new to zooanthid corals

[newtozoos]

Hello all,

I am getting ready to embark on the zooanthid journey and take on what I hope will be a new and exciting journey in reefing. I wanted some input from this community as to how to go about this.

The tank is 36in wide and 72in long. I have the option of either using T5 (6 - 5 footers) or using T5 with either 250 watt 14K's (blue wave 7 ballast) or 400 watt 20K XM's on a PFO M59 ballast.

I have a large recirc skimmer and calcium reactor.

What type of water movement should I be trying to achieve? I also would like to keep some LPS corals in this aquarium. I have about 18 years of experience in the hobby but this is a realm that I have not ventured into before so I am excited to be the new guy again

 

[impur]

If it were me i would go with T5s. Zoas don't need any different flow than LPS, medium chaotic flow will suffice. If flow is higher, the skirts typically get longer on the polyps which can be cool looking IMO.

 

[Zoanuts]

A BIG Fat
:welcome:
to Ya!!!
Welcome to a new addiction!

 

[newtozoos]

Tahnks for the welcome to teh zooanthid world.

I plan on getting going with this sometime in July. For flow I was going to utilize a couple Tunze 6100's and a 6080.

 

[Zoanuts]

Your lighting plan sounds good. If you are only going with zoa's and LPS you should be fine with T-5. Your flow is definatley taken care of.

 

[Ike]

Tahnks for the welcome to teh zooanthid world.

I plan on getting going with this sometime in July. For flow I was going to utilize a couple Tunze 6100's and a 6080.

Welcome to Club Zoa!

That should be good for flow, at least it won't be too little

If this were my tank I would go with 3x250w HQI with T5 or VHO supplements. T5s are great but I think they're best for 24"-48" tanks if they're going to be used as the only light source.

Two more things (sorry for being anal), they're zoanthids not zooanthids, and they're stoloniferans which are not technically corals

 

[newtozoos]

Awsome information and to be part of the club you need to know the language that everyone is communicating with .

I have two 250 watt 14K's at my disposal (SE pendents by SLS) on a Blue Wave7 ballast. I was thinking of using the T5's with a 6K, Blue + and either a 3K or actinic as the majority of the lighting and supplementing with the halides for a short high light period in the middle (no more than 6 hours if possible).

 

[Ike]

Awsome information and to be part of the club you need to know the language that everyone is communicating with .

I have two 250 watt 14K's at my disposal (SE pendents by SLS) on a Blue Wave7 ballast. I was thinking of using the T5's with a 6K, Blue + and either a 3K or actinic as the majority of the lighting and supplementing with the halides for a short high light period in the middle (no more than 6 hours if possible).

That lighting scheme will be fine. You'll have plenty of more shady areas, but that's not necessarily a bad thing in a zoanthid/LPS tank though.

 

[newtozoos]

It will be cool to be doing something different for a change

Does anyone here actively feed their zoanthid reefs? I feed my fish this mush mixture of clams, mussels, scallops, oysters, and shrimp. I suppose if I blend it to a real fine consistency then maybe it could be of some benefit a few times a month.

I have read and heard anecdotal reports that feeding supports growth and coloration but then over doing can also lead to a decline in coloration as well from what I am reading. There will no doubt be frogspawn and hammers in the aquarium along with the zoanthids and I would one day like to have a nice mature LPS/Zoanthid inspired reef to enjoy.

 

[Ike]

It will be cool to be doing something different for a change

Does anyone here actively feed their zoanthid reefs? I feed my fish this mush mixture of clams, mussels, scallops, oysters, and shrimp. I suppose if I blend it to a real fine consistency then maybe it could be of some benefit a few times a month.

I have read and heard anecdotal reports that feeding supports growth and coloration but then over doing can also lead to a decline in coloration as well from what I am reading. There will no doubt be frogspawn and hammers in the aquarium along with the zoanthids and I would one day like to have a nice mature LPS/Zoanthid inspired reef to enjoy.

Most smaller Zoanthus species won't benefit directly from feeding. Somw larger Zoanthus species (often called Palys), Palythoa (still called Palys), and Protopalythoa (you guessed it, Palys ) will trap particles of food and show increased growth. All of your LPS will benefit from regular feedings as well. I feed cyclopeeze about 5 times a week as well as a plethora of other food for both the fish and corals every day.

 

[JGoslee]

Sounds like your off to good start. Welcome to Club-Zoa!

 

[MarvinsReef]

first off.. welcome to club-zoa..

the guys here have given great advice already but I want to chime in... I agree with Ike on the lighting.. if it were my tank, I would also go with (3) 250w DE Pendants or your SE w/ good reflectors will work really good also.. and HO T-5 actinic supplementation would be awesome 2 hours before and after the lights turns on.. I would overlap and hour of actinic along with the MH for 1 hour before and after MH turns on/off...

I also don't spot feed my zoas/palys.. the ones that do take food will take some when I feed my fishes.. my fishes (fairy wrasses) love mysis, enriched brine, and formula 1... I'm slowly feeding pellets and flakes just to lessen the bioload in the tank...

flow sounds like it's covered... looks like you'll have an awesome tank.. man, 36"W x 72"L... awesome! how high is the tank.. that will play a role too... if it's more than 24", MH might be a better choice so it'll penetrate the water better... but then again, I've not have experience with T-5's so I don't have the experience to share.. I'm sure someone else will give you a feedback about T-5's...

good luck and happy reefin'..

 

[newtozoos]

Thanks,

the tank is 24" tall. I think I will have things covered pretty well. Lighting a zoanthid / LPS reef is where a lot of my questions and concerns come in. I know these little buggers can get expensive and I dont want to fry them or cause them to brown out either.

I have sun light supply reflectors that I will use for the 250's. The T5's all hav eindividual reflectors as well.

 

[Zoanuts]

Sounds like you are ready to go. Keep us informed and give us some full tank shots!!

 

[newtozoos]

As soon as the aquarium is ready for that I will show her off SOme work still needs to be done so it may be a while but once it is ready for the photo debut I will show ya

 

[ecotoxlady]

Sounds like a great plan! I'm looking forward to seeing pictures of the tank