Zoanthids and dirty water

[Mr.6LineWrasse]

My LFS says zoanthids like dirty water, and zoanthids that are in super clean aquariums don't thrive as well.
I'm not sure if this is true, can anyone varify?

 

[Jgut3]

Some ppl say zoa like dirty water (nitrate) but really I think it depends on the Zoas. Some grow better in clean water some don't. Everyones tank will grow the same coral quite differently. They also say Zoas dont require a lot of light and that in my experience is false. If you want those color you gotta have higher lighting.

 

[organism]

Very untrue, I have a ULN (ultra low nutrient) system with vodka dosing, and my zoas grow like crazy and have some insane colors. If you look in the SPS forum you'll see tons of super clean tanks with thriving zoanthids as well

The thing is that zoanthids are sometimes collected from dirty water, like next to drainage and sewer outflows, because not much else will grow there. It's not that they love dirtier water, it's that unlike other corals they can live and grow in dirtier water.

 

[Blacksscamaro]

very untrue, i have a uln (ultra low nutrient) system with vodka dosing, and my zoas grow like crazy and have some insane colors. If you look in the sps forum you'll see tons of super clean tanks with thriving zoanthids as well

the thing is that zoanthids are sometimes collected from dirty water, like next to drainage and sewer outflows, because not much else will grow there. it's not that they love dirtier water, it's that unlike other corals they can live and grow in dirtier water.

+1

 

[Mr.6LineWrasse]

Ah, thanks for clearing that up.

 

[A. Grandis]

We can find zoanthids in relatively high and low nutrients in nature, yes.
The healthiest zoas I've found in nature were in relatively low nutrient clear waters, far from rivers, harbors and such.

Nutrients are only a small part of zoa keeping, please make sure you got that...
Zoas do much better in cleaner tanks too, without any algae around or among them!!!

In our systems we need to keep algae out by limiting nutrients and with the presence of some herbivores.

Many people have zoas growing like weeds in low nutrient systems, like organism already pointed out. That's the proof right there!!!

Your LFS is wrong when stated that "zoanthids like dirty water, and zoanthids that are in super clean aquariums don't thrive as well".
That's NOT TRUE!!!
You should tell them, so they spread the right info to their costumers.

Grandis.