Where do Zoa's like to be?

[WelderInWi]

We have 4 T5 bulbs on an Oceanic 58 gal. Would it be better to put them in the middle? Also some Aussie Acans, where should they be? Everything is currently on the bottom.

[TriggerFreak]

move them up, youll know if they need light, acans dont need as much light as people would think but id put it on the top in your tank!

[NandKBlock]

I've got 4 bulbs on a standard 75 and both zoas and acans do well on the bottom.

[CMBECKER]

My zoas close slightly if they are in too much light, bottom is best in my experiences.

[drewspuppet]

zoanthus can take more light, palythoa less light. I recently had to trim my full lights to 7.5 hrs and all my palys on the bottom are doing great now in my 75.

[reeferbeefer]

Mine the bottom to mid too.:biggthumpup:

[Payne]

6 bulbs t5 on a 75 bottom is best in my experience.

[jjwhiteboy]

middle to bottom

[David Grigor]

Different zoanthids have different lighting requirements to maintain nice colors. So I say it's more of a trial and error thing. Start low and work your way up if they are not maintain color well.

Most important thing for me is to keep them OFF your main rockstructures or be prepared to remove the rock someday when they start to get out of control.

[kjdeut]

Different zoanthids have different lighting requirements to maintain nice colors. So I say it's more of a trial and error thing. Start low and work your way up if they are not maintain color well.

Most important thing for me is to keep them OFF your main rockstructures or be prepared to remove the rock someday when they start to get out of control.


I second David's comments. I lost a number of really nice sps colonies because of my zoas spreading and killing them.

Ken

[David Grigor]

Bill Capman had a clam that the shell was completely covered in zoas. It looked cool when the clam was open but did eventually overtake and kill the clam.

I had to break up a really nice large rock that was covered in zoas. Good thing was that the polyps where worth more than the rock but did have to replace the rock.

Now, I have a zoathid island. Zoathids are free to completely cover the rocks and kill each other but not allowed on the main structure. Even then 1 type tends to dominate and grow faster therefore smother out others. I have to manacure at least once every 6 months to weed the dominate ones ( In my case it's the fire/ice and the dragon eyes).

[NandKBlock]

I've got my zoas on an island too but I'm wondering if it's possible to set up a natural barrier to them...?

I've also thought about supergluing a bunch of rubble rock together then letting the zoas grow over that. When they start spreading too much you could just remove one of the pieces of rubble rock and have a ready-made frag. Any thoughts on doing that?

[David Grigor]

I've tried that too. If you keep it up can certainly work however, by the time I get off my lazy #$@ and to remove/replace the rubble they've already broke the barrier.

If your deligent though it should work.

Or just resolve to the fact you will have to remove/replace the rockwork someday and just do it.....

Just know the consequences ahead of time. Same goes for encrusting montipora, mushrooms etc. Nice until it gets out of control.

[buus]

I've also thought about supergluing a bunch of rubble rock together then letting the zoas grow over that. When they start spreading too much you could just remove one of the pieces of rubble rock and have a ready-made frag. Any thoughts on doing that?

2.99 a pound small rubble from bulk reef supply


http://i615.photobucket.com/albums/tt235/jillbuus/IMG_0740.jpg

[WelderInWi]

Thanks, everybody!

[reeferbeefer]

Listen to David, he is the man. :biggthumpup: