help with setting up a zoa tank

[rihanssu]

i'm setting up a Sp. tank for just zoa's and palys i.e. a grow out tank and somthing that the environment will be just for them

thing is i don't know a whole lot about them. can anyone chime in and tell me the best way to set up a zoa only tank? i want to maximize growth and color

What would you recomendations be for like a 20 gal for
lights
filtration'
additives
(carbon, po4 removal) ect ect

thanks for you help!

-Matt

[RaysReef]

Zoas IMO love T5 over MH, not too much light or they will close up. Placement is usually middle to low with med flow. They like a dirtier tank than norm. If I'm setting up a 20g, I would load it up with LR and just add a powerhead. I would make sure my PH is @ 8.2 or above...Don't want algae growing on the tips of the zoa because they won't open and may die off. So mid light and mid flow is best, placement middle to low. Be careful with Po4 don't want to strip it out completely IMO with zoas. WC every 2 wks @ 25%.

This is my way of setting up a zoa tank fast and cheap...Of course if money is no odject them I would do it differently.

[RaysReef]

I'm sure your going to get a difference of opinion from everyone else...This is just how I would set mine up quickly if needed.

[David Grigor]

For me, a single 24W T5 should do the trick.

[mtfatwork]

yup, T5's, med flow, and a HOB skimmer will do the trick just fine

[cwk132]

While zoas can thrive under low light, lots do great under very high lighting aswell. I browse the zoa section on RC a lot, and a lot of people recommend slowly moving them to as high as possible in your tank to really get the colors to pop. This applies to many but not all, some zoas like very dim lighting. I would use two T5s if I were you, that way you have more color options in bulbs (actinic, blue+s, daylight bulbs, etc) and will be able to fulfill the needs of both high light and low light loving zoanthids. Nothing fancy would be needed as far as filtration as long as the bioload is low, like Mary said, a HOB filter or skimmer and biweekly water chhanges should be all you need to make them happy.

[rihanssu]

for just zoas do I even need a skimmer or is water changes effiecient

[hypertech]

If you have a low bioload, water changes would probably be enough.

If these are imports, you may want an arrow crab in the tank to help keep pests under control should any sneak by your QT/dipping procedures.

[RaysReef]

for just zoas do I even need a skimmer or is water changes effiecient

IMO skimmer not needed, WC is good enough every 2 wks 25%