Is there any way to..

[OCDP]

(Yes, it may have been asked a million times before.... )

But, is there any "way" to increase zoo growth? Also, is there any way or anything you can do to make zoanthid colours pop more?

I am not having any problems with mine right now, everything seems okay.. other than the growth. I find most of my zoos tend to grow slow. Could this be because I run a heavily skimmed tank and do frequent, weekly water changes? I know they like nutrient-rich water, and I try to keep my water as free of nutrients as possible (don't have a lot of success )

So, as far as I know.. zoos like a moderate flow, and basically will thrive under almost any lighting given it's not overkill. I have a standard 20g tank with a 150w HQI setup, which I may change to a 250w HQI when I setup my cube. I read that zoos like to be lower in the tank.. I keep mine all over and can't report any actual results in doing so with growth.

Anyways, anything I could be doing to make my zoos more colorful or to help them grow quicker? What bulbs are good in your experiences with zoos? I use a 20k Ushio (DE) right now and it's pretty much crapped out, so it's lost all intensity and actual colour. Any recommendations welcomed (for both 150w and 250w) Thanks !

 

[RevHtree]

I keep zoos everywhere in the tank. I have some PHE's up near the top right under a 250w MH. I got them a couple months ago and there were 2 polyps, now I have 6 polyps. I have gotten 4 NEW polyps within the last 1 1/2 months. These are slow growers, but are really liking the light and starting to take off. My other Zoas do really well all over the tank. I keep my alk and my cal up for my sps and drip kalk so I am sure this helps out as well. The PE's dont seem to like the light as much.

 

[twon8]

i have found most zoas like a lot of light for growth, but they may not look as good and may wash out some color under intense lights.

 

[OCDP]

Thanks for the replies. I always assumed zoos would lose colour under LESS intense light, like under PC's . I guess I was wrong! That's interesting. I'd like to hear from any and everyone about their zoo growth and colour experience. Thanks.

 

[Patwa]

you gotta try your best to find out WHERE your zoas came from.....Fijian zoas in particular like lots of flow, and medium to intense lighting....mainly cuz they are from very shallow reefs out in the wild (this is more applicable to wild harvested zoas, not those born and grown in 'captivity')

Indo zoas might do well with a bit less flow, but they woudl also require medium to high light, same with Solomon Island zoas, for sure

Atlantic zoas, would do well under less flow, and medium light, but if you want intesne coliur, then place them high (as is the case with my Atlantic Blues - they get bluer the higher i place them)

Twon8: are you referring to bleaching? cuz if you place a zoa waay up close to a light, without acclimating it properly, that is exactly what will happen....

that being said, i've never heard of a zoa losing it's colour (or most of it) cuz it was given too much light.

Zach.

 

[OCDP]

Thanks Zach, more good factors to take into consideration. How does one figure out which region their zoos come from though? hahah...

 

[twon8]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7282001#post7282001 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Patwa

Twon8: are you referring to bleaching? cuz if you place a zoa waay up close to a light, without acclimating it properly, that is exactly what will happen....


Zach.

no, not bleaching, color changing. i have some red skirts with blue rings, green centers and white mouths, but under 10k the centers turn a steel blue and obscure the green. It;s not bleaching, just color shifting.

 

[surfnvb7]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7282001#post7282001 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Patwa
you gotta try your best to find out WHERE your zoas came from.....Fijian zoas in particular like lots of flow, and medium to intense lighting....mainly cuz they are from very shallow reefs out in the wild (this is more applicable to wild harvested zoas, not those born and grown in 'captivity')

Indo zoas might do well with a bit less flow, but they woudl also require medium to high light, same with Solomon Island zoas, for sure

Atlantic zoas, would do well under less flow, and medium light, but if you want intesne coliur, then place them high (as is the case with my Atlantic Blues - they get bluer the higher i place them)

Twon8: are you referring to bleaching? cuz if you place a zoa waay up close to a light, without acclimating it properly, that is exactly what will happen....

that being said, i've never heard of a zoa losing it's colour (or most of it) cuz it was given too much light.

Zach.

what proof do you have that these specific regional zoas prefer these different conditions, other than your own in-tank experience? and what distintive proof do you have that a certain zoa came from a specific area? unelss you collected it yourself of course, its about impossible to know. i wouldnt take the word of a LFS or wholesaler every single time...

just b/c two different zoas come from the same regional area doesn't mean they like the same conditions. IMO what conditions they would like would depend more on what specific area of the reef bed they came from.

was it in deeper waters? more turbulent waters? shallow waters? was it on the side of a slope in the shade?

saying all zoas from a particular region, all like the same exact factors kinda says they all grow under the same conditions in the wild. every square foot of a reef bed is different, different lighting, different flow etc. unless the reef beds are completely flat with no variability, how can you say two zoas from the same region like the same variables?

the only possible scenario i can think of in which your principles would apply to the reef aquarium, would be some carribean tanks i have seen people set up. they went out in their backyard, collected corals themselves, and set up the entire tank parameters accordingly to best fit the biotope that all of the corals originated from.

PS...i think temp differences b/w these regional areas would be more prevalent than lighting/flow. esspecially b/w carribean and south pacific.