Crazyfingerz
New member
I've heard alot of things and tried alot of things but where actually is the best placement for zoas.
Zoas placement
- Thread starter Crazyfingerz
- Start date
A. Grandis
Active member
I believe most zoanthids will do better with med to strong light and a good water flow.
That normally helps in the long run and will prevent most problems.
You can place them anywhere in the tank, as long as their individual needs are met.
Please don't forget that all the zoas need an adaptation period to be able to live in a new environment.
Grandis.
That normally helps in the long run and will prevent most problems.
You can place them anywhere in the tank, as long as their individual needs are met.
Please don't forget that all the zoas need an adaptation period to be able to live in a new environment.
Grandis.
modernREEF
New member
I think the biggest problem here for new reefers is moving the piece all over the place trying to find the 'right' place.
Make an informed choice initially and just leave it unless there is a big obvious problem (which there shouldn't be, the choice was informed, remember!).
I always picture people moving frags all over the place, causing them to close up, then moving them more to get them to open, causing them to close up!
Make an informed choice initially and just leave it unless there is a big obvious problem (which there shouldn't be, the choice was informed, remember!).
I always picture people moving frags all over the place, causing them to close up, then moving them more to get them to open, causing them to close up!
A. Grandis
Active member
I would suggest to start from the bottom up. It works great that way and most polyps would adapt slowly to many types of different lighting.
The combination of factors is important and many people attribute the success of such species to the exposure and amount of light alone. The whole picture needs to be considered, including those previous steps until the zoas get to our homes. They forget that light has also variables and differences from tank to tank. Adaptation is crucial and most of the time what needs to be addressed.
Again, I deal only with local Hawaiian polyps.
Grandis.
The combination of factors is important and many people attribute the success of such species to the exposure and amount of light alone. The whole picture needs to be considered, including those previous steps until the zoas get to our homes. They forget that light has also variables and differences from tank to tank. Adaptation is crucial and most of the time what needs to be addressed.
Again, I deal only with local Hawaiian polyps.
Grandis.
Seanthefish
New member
I would try a variety of spots... Seems to be different zoanthid to zoanthid. The sand bed I've never had a problem and they seem to thrive
chiblackhawks4
In Memoriam
I have mine on my sandbed and they are open and happy. I agree with modernreef on this topic. An informed choice and sticking with it is your best bet. Zoas are pretty hardy for the most part, they should be ok wherever you choose as long as they get some kind of light and flow!
I agree 100 % with everything you've just stated. Great post my friend.
I believe an awful lot, not all and certainly not most of polyp failure in aquaria is due to impatience as the reefer stated above in prematurely and excessive movement of new acquisition around one's tank. Peristent movement without allowing adequate time for acclimation in one spot is a recipe for prolonged retraction as a result of continual undue stress.
Regarding placement, I have always believed the previous owner is your best bet in making an informed choice for placement. Begin by always, always placing them in a QT system if possible. If not, place them on the substrate away from any rock work, away from any other corals, in line with random moderate to moderately high current but not overpowering to the point of causing retraction. This current is vital in the removal of any slim production which naturally occurs as a stress reaction. If running MHs, I would not place new aquisitions directly under your MH fixture, but east or west if possible. Tiny frags should be anchored first or the current will toss them around your tank.
As I said above, to take away some of the guessing of placement, I always ask the previous owner where they were placed in their system. Also, what type of bulb, ballast, depth of placement, how long they had them and what they feed them. I even inquire of the parameters, internal flow and turnover. These 7 questions and their answers will go a long way in increasing your polyps survival and expansion. Yes, there are many other variables which will determine survival, but the question was about placement.
I usually give new corals 4 to 7 days on the substrate before moving them up on the reef. Doing so has never failed me yet. Trust me, if your parameters, lighting, current and tank maturity are in check, your polyps will tell you where and if they are happy. Keeping in mind other agressive growing or stinging corals which might affect them in the long and short term.
One thing I would stress is not to buy into the notion that someones polyp with a name which did well at the top of their tank, will yield the same results at the top of your tank or vice versa, it's not true. There are numerous threads in this forum which dispells that myth. Every system is different than the next or previous system.
Check out this link which might be of some interest to you.
http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1502607&highlight=zoanthid+closed
Good luck Crazyfingerz and sorry for being long winded.
MUCHO REEF
TOTM - August 2003
