Does lowering par in tank negativity effect Zoas?

[mbarber87]

I have had this gorgeous zoa colony that was growing the wrong way in my DT. So I moved it (the heads still on the frag) to deeper location. It's only about 4 inches difference but would this have a lot of negative effects on them? Such as polyp size, color, growth etc.

 

[andrewey]

It's all dependent on the par difference and what the coral was acclimated to. Sometimes a small difference like that can have huge changes in stalk length, PE, coloration, growth (all of these also a function of the flow rate at that particular spot) and sometimes it has no difference whatsoever. In most cases, the difference is minimal (beyond the effect anytime you move a coral), but it's more exciting when there is a difference (e.g. morphs).

Also, don't forget about other animals and their effect (e.g. did you place that zoa closer to the "drop zone" for a sand sifting goby, does that spot get swept by galaxia in the middle of the night, etc.)

 

[Nigel35]

How long have they been in the new location? what are your parameters? What does the flow look like in the new area? Zoas like a low to medium-high water flow.