Description
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.Brightwell Aquatics NeoZeo Selective Zeolite Media, 11.3 kg. / 25 lbs.* 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 MicrBacter7 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). NoZeo 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 MicrBacter7, 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 NoZeo, 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 MicrBacter7 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 NoZeo 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 NoZeo 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 “NoZeo 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 NoZeo for each 100 US-gallons (378.5 L) in the entire aquarium system into an appropriate media reactor; adjust the r…
