Opinions PLEASE

Gator0930 · Jan 1, 2020

I am going to do a Reef Savvy tank 400 gallons. I am ordering a Life Reef sump. I am planning to do a ZeoVit system, Life Reef skimmer, carbon, GFO. I will also be doing a full APEX system.

I want to get everyones opinion on stocking capacity, interactions, and order.

First fish: lawnmower blennies. ZeoVit requires herbivore and these are the only hardy herbivores I can really think of

Angels: set of 3 Watanabei AND Bellus. I think the tank is big enough for a set of 3 each

Anthias: set of 5 each Princess and Barletts

Tangs: Whitetail Bristletooth, Powder Blue, Orange Shoulder, AND MAYBE a small school (3-5) Yellow

Dottyback: 1x Splendid as they do best with only one per system CORRECT?

Triggers: 1 pair each of Blue Throat and Red Tail

Fairy Wrasse

One each: splendid pintail, Scotts (maybe 2), pink margin, Exquisite (maybe 2), Labouti, Lineatus, and Sunset

Leopard Wrasse

Small school 3-5 each: Kuiters Leaopard, blue star leopard, black leopard

CUC

Snails

Fighting Conchs

Shrimp

I will be doing a build thread once we lock down details and order the tank.

Lighting

Low 50 – 70 PAR

Moderate 100 – 200 PAR

High 200 – 300 PAR

Flow

Low 10 – 15x tank turnover

Moderate 15 – 17x tank volume turnover

High 20x+ tank turnover

Does the return pump turnover count towards the above flow rates or are these in addition to?

Chalice

Medium flow

Low – moderate light

Euphylia

Medium flow

Medium light

Acropora

High flow

High light

Montipora

High flow

Medium light

Lobo

Low – moderate flow

Low light

Plate coral / fungia

Strong flow

Moderate light

Thrachyphylia

Strong flow

Moderate light

Goniopora

Strong flow

Moderate light

Mushrooms

Low flow

Moderate light

Thanks for all the help

lapin · Jan 1, 2020

Comment: Lawnmowers can be algae only eaters. If you have none, then you will have to feed them some.

Gator0930 · Jan 1, 2020

lapin said:
Comment: Lawnmowers can be algae only eaters. If you have none, then you will have to feed them some.

Thank you. This is the advice i need

Jon Fishman · Jan 1, 2020

I know nothing about zeo systems so my only recommendation would be to make sure GFO and Carbon and whatever else is recommended to use in that type of system before buying it.

Edit: if it is, and you already researched, then my apologies

pdxmonkeyboy · Jan 1, 2020

Tangs will eat alage all day long as well.

Jon Fishman · Jan 1, 2020

pdxmonkeyboy said:
Tangs will eat alage all day long as well.

I keep nori on a clip every day. I can’t get algae on my rocks..... so having it “naturally” may not be necessary

Quietman · Jan 1, 2020

I was looking at ZeoVit (and the LifeReef skimmer) when I was first thinking about a reef tank and got some advice on a forum from a ZeoVit user. Basically, it was that for you to be good at ZeoVit you need to be able to tell when your corals aren't happy and when they are which takes experience with corals. I didn't get it then and I thought then it sounded a bit pompous, but I get it now after I've had corals. Very happy I'm learning the old school way. Take my comments on ZeoVit for what it's worth...which is nothing unless you get similar comments from people who run ZeoVit (as I did).

Would still go with your setup though. LifeReef skimmers/equipment have a very high reputation and Jeff is terrific (even answered my noob questions years ago on this very topic).

Lastly...yes the return pump flow can be added to total tank circulation. But it's usually a fraction of what's needed as most run 3-5x turnover. Turnover is term I usually only use for tank volume cycling through sump.

Bossman · Jan 1, 2020

Watch the blenny and Bristletooth Tangs. I've had issues with the bristletooth tormenting blennies. Lots of posts on the forums about this as well. I do have a Tomini housed with a Lawnmower Blenny with zero issues so not written in stone.

Rybren · Jan 1, 2020

You really don't want more than one of any given fairy wrasse species - check out Evolved's wrasse guides in the Fish forum.

Gator0930 · Jan 1, 2020

Jon Fishman said:
I know nothing about zeo systems so my only recommendation would be to make sure GFO and Carbon and whatever else is recommended to use in that type of system before buying it.

Edit: if it is, and you already researched, then my apologies

Thank you for this. I have already decided against GFO as it is not recommended. I didn’t realize I left it here.

Gator0930 · Jan 1, 2020

Quietman said:
I was looking at ZeoVit (and the LifeReef skimmer) when I was first thinking about a reef tank and got some advice on a forum from a ZeoVit user. Basically, it was that for you to be good at ZeoVit you need to be able to tell when your corals aren't happy and when they are which takes experience with corals. I didn't get it then and I thought then it sounded a bit pompous, but I get it now after I've had corals. Very happy I'm learning the old school way. Take my comments on ZeoVit for what it's worth...which is nothing unless you get similar comments from people who run ZeoVit (as I did).

Would still go with your setup though. LifeReef skimmers/equipment have a very high reputation and Jeff is terrific (even answered my noob questions years ago on this very topic).

Lastly...yes the return pump flow can be added to total tank circulation. But it's usually a fraction of what's needed as most run 3-5x turnover. Turnover is term I usually only use for tank volume cycling through sump.

Thank you. This is not my first time with corals. I learned the old school way, but after watching BRS 52 weeks of reefing and doing research, it is an amazing system. I am going to give it a try. I am home 90% of the time so it is easy for me to monitor

ycnibrc · Jan 23, 2020

Gator0930 said:
I am going to do a Reef Savvy tank 400 gallons. I am ordering a Life Reef sump. I am planning to do a ZeoVit system, Life Reef skimmer, carbon, GFO. I will also be doing a full APEX system.

I want to get everyones opinion on stocking capacity, interactions, and order.

First fish: lawnmower blennies. ZeoVit requires herbivore and these are the only hardy herbivores I can really think of

Angels: set of 3 Watanabei AND Bellus. I think the tank is big enough for a set of 3 each

Anthias: set of 5 each Princess and Barletts

Tangs: Whitetail Bristletooth, Powder Blue, Orange Shoulder, AND MAYBE a small school (3-5) Yellow

Dottyback: 1x Splendid as they do best with only one per system CORRECT?

Triggers: 1 pair each of Blue Throat and Red Tail

Fairy Wrasse

One each: splendid pintail, Scotts (maybe 2), pink margin, Exquisite (maybe 2), Labouti, Lineatus, and Sunset

Leopard Wrasse

Small school 3-5 each: Kuiters Leaopard, blue star leopard, black leopard

CUC

Snails

Fighting Conchs

Shrimp

I will be doing a build thread once we lock down details and order the tank.

Lighting

Low 50 – 70 PAR

Moderate 100 – 200 PAR

High 200 – 300 PAR

Flow

Low 10 – 15x tank turnover

Moderate 15 – 17x tank volume turnover

High 20x+ tank turnover

Does the return pump turnover count towards the above flow rates or are these in addition to?

Chalice

Medium flow

Low – moderate light

Euphylia

Medium flow

Medium light

Acropora

High flow

High light

Montipora

High flow

Medium light

Lobo

Low – moderate flow

Low light

Plate coral / fungia

Strong flow

Moderate light

Thrachyphylia

Strong flow

Moderate light

Goniopora

Strong flow

Moderate light

Mushrooms

Low flow

Moderate light

Thanks for all the help

You can read more about zeovit in this thread

zeovit and how I dose it

Well I have a lot of inquire lately regarding zeovit and there is not much info on the forum on this topic so I decide to do a brief write up explaining my experience with zeo. First and foremost Im not affiliate with zeo therefore anything I say are just base on my experience with the system...

www.reef2reef.com