Features
- Zeolite filter media
- For use in a media reactor or canister filter
- Removes dissolved organic material
- Reduces Ammonia, Nitrite, Phosphate and Nitrate
- 2.2lbs (1000gm)
Description
NeoZeo
The NeoZeo media is part of the NeoZeo method for maintaining an ultra low
nutrient style reef aquarium. Download the complete manual for detail on the
other components and dosing recommendations:
NeoZeo Method Manual
Unique zeolitic medium for selective removal of dissolved organic compounds
through ionic and molecular adsorption, as well as passive uptake via the
beneficial microbes that colonize the media; the combined result of these
processes yields improved water quality and an important source of food (bacterioplankton)
for corals and other suspension-feeding organisms.
Used in conjunction with Brightwell Aquatics MicroBacter7 and Reef BioFuel,
helps establish biological filtration and maintain an ultra-low nutrient environment
for the express purpose of enabling coral coloration to be perceived without
interference from zooxanthellae pigmentation.
Provides a colonization site for the microorganisms responsible for nitrification,
denitrification, and organic waste degradation in marine aquaria.
Technical Background
Zeolites are naturally-occurring minerals that have specific ion-exchange
properties; they essentially exchange ions of like-charge with their surrounding
medium (in this case, aquarium water). NeoZeo is a blend of zeolites that
selectively remove ammonium and certain other monovalent cations from seawater
(leaving divalent cations such as calcium, magnesium, strontium, and various
minor and trace elements alone), exchanging them primarily for potassium ions,
however this is not the primary means of water quality improvement provided
by this media; rather, the colonization of the media’s vast surface
area with the appropriate types of nutrient-remineralizing microorganisms,
such as those found in MicroBacter7, serves to deplete existing concentrations
of dissolved organic material from the aquarium. The ultimate goal for hobbyists
employing this system is to maintain a balance between the rate of nutrient-addition
and -removal/uptake; this balance is different for each individual aquatic
system and takes time to “dial-in” and obtain the desired result.
The reward for investing the time required to attain this balance (all water
parameters and lighting being optimal) is typically corals that exhibit spectacular
coloration. The rate of nutrient-uptake that this system achieves often exceeds
the rate of nutrient-addition, particularly in aquatic systems that are rarely-fed.
To help maintain the population of microorganisms that become established
in NeoZeo, an appropriate carbon source should be added on a continual basis
to ensure population viability; Reef BioFuel performs this task efficiently
and without polluting the system. Once established, occassional supplementation
of MicroBacter7 is recommended to replace those microorganisms that are lost
to the water column (becoming planktonic and available for predation by corals,
sponges, and other suspension-feeding invertebrates) during routine disturbances
to the NeoZeo media, itself, as well as when replacing a portion of the media.
Instructions and Guidelines:
Rinse material in freshwater prior to initial placement in aquarium system.
It must be remembered that NeoZeo is an extremely-effective adsorber of ammonium,
and corals that have become accustomed to, and dependant upon, the presence
of ammonium are likely to show an initial negative response to the rapid removal
of this ion. As expected, this is an issue that is primarily encountered in
aquaria that have been established for many years; aquaria that utilize the
“NeoZeo system” from the onset are far less-likely to exhibit
this sort of ammonium-related issue. The following recommendations are based
upon extensive testing and will produce the best results in most aquaria.
Weeks 1 and 2: Place 200 g each week of NeoZeo for each 100 US-gallons (378.5
L) in the entire aquarium system into an appropriate media reactor; adjust
the rate of water flow through the reactor to ~25 gph (94.6 lph). Add 5 ml
MicroBacter7 per 100 US-gallons daily.
Weeks 3 and 4: Add 200 g each week of NeoZeo for each 100 US-gallons (378.5
L) in the entire aquarium system into the media reactor; increase water flow
through the reactor to ~50 gph (189.3 lph). Add 2.5 ml MicroBacter7 and Reef
BioFuel per 100 US-gallons daily.
Week 5: Add 200 g of NeoZeo for each 100 US-gallons (378.5 L) in the entire
aquarium system into the media reactor; increase water flow through the reactor
to ~100 gph (378.5 lph). Add 2.5 ml MicroBacter7 and Reef BioFuel per 100
US-gallons daily.
Once the first 5 weeks of usage has passed, adjust the dosage of MicroBacter7
and Reef BioFuel according to the appearance of the system, the inhabitants,
and as dictated by the water parameters. Refer to the instructions on each
of the afore-mentioned supplements’ labels for additional information.
Every six-weeks, change 25% of the NeoZeo media and add 2.5 ml MicroBacter7
and Reef BioFuel per 100 US-gallons daily for one week before resuming normal
dosing schedule.
Due to the highly-porous nature of NeoZeo and the rate at which it is colonized
by microbes, some degree of surface impaction with latent organic material
and microbial biomass will invariably occur with time. It is important to
gently dislodge this material from the NeoZeo media by physically handling
it (see the instructions that accompany the media reactor) and/or by briefly
increasing the flow rate through the reactor to help blow some of the latent
material into the water column. This material will be fed upon by various
aquarium inhabitants and is also removed via protein skimming and mechanical
filtration.
