Re: do zoas compete w/ each other?
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13027915#post13027915 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Capt_Cully
I have a new tank set up. My area of interest has always been SPS so little experience w/ Zoas as far as having them thrive. I'd like a zoa garden in the new tank. Can I just buy a bunch of different colored ones and put them near each other? Will they fight it out, or grow together into a nice mat???
Thanks
Cully
Not really, at least not in the since in which I think you think they compete. I think Eklikewhoa hits the nail square on the head. Some will simply proliferate faster than others. Your system's maturity, current/flow and parameters will always determine the rate or acceleration of growth. Also, the size of your tank and the amount of live rock will determine the placement of your frags. Nano system won't afford you many options. With limited space, it will be hard to place them greater distances apart. In larger systems, and in my opinion only, I like to place small cuttings or frags on individual rocks of many different sizes from 3 x 4 " to 5 x 6" rock. Doing so will allow much latitude for growth that will give a natural looking coverage and appeal in your tank. This is what I've always shot for. The mixed colors on a single rock looks great for some, I don't prefer it, but that's me and it doesn't make it right or wrong. Each tank is unique and you should proceed in a manner that pleases you and your family.
I wouldn't buy what everyone else buys or haves. I say buy what excites you, that which catches your eye or drops your jaw. Don't go near a name for the sack of buying a name, again, rely on what makes you smile. I buy colors which are bright and vibrant that I can see from across the room. I have never seen an ugly polyp in a macro photograph, they all look stunning. But remember, you aren't going to see all of those tiny little dots, sparkles, hair line rings, tiny bright purple rings around the oral slit or the 4 colors in the skirts unless your face is pressed against the front glass and they're sitting right up front. This is what you are doing when you look at a macro shot.
I see you have a 180 gallon system which means you can do an awful lot with your placement. If you want to place many different variations of colors on a single rock, be sure to purchase polyps of the same height and diameter and place them in a scattered pattern on the rock at least 1 to 2 inches apart. This will prevent larger polyps from choking off smaller polyps and shading them from receiving any light. Proper spacing will allow them room to grow in erratically. Never place larger palys on a rock or near smaller zoanthids, mortality will be the end result if not bleaching. With a 180, you could easily attach frags to larger rocks and watch the growth over time. Don't be concern with how the quarter size chunk of rock looks glued to a rock, in time, they will grow onto the larger rock and then you can break off the frag you placed on the rock and give it away or trade it. The space left on the larger rock with close as the polyps around it fill in. I've done this many times.
Sorry to go overboard, but I hope this sheds a bit of light on your situation. Good luck my friend and please remember to share the end results with us.
Mucho Reef
