How to color up zoas?
- Thread starter iMob
- Start date
A. Grandis
Active member
You didn't give us much info about your changes, but...
They do "morph" and have some differences with their pigmentation, changing their look, under different types of light.
Careful when you change from T5s to MH! Go slow...
Make sure you keep the tank's temperature in check with the MH.
So, the answer would be: metal halides will do some change in their pigments and they will probably grow faster too.
Nevertheless, the health and the reproduction of the colonies won't depend on light alone.
Grandis.
They do "morph" and have some differences with their pigmentation, changing their look, under different types of light.
Careful when you change from T5s to MH! Go slow...
Make sure you keep the tank's temperature in check with the MH.
So, the answer would be: metal halides will do some change in their pigments and they will probably grow faster too.
Nevertheless, the health and the reproduction of the colonies won't depend on light alone.
Grandis.
A. Grandis
Active member
You won't really need to change from 96W to the 175W for a 20 long.
Hope you know that.
Is there anything wrong with their colors?
The 4 bulbs you've got should be enough for that purpose.
If you keep the maintenance of the system, including changing the bulbs every 10 to 12 months, and everything else is good, that should do it.
Grandis.
Hope you know that.
Is there anything wrong with their colors?
The 4 bulbs you've got should be enough for that purpose.
If you keep the maintenance of the system, including changing the bulbs every 10 to 12 months, and everything else is good, that should do it.
Grandis.
FragIt Dan
Marine Biologist
Target feeding my zoas gave great results for coloring up. I would expect better color with your new bulb as well, but you may burn them up with too much light to start out.
A. Grandis
Active member
Different spectrum will change the color too, because of the spectrum itself.
You can have bluer light with the T5s, if that's the case.
You can have more than necessary PAR, specially for the zoas, with the T5s.
IME the halides gave more growth and the zoas were really happy.
I do like the shimmering from the halides very much, just like LEDs, but the uniform light from the T5s is great too. I don't like the unecessary heat from the MHs.
Well, it's just a personal taste...
I do believe you can keep zoas, clams and even SPS in perfect heath with the right T5 set.
They grow relatively good/ healthy under T5s too...
Grandis.
You can have bluer light with the T5s, if that's the case.
You can have more than necessary PAR, specially for the zoas, with the T5s.
IME the halides gave more growth and the zoas were really happy.
I do like the shimmering from the halides very much, just like LEDs, but the uniform light from the T5s is great too. I don't like the unecessary heat from the MHs.
Well, it's just a personal taste...
I do believe you can keep zoas, clams and even SPS in perfect heath with the right T5 set.
They grow relatively good/ healthy under T5s too...
Grandis.
iMob
New member
yeah that's what i was thinking too but im upgrading to either a 24x24x24 or 30x30x12 cube in the next few months so im going to try the mh right now.
and yeah ive had great success with keeping clams nems and coral under t5's but that was with a 6 bulb fixture and i hated replacing the bulbs.
i want a shimmer and only have to replace one bulb.
im not really worried about hear because like i said the fixture will be about 3 feet over the tank and my window is usually always open,plus i can run a fan if needed.
also,if it 3 feet over the tank,would i be able to get away with only a sheet of egg crate over the tank for about 2 weeks until everything acclimates?
and yeah ive had great success with keeping clams nems and coral under t5's but that was with a 6 bulb fixture and i hated replacing the bulbs.
i want a shimmer and only have to replace one bulb.
im not really worried about hear because like i said the fixture will be about 3 feet over the tank and my window is usually always open,plus i can run a fan if needed.
also,if it 3 feet over the tank,would i be able to get away with only a sheet of egg crate over the tank for about 2 weeks until everything acclimates?
A. Grandis
Active member
Actually egg crate is a diffuser of light and it's made to direct the light downwards.
Depending on where the corals/ zoas/ clams came from (lights), you'll have to deal with the new lights to fit their need for the photo acclimatization.
I prefer to reduce the time of the lights and bring the zoas down, if that's the case also, to make sure they will be ok with the new light. The period of time for the changes could take from as little as 2 weeks to 8 weeks for the more sensitive organisms, I guess.
In another hand, you could use black mesh to reduce the light on them. That would be another way to handle the photo acclimatization.
Perhaps more people will post with their experiences about that type of change...
Good luck.
Grandis.
Depending on where the corals/ zoas/ clams came from (lights), you'll have to deal with the new lights to fit their need for the photo acclimatization.
I prefer to reduce the time of the lights and bring the zoas down, if that's the case also, to make sure they will be ok with the new light. The period of time for the changes could take from as little as 2 weeks to 8 weeks for the more sensitive organisms, I guess.
In another hand, you could use black mesh to reduce the light on them. That would be another way to handle the photo acclimatization.
Perhaps more people will post with their experiences about that type of change...
Good luck.
Grandis.
A. Grandis
Active member
Hi iMob,
Like I've said, that will depend on the spectrum you'll choose for the MH.
I don't know what would be the color for that particular zoa. Sorry.
I can tell you that the polyp (center) will probably develop some more of the green (?) pigment shown on the picture. And it will probably, under the right conditions, reproduce faster than under the T5s.
The polyp on the bottom left will show more of those yellow(?) little spots. Maybe the polyp will even have a great part of it covered with the yellow(?) pigmentation. That will depend on many things, including the distance you choose to have the light from the tank, after the adaptation period.
You can tell that the polyp on the mid- right section is a special one because it has it's colors vivid and that probably is the most expensive you've got in that picture. That probably won't change too much, I guess.
I would say the one on the bottom left to be the second nicest polyps in your collection.
I have no idea about the prices/ names of your polyps.
My taste is more towards the T5s in regards to colors because there is more options to choose and change the spectrum due to the number of bulbs involved.
It will be great if others can contribute to your thread, mainly because I don't have access to any of the zoas you guys can have on the mainland!!
They will tell you the names of the zoas and they will help you much better with those type of questions (T5 to MH = colors). :thumbsup:
Grandis.
Like I've said, that will depend on the spectrum you'll choose for the MH.
I don't know what would be the color for that particular zoa. Sorry.
I can tell you that the polyp (center) will probably develop some more of the green (?) pigment shown on the picture. And it will probably, under the right conditions, reproduce faster than under the T5s.
The polyp on the bottom left will show more of those yellow(?) little spots. Maybe the polyp will even have a great part of it covered with the yellow(?) pigmentation. That will depend on many things, including the distance you choose to have the light from the tank, after the adaptation period.
You can tell that the polyp on the mid- right section is a special one because it has it's colors vivid and that probably is the most expensive you've got in that picture. That probably won't change too much, I guess.
I would say the one on the bottom left to be the second nicest polyps in your collection.
I have no idea about the prices/ names of your polyps.
My taste is more towards the T5s in regards to colors because there is more options to choose and change the spectrum due to the number of bulbs involved.
It will be great if others can contribute to your thread, mainly because I don't have access to any of the zoas you guys can have on the mainland!!
They will tell you the names of the zoas and they will help you much better with those type of questions (T5 to MH = colors). :thumbsup:
Grandis.
iMob
New member
Top row
Wobbegong,pink zipper,sunny d
2nd row
Rasta,cherry charms,UFO paly
3rd row
Rose nebula,blue hornets
A. Grandis
Active member
Alright thanks for the clarification grandis
Hopefully they colt up more,but if not then its okay because they still look nice.
How come you aren't allowed to have the zoas we have here in the mainland?
That's the law for the state of Hawaii.
Grandis.
iMob
New member
What are you allowed to have then?
A. Grandis
Active member
We can buy fishes from other places at the store.
Besides that only local inverts and algae.
Grandis.
Besides that only local inverts and algae.
Grandis.
A. Grandis
Active member
The law is to protect the reef, and we are used to that.
We know if we protect the fishes' habitat we will still see them in the water.
We pass along to our kids and teach the right way to treat the ocean.
If there was no law for the live rocks and corals we wouldn't see anything left today.
The collectors would take everything for the bucks.
That way we know the law is good and does protect the reef.
The ocean here suffers a lot with the pollution and tourism already.
I still can come to places like RC and enjoy the colorful zoas...
Grandis.
We know if we protect the fishes' habitat we will still see them in the water.
We pass along to our kids and teach the right way to treat the ocean.
If there was no law for the live rocks and corals we wouldn't see anything left today.
The collectors would take everything for the bucks.
That way we know the law is good and does protect the reef.
The ocean here suffers a lot with the pollution and tourism already.
I still can come to places like RC and enjoy the colorful zoas...
Grandis.
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