Zoa growth thread

[Akwarius]

There have been some discussions of late about zoa/paly growth rates. I was hoping that we could have an informal survey of everyone's best and worst growers. I know that many factors go into whether or not certain polyps grow well, such as feeding, bioload, water quality, light, etc. If you want to provide other tank information or theories about why you are getting good/poor growth, I think that would be beneficial for other hobbyists to hear.

Example:

Best: Nuclear Green palys: 2-3p per week, size of colony: 40p
Jokers: 2 polyps per week, size of colony: 20p
Spartans Pride: 2 polyps per week: size of colony: 2x30p

Worst: PPE: one polyp per month, size of colony: 10p
Raptors Rainbow: one polyp per month, size of colony: 3p
Rastas: one polyp every two weeks, size of colony: 6p

Other info: I do not spot feed, have a light fish load, and keep my water very stable and clean. LEDs with T5, light every other day feeding, and dosing carbon.

 

[MUCHO REEF]

Anyone?

 

[CrazyZoa]

Best: Jokers, 1 or 2 per week baby colony of 18
Un-named red w/pink centers many new polyps per week colony of 200

Worst: Jokers after fragging, now 2 frags of 8 and 8...no new growth in 2 weeks
Nuke Greens/Purple Deaths, 1 polyp per month frags of 10 or 12 each


2x18w PC, 1 gallon per week water changes, 5.5gal AIO with custom refugium running chaeto in one chamber.

 

[Friday Night]

B: RH colony of 18. 1 to 2 per week
Spidermans colony of 6 1 per week

W: (when i had them) Rastas, PPE 1 polyp per month

12 watt panorama leds.. 2 gallon water change a week. Chow time is served twice a week. (one fish five corals) no dosing.

 

[tate1]

My PPE's are sloooooooow. I get only a few polys a year which seems to be slower than most. However, a lot of my colonies grow well.

 

[Akwarius]

B: Pink and Golds, 2-3 polyps per week, insane growth! I have split up the colony several times and it does not seem to stop them

W: VDMs: 1-2 polyps per month, I never let the colony get very big because somehow I always get talked into fragging them

 

[Friday Night]

I have also noticed that some Znp's growth rate doubles when fragged.. but dont go chopping up your colonys now...

 

[Drix]

Worst:
Dragon's Breath?: 1 polyp a year.

 

[MikeandNicole]

Best: Captain Americas, nuclear greens, Red hornets

Worst Rastas, PPE

Seems like a common theme for zoas.

 

[Akwarius]

Worst:
Dragon's Breath?: 1 polyp a year.

I am very curious about this polyp. Can you post a picture?

 

[GotSopranos?]

Rastas started with 1 2 months ago have 4 now RH started with 1 2 months ago have 2 slowest for me is RPE

 

[Drix]

Ufortunatly I had to return the camera I was borrowing. I'll see if I can dig up another- They're nothing stellar, very simple actually- They just dont want to grow.

 

[Mr. Microscope]

Hmm. This is a good thread. I've found Green Lanterns to be my best growers. I got them 2 months ago and started with 6. I now have almost 12. Horizons/Orange Delights are pretty good too. Maybe one or two a week.

Worst growers: King Midas

 

[Timanator]

Thats so weird Mr. Microscope

King Midas are one of the faster growers for me, they are even growing on the frag trays in my tank, I think Green Lanterns used to be called Radio Active Dragon Eyes. They dont grow much for me at all.

 

[Bonvivant]

Do you guys find that they grow better when they are left in a colony?

 

[GotSopranos?]

My fastest grower by far is my Radioactive dragon eyes and purple deaths I started off with 5 RDE 1 year ago now have a colony with over 400+ my purple deaths I bought a 3 polyp frag about 5 months ago and have around 30-35 now

 

[MikeandNicole]

Do you guys find that they grow better when they are left in a colony?

The more polyps you have the more that can grow new heads.

 

[lost4ever]

What kinds of light is everyone using? Do you find better grow rate with more light?

 

[gimme?]

i have since switced to MH on my Cad 12g and my Tubbs have sprouted 3 babies, my spartan's prides have sprouted 2, my keds reds (1 week in my tank) are sprounting a baby, thes green/pink/green zoas have sprouted 4 in a month, some other nameless paly have one nothing, my radio actives nothing in 2 months.

Mind you, mine are all at different heights in my tank and are sprouting. some more light than others, some more flow than others. none are in one general area. I do feed phyto and dose a tad. Also, my palys love spot feeding

 

[Akwarius]

The more polyps you have the more that can grow new heads.

Polyps can only grow on the perimeter, so in theory, breaking up a large colony will allow for more growth. I also find that my large colonies "go stale" for lack of a better term. I'm not sure if they reach a saturation point or if there is some other limiting factor.