Zoas and nitrates
- Thread starter 121
- Start date
A. Grandis
Active member
A. Grandis
Active member
A. Grandis
Active member
Yeah, many of us heard about those rumors. I'm glad you had the good experiences with low nutrient systems and therefore I would think that you were cautious in posting that.
It is very good to see that people are waking up for these type of subjects.
I also believe and had good experiences with low nitrates and low phosphates in my zoa systems for many years. That's why I recommend the same to others. My experiences, yours and many others have prove that low nutrient systems are the best for most species of zoanthids and that example should be followed.
There are some that feed heavily their zoa systems and have to do a lot of water changes to keep it in a good shape. Those type of schedules aren't necessary and feeding zoanthids should be a supplemental feeding, once we know that most of their necessities are met with good quality reef light.
So to answer your questions:
"I've read that zoas like nutrients in the water.
IYO, how much NO3 do zoas generally like? "
Normal undetectable or low nitrates would be the best for a zoa system with many different species.
"How much would make them close up and possibly start to die?"
That would depend on a series of variables, depend on the system and on the zoanthids species and how healthy they are. So basically there is no set deal for that.
"How little would make them do the same?"
I've had undetectable nitrates for years and no problems. So I would say undetectable is fine.
Would be great if more people would chime in for an open discussion here.
Grandis.
It is very good to see that people are waking up for these type of subjects.
I also believe and had good experiences with low nitrates and low phosphates in my zoa systems for many years. That's why I recommend the same to others. My experiences, yours and many others have prove that low nutrient systems are the best for most species of zoanthids and that example should be followed.
There are some that feed heavily their zoa systems and have to do a lot of water changes to keep it in a good shape. Those type of schedules aren't necessary and feeding zoanthids should be a supplemental feeding, once we know that most of their necessities are met with good quality reef light.
So to answer your questions:
"I've read that zoas like nutrients in the water.
IYO, how much NO3 do zoas generally like? "
Normal undetectable or low nitrates would be the best for a zoa system with many different species.
"How much would make them close up and possibly start to die?"
That would depend on a series of variables, depend on the system and on the zoanthids species and how healthy they are. So basically there is no set deal for that.
"How little would make them do the same?"
I've had undetectable nitrates for years and no problems. So I would say undetectable is fine.
Would be great if more people would chime in for an open discussion here.
Grandis.
121
Member
I've read that zoas grow faster when they are fed frequently. I've never seen any real data regarding what they prefer to eat and what nutrition they actually require to build new heads.
If they got their main nutrition from their host zooxanthellae, then they are feeding autotrophically. That's why I questioned whether they might benefit from elevated nitrate. It's obvious to me now that they mainly feed hetrotrophically so NO3 should be at natural seawater levels.
Many zoas do not physically catch food in their tentacles so they must slowly filter feed micro organisms in the water.
I don't know what to feed zoas that act this way. Is it possible that a tank without a skimmer would have more pelagic micro organisms available for the zoas to filter feed on?
terrypercula
New member
Just to add something different to this discussion some people might feel that way(zoas like nitrates or "dirty water") because that's what they've had success with. I think this myth more or less stems from something simple which is Zoas and palys tend to be very hardy. My system has low, though detectable, nitrates and growth/overall health is good but I don't know I'd go as far to say they prefer high nitrates even though admittedly in the past I have said this.
A. Grandis
Active member
Where did you read that, please?
How would you define "real data"? Scientific paper?
I would say that if people target feed quality food particles to the zoas in the right quantities and right size particles, they would be helping the colonies to spread (reproduce and grow).
Yes, you could say that.
Why is that obvious? I would prefer to say that they mainly feed autotrophically, as you wrote above. They grab particles only to feed secondarily. Also, nitrates would be included in the absorption part of their feeding behavior, once the nitrates we're talking about are in the water.
The sentence is contradictory because if you think they don't physically catch food, how could they filter feed on micro organisms?
All zoanthids I know do feed on particle foods, when the right food is offered.
What way? Not grabbing food particles?
When we offer the right size of coral food or even the right frozen food/ micro organism, the zoanthids will:
1) Detect the food particle.
2) Capture it.
3) Ingest it.
4) Digest it.
5) Defecate it.
No, the skimmer most of the time will have minimum affects on micro organisms' populations in a well stablished system. That is because the micro organisms in a well stablished close system will live on the rocks and sand bed. There will be no pelagic or water column organisms present in a regular reef tank set up after a while. I can add natural sea water in my tank with plankton and they will live only less than 24 hours. There is, of course, the possibility of a constant reproduction of organisms in any closed system and they are released in the water column, so they might look like pelagic, but the truth is that they were release soon before you see them, like shrimps and other small organisms present in the sand bed or live rocks. Not pelagic.
This is a great subject and there is so much to explore about it!
I personally do not think nitrates are a great deal to worry about unless it becomes a problem with algae or fish. Undetectable nitrates should be the goal for any marine system IMO/E.
I would also point that the dependency of considerable nitrate rates in the water for zoanthid maintenance in a long run is not important and actually because nitrates tend to bring nuisance algae, it is detrimental to a zoanthid system as a whole. To tell the truth, for any reef system with corals and fishes. A small presence of nitrate in a system will aways be there, even if it's undetectable and that is enough for the corals and zoas to receive what they need from it. Small...
Considerable nitrate rates would be something to look for when desirable plants and macro algae dominant tanks are the case.
That's my point of view, basically.
Here are 2 threads about food:
http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2167572
http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2180156
If you do some searching i would think you'll could find more threads about zoanthids feeding…
Hopefully other fellows will come to share their opinions and experiences!!
:beer:
Grandis.
Last edited:
A. Grandis
Active member
:thumbsup:
