basic zoanthid facts

[rookie reefer]

i want to just keep zoanthids in my tank because they seem to be doing the best in my tank but if i'm going to do this i want my tank looking as best as it can be. Therefor i need to know:

1.how to feed them( fish, if you can [i'm going to use trace elements by kent] ect.)?

2. do they spread if they are sorrounded by sand like do they spread on sand?

3.do they like dirty water?
Thanks for any advice.
p.s. Ive read alot on them and these are some topics i would rather learn from you guys. You all have more experience

[mielikkishunt]

where in MD are you?

[rookie reefer]

i'm in greatmills md. .....Close to lexingtonpark.

[mielikkishunt]

hmm, yep, still too new in the area to know where that is LOL

I'm out near Bel air

[Caball362]

well i would assume that they are like other "Softies" and`say yes they like dirty water . Hope others chime in on this i would like to know also.

[rookie reefer]

i don't know where that is either

[rookie reefer]

Originally Posted by Caball362

well i would assume that they are like other "Softies" and`say yes they like dirty water . Hope others chime in on this i would like to know also.

theres been alot of discussion on it but i still don't know if it is true or if it was just a couple of weird zoanthids.

[Fly Guy]

no softies prefer dirty water high in nitrates and phosphates. that is a myth and one of those statements that gets repeated endlessly even though it is not true.

They do prefer nutrient rich water. So do SPS. Nutrient rich and dirty is not the same thing. export what you import and your animals will be healthier and happier.

softies can tolerate dirtier water than some other corals such as sps. It doesnt mean they like it or that it is good for them

[nemmy]

Zoas spread quickly in my reef,sometimes too quickly,and are colourful and healthy.
Some tips are get your water conditions right which means zero readings on nitrite,ammonia,phosphate and less than 10 ppm on nitrate prefferably less than 5ppm.
Lots and lots of light.Zoas hate low light and either don't grow much or more often slowly fade away.
Keep them away from aggressive corals because they will lose.
Best of luck.

[XeniaGirl]

I've learned a few things on this thread too - thanks guys!

My zoas are starting to spread a lot but don't do well when something obstructs their light, like a fat selfish mushroom. Their color will fade so they turn very pale.
Mine spread by dropping off individual heads or polyps, which often land on the sand. In my experience they don't spread on sand itself, but easily attach to a very small rock. What I plan on doing is buying some rock, breaking it into smaller pieces with an ice pick and a hammer, and using little pieces as "frag catchers" so that my zoas will have something to grab on to. While I've never seen them spread on sand, I doubt anything is impossible when it comes to life in the reef.
Good luck! Let us know what you find out!

[tufacody]

Originally Posted by Fly Guy

no softies prefer dirty water high in nitrates and phosphates. that is a myth and one of those statements that gets repeated endlessly even though it is not true.

They do prefer nutrient rich water. So do SPS. Nutrient rich and dirty is not the same thing. export what you import and your animals will be healthier and happier.

softies can tolerate dirtier water than some other corals such as sps. It doesnt mean they like it or that it is good for them

I agree that softies do not prefer "dirty" water, although I do equate nutrient rich and dirty as the same thing. It is absolutely not true that these corals prefer nutrient rich water. An excess of any nutrient is in fact a pollutant. Coral reefs of the world are generally found in very nutrient-poor water.

[Fly Guy]

nutrient rich and dirty are very much not the same thing. If you keep sps in a tank stripped of all nutrients you will find out sooner than later that they dont like nutrient poor water any more than softies do.

Pretty much all reefers find this out about the same time they get their systems set up efficiently enough to actually have the ability to strip the water clean. At that point you get to have the fun of actually feeding the tanks tons and watching everything thrive....not just survive. The learning curve at the point in which this happens leaves you with a bunch of faded sps.

The point is to feed your tanks absolutely as much as they can take without creating excess nutrient issues and making them dirty. This balance is different for every system.

Feed the tank, get it out before it rots is the name of the game and how you achieve nutrient rich without the excess nutrients left to rot making it dirty

Originally Posted by tufacody

Coral reefs of the world are generally found in very nutrient-poor water.

this is very much not true. they live in very nutrient rich water.......clean nutrient rich water

[tufacody]

Again, I disagree with your terminology. Your water is not nutrient rich because the solid source of fuel has not dissolved in it. IE, if you test the WATER, you will find it to be nutrient poor.

This article says it best: http://www.fisherycrisis.com/coral3.html

[Fly Guy]

Im not going to argue semantics with you.

You can call it what you want. When i feed my tanks and fish multiple times throughout the day several different food sources I do it becasue I want the water nutrient rich as I cannot provide the same type of nutrients the ocean does. If you dont agree with my terminology thats ok.

feed the tank. get it out

simple as that. feed more than your system can handle you have high P and N and algae issues. Feed ntohing and you starve your corals

[Caball362]

Fly Guy ! Thanks For Clearing that up for me