ZEOvit  4/25/11
Hello WWM crew,
<Brian>
I was wondering if anybody there has used or heard of Zeovit Zeozym?
<Have just:
http://www.google.com/search?sourceid=navclient&ie=UTF-8&rlz=1T4ADFA_enUS393
US393&q=Zeovit+Zeozym> 
It is supposed to increase bacteria growth, clean water and sand, and help fight Cyano. I am looking into trying this but I have to check with the experts first, better safe than sorry.
Thank-you
Brian
<I have no direct experience w/ the Zeovit system period, nor this adjunct.
It appears to have received good reviews. We have an early article concerning the former:
http://www.wetwebmedia.com/ca/volume_1/cav1i3/zeovit/Zeovit_system/zeovit.htm
Bob Fenner>

Shipping marine fish - using Zeolite to remove ammonia    4/9/10
Hello crew,
<Alex>
I have a question regarding the use of Zeolite in removing ammonia from shipping water before acclimatization. Bob elaborates in his acclimation article the importance of pH in regards to ammonia toxicity - and I completely agree and understand the mechanism. But - if one added an ammonia/ammonium-binding agent such as Zeolite
<Mmm, a binding agent as an absorbent... Doesn't really work in saltwater>
to the shipping bags upon arrival and allowed the fish to "exhale" the ammonia from their system for a few minutes, wouldn't this allow one to simply add non-pH-adjusted tank water bit by bit to the shipping bag to acclimatize the fish slowly to the new parameters?
<Not really... better to "flush out" over time (several minutes to longer) with adding new water of matched pH, slowly raising pH by adding water with that elevated pH over time...>
I am asking this because there is a product in Europe that is basically ground Zeolite in water, which can bind ammonia quickly
<In freshwater>
without doing harm to the fish (I haven't heard of fish being irritated by the fine particles yet, the product has a milky consistency and has been on the market for quite some time) and I think this would be a lot less effort compared to going the pH adjustment route.
Do you think this is doable/wise?
<Better to follow the protocol, or make an adaptation of that described here: http://wetwebmedia.com/acclimat.htm
the second one>
Thank you & cheers, Alex
<And you, BobF> 
Shipping Marine Fish - Using Zeolite To Remove Ammonia, Salty's go  4/9/10
Hello crew,
<Hi Alex>
I have a question regarding the use of Zeolite in removing ammonia from shipping water before acclimatization. Bob elaborates in his acclimation article the importance of pH in regards to ammonia toxicity - and I completely agree and understand the mechanism. But - if one added an ammonia/ammonium-binding agent such as Zeolite to the shipping bags upon arrival and allowed the fish to "exhale" the ammonia from their system for a few minutes, wouldn't this allow one to simply add non-pH-adjusted tank water bit by bit to the shipping bag to acclimatize the fish slowly to the new parameters?
I am asking this because there is a product in Europe that is basically ground Zeolite in water, which can bind ammonia quickly without doing harm to the fish (I haven't heard of fish being irritated by the fine particles yet, the product has a milky consistency and has been on the market for quite some time) and I think this would be a lot less effort compared to going the pH adjustment route.
Do you think this is doable/wise?
<Zeolite works well in removing ammonia from freshwater, but the ions present in sea water interferes with the zeolite's ability to absorb ammonia. Tests have been done with the slurry method (ground Zeolite) and they have proven to be inconsistent, variable, and unreliable.>
Thank you & cheers,
<You're welcome. James (Salty Dog)>
Alex

Re Shipping Marine Fish - Using Zeolite To Remove Ammonia 4/9/10
Thank you for this, James and Bob!
<You're welcome.>
I wasn't aware of the limitations of Zeolite in sea water and thank you for letting me know and avoiding a possible mistake - "you live, you learn" as Alanis used to put it. ;-)
I knew that the artificial resins that absorb NO3 don't work because they are usually regenerated with NaCl but had thought this was different with Zeolites. It makes complete sense though and also explains why this is not already an SOP in the handling of marine livestock.
Cheers,
<Ditto. James (Salty Dog)>
Alex

Zeolitic Media/Nitrate Control 4/6/10
Dear crew,
<Igor>
You always give me a great advise, and your web is super informative.
Thank you very much!!!
<You're welcome.>
I did research about Zeolitic media, but could not find an answer.
<Two> 2 months ago my clowns took one spot to breed, making <a> big mess around since. All corals in that area <are> covered with sand. It is impossible to blow sand out every 2 hours. So I decided to put some gravel
there, and by mistake put 2 cups of Kent Marine Nitrate sponge above sand ( I had a gravel and nitrate sponge in the same looking jars). Is it save <safe> to keep Nitrate sponge pieces there or I need to remove?
I understand that this media is a substrate for bacterial growth, but don't know if it will release some undesirable elements into my tank.
<Will not release anything harmful. If it's safe to put in a sump/filter, it's safe anywhere in the water.>
My tank is 75G, heavy <heavily> stocked. Is was my mistake when I started it 1 year ago, but everything is doing fine, including my SPS and Goniopora.
I have to fight with nitrates using protein skimmer, Chemi-Pure, Aquaripure denitrator, biweekly 10g water change, Kent Marine Nitrate Sponge, sump with live sand, mangrove plants and algae. But it is still around 15-20.
<Your nitrates are being imported faster than they are exported. You will need to reduce your fish load to lower your nitrates and consider upgrading your skimmer to a more efficient model. Have you read here?
http://www.wetwebmedia.com/nutrientcontrol.htm
<As an aside, have you compared your nitrate reading with that of another test kit, such as your LFS's?>
Thank you very much for you time and help.
Best wishes,
<You're welcome. James (Salty Dog)>
Igor
Re Zeolitic Media/Nitrate Control 4/6/10 -4/7/10
Hi James,
<Hello Igor>
Two big thanks : it is a big relief that I don't need to pull Zeolitic media from my tank, and for correction of my English ( not so often people like to help others to improve some language skills :). It is my second language.
<Geez, you do much better than many Americans that write in to us.>
I took my water sample many times to a local fish store, and their reading was 5 or less, once they used an electronic device. I learned how they use a kit, then got a new one ( API) and ... It is still around 20. I use Marineland in-sump protein skimmer. It is compact, perfectly fits in my little space, and produces about 1/2 of cup daily. But it was always my concern. What brand of compact in-sump skimmer would you recommend?
You are absolutely right. I have too many fish for my 75 g tank : two adult clowns, six adult Green Chromis, one 3" Flame angel, one 4-striped Damsel, one 5" Yellow Mimic Tang, one 5" Blue Tang. I tried to catch some of them, but could not . I have too many places to hide :)
<Yikes, way too many fish for that volume of water. It appears that your skimmer is working properly and I honestly do not know of a good efficient skimmer that would fit in the same space as your Marineland. The best one that comes to mind that may fit in your sump would be the Tunze DOC Skimmer 9206 which measures L280 x W157 x H195 mm (L11 x W6.1 x H7.7 in.). If that's a no go, then you would have to go with an external or an in tank skimmer if you want to improve skimming efficiency. Here is a link to the Tunze skimmer I mentioned.
http://www.tunze.com/149.html?&L=1&C=US&user_tunzeprod_pi1[predid]=-infoxunter029.
I believe it would be less expensive to reduce your fish load and would be much better for the health of the remaining fish by reducing the stress level that assuredly exists in that small area.>
Thank you very much for you help.
<You're welcome. James (Salty Dog)>
Best regards,
Igor
Re Zeolitic Media/Nitrate Control 4/6/10 -4/7/10
Hi James,
<Igor>
Thank you soooooo much. I shall follow your advice.
<You're most welcome. James (Salty Dog)>
Igor