Is my LFS correct?

[HawkeyeDJ]

I was at my LFS today and was discussing my plans for my one year-old 24g AIO. I was hoping to create a beautiful zoa garden like so many I have seen online.

To my dismay, LFS said zoa gardens can be very pretty, but they are not "forever." Eventually, one zoa will kill all the others and take over the space.

I know that some corals are aggressive and I read about proper spacing, etc., but I've never seen any discussion of zoa garden combat.

If this is true, I'm a bit discouraged. I have no intention of investing in zoas just to have them kill each other off. I won't tolerate that behavior from my fish and I won't with my corals.

 

[Pistondog]

We have a 10g waterbox zoa garden that begs to differ. Zoas are not hard to remove if they grow where you don't want them.

 

[Chrisv.]

They all grow at different rates. I'm not sure how much outright warfare happens (most corals will fight if they touch).

It's certainly always an issue that more prolific zoas out compete the less prolific zoas.

 

[Chrisv.]

We have a 10g waterbox zoa garden that begs to differ. Zoas are not hard to remove if they grow where you don't want them.

As long as it's actively managed!

 

[Pistondog]

As long as it's actively managed!

Not so much, they don't grow like xenia.

 

[monkeyCmonkeyDo]

Yes some plays will out grow or overgrow other zoas or plays but it will take years and years. Lol.
D

 

[monkeyCmonkeyDo]

Imagine watching plants grow over each other in your backyard over say 4 seasons...
D

 

[Chrisv.]

Imagine watching plants grow over each other in your backyard over say 4 seasons...
D

When we're talking about AOIs, yes. But I swear I get 3 new Pandora or purple monster polyps a week.

 

[vetteguy53081]

If theyre suggesting zoa warfare- Never seen that in 37 yrs of doing this. Zoa VS Paly is a whole different story
You DO want to leave some room within each variety for growth spread so that theyre not growing on top of each other.
This is one of mine

 

[Sean Clark]

Your LFS is correct. One will eventually dominate over the others.

 

[PeterEde]

This is why you keep them on separate rocks. They can touch but if one is faster growing than the one it touches it will push the other out.

 

[mdb_talon]

And earth will one day be engulfed by the sun but i dont lose any sleep over it. As long as you dont put any pest growers there (basically any paly the live sale vendors here sell for $5) you should be ok for awhile. If one is overgrowing another you can fairly easily cut it back.

 

[Sean Clark]

This is a great perspective.

 

[ninjamyst]

Yes zoas can take over one another. For example, bam bams or nirvanas will wipe out everything else. Choose your zoas wisely. Avoid palys.

 

[Auquanut]

I have to agree with the above. Some zoas will adapt better to your tank, and if left alone will overwhelm others. If you intend to keep different types of zoas, you can prune the more aggressive varieties as you would a garden, but left alone, it's survival of the fittest.

 

[shakacuz]

they will compete for space, but not "kill" the other.. i have a zoa island (more like a tower) that i have many kinds of zoas. haven't lost them due to warfare, but more so water quality..

my suggestion is before purchasing, make sure you know the growth pattern of the specific morph. the faster growing should be placed/purchased last to let the slower morphs grow in more.

 

[PeterEde]

And earth will one day be engulfed by the sun but i dont lose any sleep over it. As long as you dont put any pest growers there (basically any paly the live sale vendors here sell for $5) you should be ok for awhile. If one is overgrowing another you can fairly easily cut it back.

I was 12 when my science teacher first told the class this. It scared the chit out of me for a long time

 

[damsels are not mean]

I've never seen zoas grow over other zoas maybe I am lucky? I have seen them grow into and merge with other colonies.

 

[monkeyCmonkeyDo]

By grow over I mean out compete. Out grow. Grow faster. Just FYI to clear things up. Lol.
You can put ugly army plays next to Tubbs blues but the rock will mostly be ugly army palys. Lol.
Sorry all if I was confusing or it came out incorrectly.
D

 

[Chrisv.]

Just buy the really nice ones and they will melt long before you have GMKs crowding out your LSOH.