first zoa, looking good or do i need to move it?

[playaslk]

Below is a pic of my first coral. Sold to me as orange bam bam (yes the pic is terrible and it does look orange). Every night they zoas close up, and every day they open. I THINK they've added a few heads since I've had them for a few weeks but I am not sure as I didnt count them from the start.

My questions are:

1. Is it normal for the stalk to be that long? I read its due to poor lighting, but is it ok or harmful to the zoa to have such long stalks.
2. The zoas are on a plug that has a piece of rock on it also. I think some of the zoas are glued to the plug and some are on the rock. Should i try to scrape them off of the plug and just glue the rock onto another rock in the tank? Can I leave them on the plug and they will cover it so i dont see the "white" plug underneath?

Some info on the tank, reasonably new tank (2 months) with stable parameters. they are directly 14-16 inches under 175watt hamilton bulb. Tank is a 180gallon 6 footer. 2 fish in the tank are powder blue and yellow tang.

Nitrates 0
Nitrites 0 (dont ask how-maybe crappy test kits)
ammonia 0

I love the look of a well rounded/even zoa colony and not like mine which has a little kid w/ nappy hair look to it

I use IO reef crystals.

Thanks!

 

[dirk_brijs]

The stalks dont get long due to low lighting. They get longer due to over population and they start to struggle to get top pick of what floats by to eat.
Dont scrape or remove anything. If they thrive they will take over some will take over your plug some will let go and start new colonies around your tank.

 

[ED517]

growth pattern is different but look good

 

[playaslk]

and by let go you mean just break off and float somewhere else? i think some of these guys are glued to the frag plug. How does that work?

The stalks dont get long due to low lighting. They get longer due to over population and they start to struggle to get top pick of what floats by to eat.
Dont scrape or remove anything. If they thrive they will take over some will take over your plug some will let go and start new colonies around your tank.

 

[dirk_brijs]

they will loosen themselves yes if they cant compete for food anymore where they are and float in your water yes till the end up somewhere stuck and reproduce there.
Like that you might end up with covers of power heads full of Zoas

 

[mykol]

Since were talking about polyps detatching. I got an aog frag at a swap yesterday, and it wasnt glued very well. While finding a home for it in my tank, the glue came off the base. A few heads went different directions and are now in and around my rock. The bottom of the polyps still seem to have glue on them. will they find a way to stick? Should I be moving all my rock around to try and find them?