Will Zoas grow on sand?
- Thread starter walnuts24
- Start date
Zoanthids can and will readily propagate on any surface, glass, rock, skeletal sps, powerheads, over flow boxes etc, and even substrate as seen in the picture below by TCU. I had polyps which grew up the glass and almost out of my tank several years ago.
I have actually witnessed them growing faster on the substrate. In my opinion, the surface doesn't dictate the growth pattern or rate of growth. The tank's maturity, lighting, current and parameters can and will determine every polyps rate of growth in captivity.
If your goal is complete coverage of your substrate, once they begin to spread, do not touch, cut or frag them, just let them grow. Stressing a completely happy and thriving colony CAN stunt it's growth in a heartbeat.
Good Luck
Mucho Reef
I have actually witnessed them growing faster on the substrate. In my opinion, the surface doesn't dictate the growth pattern or rate of growth. The tank's maturity, lighting, current and parameters can and will determine every polyps rate of growth in captivity.
If your goal is complete coverage of your substrate, once they begin to spread, do not touch, cut or frag them, just let them grow. Stressing a completely happy and thriving colony CAN stunt it's growth in a heartbeat.
Good Luck
Mucho Reef
Lynnmw1208
New member
very cool! would be much easier to frag this way!
A. Grandis
Active member
The growth on sand will depend on it's movement by the water flow.
If the sand is undisturbed the zoas will take over, under the right conditions.
Grandis.
If the sand is undisturbed the zoas will take over, under the right conditions.
Grandis.
PR_Reefers
New member
Well actually most zoanthids have sand and other detritus encrusted within their mat it helps them to help provide strength and structure and this actually is a characteristic that distinguishes from other corals families. The Zoanthidae family is the only within the zoantharia order that does not utilize encrustation. just some info I've read on journals. Not sure what difference would it make growth wise to place them in the sand rather than rock but basically in the wild they would benefit from detritus or sand in this way but anyways it would apply to mainly palythoa sp. being that zoanthidae(zoanthus, acrozoanthus, isaurus) do not have this unique adaptation
SoFloReefer
New member
That picture is wild. Those look like they have been doing well for a few years.
Friday Night
New member
They will grow on the sand i have had it happen in my tank. Zoa mat will atach itself.to a granul of sand
.. Sitting at light and typing. Spelling could care less. ;-)
.. Sitting at light and typing. Spelling could care less. ;-)
nikon187
Active member
Zoanthids can and will readily propagate on any surface, glass, rock, skeletal sps, powerheads, over flow boxes etc, and even substrate as seen in the picture below by TCU. I had polyps which grew up the glass and almost out of my tank several years ago.
I have actually witnessed them growing faster on the substrate. In my opinion, the surface doesn't dictate the growth pattern or rate of growth. The tank's maturity, lighting, current and parameters can and will determine every polyps rate of growth in captivity.
If your goal is complete coverage of your substrate, once they begin to spread, do not touch, cut or frag them, just let them grow. Stressing a completely happy and thriving colony CAN stunt it's growth in a heartbeat.
Good Luck
Mucho Reef
I believe that is a starboard bottom and not sand.
SoFloReefer
New member
Now that you mention it it does look more like starboard than sand. Never heard of that approach to a bb tank though.
A. Grandis
Active member
Yeah, the coralline algae can't grow on regular sand like that.
The picture probably shows a Star board or other plastic, or acrylic material that atracts coralline algae...
Grandis.
The picture probably shows a Star board or other plastic, or acrylic material that atracts coralline algae...
Grandis.
PR_Reefers
New member
Zoanthids as in Zoantharia order... tried to edit that to make it clear in first post ... by mistake I replied....
can one edit previous posts? for some reson in won't let me
can one edit previous posts? for some reson in won't let me
Last edited:
It doesn't matter really if it's sand or starboard, just further proof how they will proliferate on any surface as stated above. It's just awesome to watch them trail and grow when left alone.
Mucho
