I'm confused about!

So I decided to go with the synergy CL22 with the 5 gallon ATO, for a skimmer I decided on the vertex omega 130.

So I've considered using The Triton method and ZeoVit. If I went with zeovit I'd use the vertex 1.5 zeovit reactor.

Question 1 -- what would be better for my tank/ Sump. The tanks 55 gallons. I'll be having SPS along with gorgonians and sponges.

Question 2-- which is overall more expensive.

Question 3 -- I've never used either and need to be told how to set them up!

Thanks for the help!

 

[Diesel]

IMO you can't do both.
ZEO still requires a good size water change a week, while triton doesn't.
With the blue zeo bottles dosing how you going that to combine with the triton elements?
I have never done the Triton but had a long conversation with many who do it like @d2mini @Mike Paletta Scott Feltman,
Though I have done ZEO for about 4 years with great success.

 

[30reef]

IMO you can't do both.
ZEO still requires a good size water change a week, while triton doesn't.
With the blue zeo bottles dosing how you going that to combine with the triton elements?
I have never done the Triton but had a long conversation with many who do it like @d2mini @Mike Paletta Scott Feltman,
Though I have done ZEO for about 4 years with great success.

Didn't plan on combining. Was wondering for my size tank and what I'd be keeping (SPS, Sponges, Gorgonians, and a few LPS) what methods easier, overall cheaper to maintain, and which method would be the best choice for my tank.

Thanks in advance!

 

[d2mini]

Browse through the Triton USA sponsor forum here on R2R.
Lots of good info there.
I'm liking Triton so far and find it fairly easy and hands off. The four base elements get dosed equally.
To me it's been as easy as when I was running a calcium reactor. Mainly you are just keeping an eye on your Alk.
You will need to occasionally send in your ICP water samples for testing, but you can do that just 4x per year or so.
This will make sure everything is on track and balanced since you are not doing water changes. If any of those minor elements are high or low Triton offers a fix.
One of the most important things for Triton is a large refugium or "algae bed". About 10-15% of your display volume.
I'm fairly new to it though and experienced a refugium crash, but slowly getting it back up and running... just fighting a little nuisance algae at the moment while it all levels out.

 

[30reef]

Browse through the Triton USA sponsor forum here on R2R.
Lots of good info there.
I'm liking Triton so far and find it fairly easy and hands off. The four base elements get dosed equally.
To me it's been as easy as when I was running a calcium reactor. Mainly you are just keeping an eye on your Alk.
You will need to occasionally send in your ICP water samples for testing, but you can do that just 4x per year or so.
This will make sure everything is on track and balanced since you are not doing water changes. If any of those minor elements are high or low Triton offers a fix.
One of the most important things for Triton is a large refugium or "algae bed". About 10-15% of your display volume.
I'm fairly new to it though and experienced a refugium crash, but slowly getting it back up and running... just fighting a little nuisance algae at the moment while it all levels out.

Thanks for the info!
So would the sump I chose (synergy CL22) be good enough for the triton method? It doesn't have a refugium, only filter sock section, skimmer section and return.

Also how do you know how much to dose with the triton method?

 

[d2mini]

Thanks for the info!
So would the sump I chose (synergy CL22) be good enough for the triton method? It doesn't have a refugium, only filter sock section, skimmer section and return.

Also how do you know how much to dose with the triton method?

If the sump doesn't have a fuge that is 10-15% of your display volume, then no.
If it has no fuge at all, then double no.
For dosing there are instructions on the bottles to get you started, then its trial and error from there.
Head over the the triton usa forum and start reading.

 

[30reef]

If the sump doesn't have a fuge that is 10-15% of your display volume, then no.
If it has no fuge at all, then double no.
For dosing there are instructions on the bottles to get you started, then its trial and error from there.
Head over the the triton usa forum and start reading.

Ok, we'll do you have a suggestion of a sump that is white or white and red and has everything I'd need for the trition method?

 

[d2mini]

Ok, we'll do you have a suggestion of a sump that is white or white and red and has everything I'd need for the trition method?

Custom.
You can see mine in my build thread. Link in my sig.

 

[Smo]

Interesting. I set up a 65 gallon tank with Vertex 130 skimmer and 1.5 Zeovit reactor. Started last September--have pretty much avoided the tank ugly stages. I am actually concerned about not having enough algae for my CUC. My Trigger Emerald 34 has a refugium but I have yet to set it up as one. Just have some extra live rock in it now. Nitrates undetectable. Phosphate around 0.4 with 50 lbs of Pukani. 20+ corals with amazing growth so far. I am sold on the Zeovit system.

 

[30reef]

Interesting. I set up a 65 gallon tank with Vertex 130 skimmer and 1.5 Zeovit reactor. Started last September--have pretty much avoided the tank ugly stages. I am actually concerned about not having enough algae for my CUC. My Trigger Emerald 34 has a refugium but I have yet to set it up as one. Just have some extra live rock in it now. Nitrates undetectable. Phosphate around 0.4 with 50 lbs of Pukani. 20+ corals with amazing growth so far. I am sold on the Zeovit system.

Since we have pretty similar tank sizes this is easier to ask you.
Roughly how much are you spending monthly on the ZeoVit system? Coral growth/coral average, or above average?
Easy to set up and maintain?
Also would love to see a picture of your sump area if you don't mind!

 

[Smo]

I have not calculated a cost per month but it is fairly low for my total water volume of 70 gallons. The stuff goes a long way and once established you can cut back a bit. Only changed the media once so far. Am on my 2nd bottle of ZeoBac. I've using some of the basic coral enhancers too.
Since this is my 1st reef tank I don't know what normal growth is. But I have several frags that double in volume every month. Have to set up my Neptune DOS.

Sump is a little busy. I planned this build as an engineering mockup for a larger tank some day.

 

[30reef]

so I just sent an email to Building An Obsession, because I really liked the look of D2minis Sump on his current tank and I think a custom sumps the best way for the Triton system. But I also came across this sump to, which is the trigger system crystal 30 sump. The only thing is the skimmers first then the refugium, which I've heard shouldn't be an issue. Thoughts on this?