Some basic questions...

by **Ted** » Mon May 24, 2010 6:18 pm

Since setting up the tank, the long term plan was to introduce a zeo reactor at some point. I've recently picked up a second hand KZ mag lift reactor and the stones and chemicals have arrived. The water parameters (420 Calc, 1320 Mag and 7.5 kH) seem to within the range for zeo. The reading I've done seems to suggest that doing things gradually is the way to go, and with that in mind I thought I would go with the following:

1 litre of stones, Zeobak - 6 drops / day for 2 weeks then reduce, Zeofood7 - As above, Zeostart2 - 1 ml / day and pump set for 3 hour on/off cycle.

These quantities are well under those recommended for a 6x2x2 tank with 48"x18"x18" tank but hopefully will let me monitor what's happening. Am I being too conservative?

One other minor glitch is that the filter is too tall for the sump (bad planning I know, but given that I was saving some £200 on the price of a new reactor I didn't bother measuring anything) and has had to be sat in the tank I use for water changes. When I do a change I normally isolate and then drain this tank, fill with RO, add salt and then re-open valves 24 hours later.

If I switch off the reactor pump and keep the stones submerged in salt water will the temperature drop when the RO goes in be a problem? If so will simply moving the reactor out of the tank and keeping it at (tank) room temp be ok?

by **Wilky** » Mon May 24, 2010 8:59 pm

For your dosing you would be best joining and posting your regime on the Zeovit forum, you'll get an answer and guidance within a couple of hours usually.

If you are using your water change tank to house your zeo reactor, will it be off for 24 hours during the water change process? I'm not sure if this would work, i think you would get lots of die-off of bacteria in the stones. Also, there will come a time when you will have the reactor running 24/7 once established and stable.

Is there no way at all you can sump it? if not i would look at adding another small tank in parallel to your water change tank (off the same loop) just to house the reactor - this way you will be able to keep it within a running part of the system permanently

by **andylowe04** » Mon May 24, 2010 9:32 pm

I nearly made that mistake with a kz zeo reactor, they are bloody tall!

As said, post your tank specs on the zeo forum for disingenuous info, labels on bottles are normally way too high! Don't expect much crack though, bunch of miserable fits over there!

by **Chew** » Tue May 25, 2010 8:46 am

Not that familiar with them as not a snake oil fan but can you cut the reactor down a bit?

by **Ted** » Tue May 25, 2010 9:10 am

Thanks for the responses guys - will have a look at the zeo forum.

I had assumed that there temperature drop would be a problem - the only thing that made me wonder was the fact that the bac as well as the other potions are kept in the fridge and then go straight into the tank.

Chew - I wouldn't be confident about chopping the main reactor chanmber but there might be some scope for attacking the handle.