Seachem zeolite reactor

[tbasinger]

Hello all, I am considering becoming a zeohead. I was looking for zeolite reactors and most of them either have too big of capacity for my small tank or have known issues, such as the pumps being too strong to supply the recommended 50-100 gph. I stumbled upon this reactor by seachem. I am wondering if anyone has any experience with it and whether it will perform as advertised.

 

[Kennya]

Mispost

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

I've not used this reactor, but I do not believe that zeolites in any setup will function as:

" a filter media in removing various pollutants from a reef aquarium"

Of course, that depends on what you consider a pollutant, but I do not beleive they remove anything that needs removing from a reef aquarium.

I do agree with the general premise that they provide a place for bacteria to grow, and if that is the goal, while I cannot say anything about this device in particular, it certainly seems like it would work.

 

[tbasinger]

I've not used this reactor, but I do not believe that zeolites in any setup will function as:

" a filter media in removing various pollutants from a reef aquarium"

Of course, that depends on what you consider a pollutant, but I do not beleive they remove anything that needs removing from a reef aquarium.

I do agree with the general premise that they provide a place for bacteria to grow, and if that is the goal, while I cannot say anything about this device in particular, it certainly seems like it would work.

Yeah I dunno, there seems to be conflicting knowledge on whether or not zeolites will work to absorb the ammonia in salt water. I’m not a chemist, so it’s above my pay grade. But I am a biologist and in terms of being a safe haven for bacteria that could be how(if that is) these systems work. There has recently been a lot of work being done trying to use anaerobic bacteria that directly oxidize ammonia via the anammox reaction. Sewage treatment plants have even begun employing these reactors at various places around the world. Possibly this is why the flow needs to be so low, to create the ideal anaerobic environment. I don’t know just musing.

 

[ghostandhyde]

I used zeo for years. I ran a tank with no sand or rock. Just zeovit. Be careful with the media as you can wipe out your tank over night. I’m starting up zeovit again now. I’m using the Vibe reactor. im not sure I like the reactor above. How do you measure and adjust flow? Why have a filter sock? The mulm feeds the coral and should not Be filtered out. I would pass on that reactor.

 

[o2manyfish]

15+ years ago when Zeo was gaining popularity in the US, I did some playing around with the a Hybrid Zeolite system. I forget which machine we used but Zeolite - just sitting in a container - not a reactor - had the capacity to absorb ammonia at levels lower than what test kits read. It was thought that removing the trace amounts of ammonia was having a beneficial effect for SPS corals. We did about 2 dozen experiments just using the Zeolite you get through Koi Pond Suppliers and placing it in a lingerie or filter bag and all had positive results.

Dave B

 

[tbasinger]

I like the vibe reactor but for my 40 gallon I think I would need to run like half a liter of zeolite(have to look it up again). So it seems like a waste to have a 2 liter capacity. Plus I don’t have much space in my cabinet, just looking for options.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

Yeah I dunno, there seems to be conflicting knowledge on whether or not zeolites will work to absorb the ammonia in salt water. I’m not a chemist, so it’s above my pay grade. But I am a biologist and in terms of being a safe haven for bacteria that could be how(if that is) these systems work. There has recently been a lot of work being done trying to use anaerobic bacteria that directly oxidize ammonia via the anammox reaction. Sewage treatment plants have even begun employing these reactors at various places around the world. Possibly this is why the flow needs to be so low, to create the ideal anaerobic environment. I don’t know just musing.

Even assuming a zeolite removes some ammonia, that is not typically a useful thing. It may be undesirable, IMO, since organisms such as corals want to consume ammonia.

What possible benefit could it be? No operating reef tank has excessive ammonia.

 

[tbasinger]

Yeah I don’t know. I am in the middle of a terrible hair algae outbreak, that’s threatening to take over my tank. I’ve pulled the rocks out and scrubbed them and it’s coming back. I’ve reduced my feeding, started dosing NO3 PO4x about a month ago which has slowed it, changed its color from green to tan but it’s still coming on. I’m going to try microbacter clean, if that doesn’t work I’m going to try zeolite, unless you have another suggestion.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

Yeah I don’t know. I am in the middle of a terrible hair algae outbreak, that’s threatening to take over my tank. I’ve pulled the rocks out and scrubbed them and it’s coming back. I’ve reduced my feeding, started dosing NO3 PO4x about a month ago which has slowed it, changed its color from green to tan but it’s still coming on. I’m going to try microbacter clean, if that doesn’t work I’m going to try zeolite, unless you have another suggestion.

My suggestion is to not waste your money trying to fight algae with a zeolite reactor. If you want to try to starve the algae out, this isn't the best way.

There are loads and loads of threads on fighting algae. IMO, the best ways are with herbivores, not treatments of the water, but what is best depends a bit on the tank and your goals for it.

 

[Ranfel]

Hello colleagues, how are you? Could someone tell me if this zeolite is suitable for marine aquariums? thank you so much!! @Randy Holmes-Farley

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

What do you want it to accomplish?

 

[Ranfel]

What do you want it to accomplish?

Hi Randy, thanks for responding, I want to use it in a zeolite reactor as a bacterial medium to feed my corals.

 

[Chris Spaulding]

I am using the larger one of these and it works great. From what I see about flow it looks like most of the people complaining about it do not know how to adjust the pump itself . The intake has a dial that you can turn the flow WAY down. Its was a kinda a pain at first but once set np at all
JZR-1 Zeolite Reactorin Zeovit Reactors, Reactors, Skimmers, Reactors & Filtration$169.99$199.99

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

Hi Randy, thanks for responding, I want to use it in a zeolite reactor as a bacterial medium to feed my corals.

If the goal is just a substrate for bacteria, most any suitably sized particles will work, including zeolites.

 

[Ranfel]

If the goal is just a substrate for bacteria, most any suitably sized particles will work, including zeolites.

super thank you very much so does this zeolite look good? I live in Colombia and bringing them from the USA is very expensive and they sell them here at a very good price.

 

[Ranfel]