Lighting

[tj51]

I know it's hard to believe, but when you google up questions you get varing answers; so I'll pose my situation to the forums

The LFS I buy my zoas from keeps them mainly under actinics (and not very high output). When I get them home and put them in my lighting (4 x 96w, 2 - 10K and 2 actinics, with a 2 x 39w T5 both actinics over the sandbed), they start to open and then hesitate, or if they do open, they brown up. I've read that they are getting to much light and the brown is the result of to much zoop., and that they are not getting enough and they like lots of lighting. I've also heard that they will not immediately adjust to my lighting, but will after a few weeks. So.......keep attempting to find shady spots, or will they eventually adapt to my lighting and "color-up?" For example, today I bought a colony of green bay packers, and when they opened, they opened brown and stayed that way until I found a shady spot, now a dark green, almost brown.

Thx

Tj

 

[killingseed2000]

picture would be helpful. lights seem ok, 4 x 96w, 2 - 10K and 2 actinics, with a 2 x 39w T5. the sandbed is a great place to start them off so they can get use to your lighten after that i would raise then up close to the light. i dont think leeping them in just actinics is good but he just a LFS and try to move the gooos.

 

[flricordia]

Zoas, unlike many other types of corals (zoanthids are not really corals BTW, they are colonial anemonies) do not bleach from too much light, but will produce too much zooxanthellae which is a gold/brown algae and the reason why they turn brown and/or dark. THis a is a first stage BTW. If they are given an over abundance of light for too long they would expell their algae and eventually die, but in reality they would close and eventually die. This can take a long time. They can also become poisoned from the excess of algae (oxygen poisoning), but before this happens most polyps will expel the excess algae through the mouth and darken.
If they do not get enough light, they will turn white because the algae dies off, though they can live for a long, long time in this condition as they are able to get much needed nutrients from the water, if there are nutrients to be had. On a natural reef that would be no problem and in time they could even move back into the light depending on the type. Most PEs are able to move.
The zoas you are getting are not used to the excess light in your tank so are producing an excess of algae and turning brown. Just move them down into semi-shaded areas of your tank and every week or so move closer toward the light. They will be fine.