Comparison Table

[MR Teee]

[Zeus]

Hi all,

Been researching ULNS when I find spare minute(s) and so far I have found some other comparisons.

Ultra Bak = Tetra NitrateMinus
Ultra Lith = Seachem Matrix (Note: This is not the same as MatrixCarbon)

Just FYI.


Campbell

[MR Teee]

Not overly convinced on either of them Campbell.

Tetra nitrateminus -

NitrateMinus consists of granules that remove nitrate in a natural, biological process. During this process, micro-organisms slowly decompose the granules of NitrateMinus by using nitrate as their oxygen source. This way, nitrate is irreversibly removed.

Ultra bak is a source of nutrient for the bacteria to enhance growth and multiplication (more than likely a blend of carbon sources).

Can't find any ingredients for the tetra stuff.

Seachem matrix doesn't claim to be a zeolite, just a natural stone for bacteria to grow on. Although it (sort of) promotes the same behavior, I'm not so sure its the same stuff.

JMHO, as I've been doing quite a lot of reading on it myself too lately.

[Zeus]

Hi Adam,

The NitrateMinus was described to me as food, that's a generalisation as I don't recall his exact words, for the denitrifying bacteria by Rupert Bridges at Tetra. He didn't say what was in it though.

I may have missed something re: the Ultralith/Zeolite vs Matrix, I'll have to re-read this info.

Cheers,
Campbell

[MR Teee]

Ahh right is it cheap:D

Zeostart2 is 30 Euros for 250ml.

[Zeus]

Yes, it's cheap and cheerful. :D

Haven't found an sure alternative for UltraBio as yet, but there are a nimber of "bacteria in a bottle" products on the market, Nutrafin Waste Control and Waterlife Bacterlife to name a couple. Not sure if they are direct comparisons though?

Campbell

[MR Teee]

Not really, Zeovit has been developed over quite a long time period, ingredients tweaked and dosing optimised.

I would not want to mix and match the systems at all.

Apparently Fauna Marin was exactly the same as ZEO at one point. The same company even. However one ceased development and splintered off, the other carried on developing its products and puts a number at the end of the names to let you know what revision they are on.

If you really want to get into the nitty gritty of it all, the Zeo forum is a good place to start.

www.zeovit.com

[Zeus]

Cheers Adam, I am going to have a wee mooch about on that website.

As an aside, what one would/do you use? I am not using this at the mo' but I think I am bias towards Zeo, probably the more expensive one but the continuing development appeals to me.

But then you could always mix 'n' match Fauna and Zeo products.

Campbell

[MR Teee]

Watch this forum in the next couple of weeks!

My box of bits is on its way from Germany.:D

I'm planning on diving into the full ZEOvit system.

Probably for exactly the same reasons you are looking at it. I like the support, ongoing development, documented succes. Take a look in the reference articles written by mesocosm on that site. Alot of the scientific literature basically boils down to the methods that are used.

I found it quite refreshing for a method to have so much scientific foundation. Not just hearsay and techno babble.

FM and Prodibio are largely untried/untested.

In my tank thread, I have worked out the cost of dosing the products per month. With the coral food and amino acids (which you dont need straight away) the total comes to just under £30 a month, so approx £1 a day to run.

Still wouldn't mix the products though.

[Zeus]

Good stuff Adam, be interesting to see what develops.

Cheers,
Campbell