Zoa behavior

[SMB]

I have four different colonies in my AIO 45 gal aquarium (3 years running). They have all grown from 4-5 polyps to over 20 each and are in good color. But, most Zoas I see in tanks and stores, are compact and usually flat on their surface structure. All my polyps over time have become long stemmed. I was curious as to what causes this behavior.
Tank lighting is a Kessil 360 Tuna Blue.
Flow in tank via two returns and a Tunze Turbelle
Nitrates ~4, P04 0.2, DKh 10.0, Ca ~480, Mg ~1400 (Red Sea test kit runs a little high), Ph 8.0-8.1, Temp 77.5

 

[Halal Hotdog]

From my experience the elongated stock is due to the polyps reaching for light, indicating that they want more.

 

[Crabs McJones]

How many kessils and how far off the waters surface are they mounted and what intensity do you ramp them up to?

 

[SMB]

One Lamp about 10 inches above the water. The Zoas are mid tank.

 

[Crabs McJones]

I'm guessing a single light over that tank isn't providing enough par and the zoas are reaching for more light. You can try slowly ramping the light up by 5% weekly and see if they improve. But if everything is alive and happy I wouldn't mess with it to much

 

[SMB]

Thanks. I will try some slow changes.
The tank is very stable, and the Zoas are multiplying. The biggest enemy of good.....

 

[Cary]

+whatever for more light... sorry, I got confused by crabby's reply...

 

[Crabs McJones]

+whatever for more light... sorry, I got confused by crabby's reply...

I am not crabby!!

 

[Cherub]

needs more light for sure. maybe try a hydra 52hd or 2 kessils

 

[Cary]

I am not crabby!!

Sorry, Mr. Mcjones

 

[Crabs McJones]

Sorry, Mr. Mcjones

 

[Kremis]

IMO my zoas either do this when they are obv not getting enough light or for no really good reason at all. I have one colony that does this right next to 3 that dont do it