To Zoo or not to Zoo... That is the question!

[blange3]

OK,

My 75 gallon LPS dominant tank has just about run out of real estate for corals. Since my favorite LPS have left their softie friends behind in another tank, they are thriving.

Recently I inherited quite a few nice zoo's that would fill in some of the open spots between my Euphyllias. I was planning on rearranging the softie tank and move them there which is where I have my other zoo's. But some of the new ones would look great in the LPS tank.

What would the LPS meisters do in my shoes??

 

[Hormigaquatica]

Ive used zoas as filler between my larger LPS for years, and have never had a problem- as long as I kept them from getting close enough to aggervate the tissue. Dont let them get to where they can grow up Euphyllia stalks or attach to brain skeletons, etc, and it should be alright IMHO. Makes for great color contrast too if you place them well

 

[earlnewt]

blange, I have seen many LPS dominated tanks with zoas. Check out some of the tanks on tank of the month over at RK mag, www.reefkeeping.com.
I noticed you use only VHO lighting in your SPS tank . I am going that route with a DIY hood in my 58g. Mind if I pick your brain for some info? Reflector, height off of water, pictures ect... Thanks

 

[blange3]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=9033718#post9033718 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by earlnewt
I noticed you use only VHO lighting in your SPS tank . I am going that route with a DIY hood in my 58g. Mind if I pick your brain for some info? Reflector, height off of water, pictures ect... Thanks

The 75 has 550w of VHO. 5 - 46.5' bulbs mounted directly to the top of a standard All Glass Aquarium Pine Canopy. I have 3 URI 50/50 bulbs driven by an Ice Cap 660 and 2 URI Super Actinics driven by an Ice Cap 430. No extra reflectors and no fans as there is a lot of natural air flow through the top and back of the canopy. Height off the water is about 3 inches. I use eggcrate to keep my fish form carpet surfing. Photoperiod is 13 hours for the actinics and 11 hours for the50/50's.

The tank is 20' deep. I have a lot of hammers and frogspawns, blastos, candycanes and acan enchinata. A platagyra, bubble and fungia round out the LPS gang. I have about 12 ricordia in the darker areas.

The SPS are all located in the top 6' of the tank. I have 2 montipora caps, a pavona and some millipora frags.

Finally, I have a 3" derasa clam and a purple gorgonian.

 

[earlnewt]

Thanks blange3.

 

[blange3]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=9033648#post9033648 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Hormigaquatica
Ive used zoas as filler between my larger LPS for years, and have never had a problem- as long as I kept them from getting close enough to aggervate the tissue. Dont let them get to where they can grow up Euphyllia stalks or attach to brain skeletons, etc, and it should be alright IMHO. Makes for great color contrast too if you place them well

The color contrast is what caught my fancy.

I'm hoping they are relatively slow growing as there is a frogspawn a few inches away from the one frag disk I added. I can always move the frogspawn in question if need be.

Thanks for the feedback!