Zoa Water Requirements

[kiwis]

What's the minimum water conditions to keep Zoas?

This is what I have
Nitrite: 0
Nitrate 2ppm
Ammonia 0
Phosphate 0.20ppm
Calcium 420
Magnesium 1220
Ph 8.2
Alkalinity 6.7

Will I be able to keep them like this?

Will move to coral salt when my current bucket runs out but that will be Feb/Mar I think so want something in the meantime.

 

[tankstudy]

What's the minimum water conditions to keep Zoas?
Alkalinity 6.7

Increase your alk to about 8.0 atleast.

If any of your test kits are +/- 1 alk, you'll either be 7.0 alk or 9.0 alk. From my own experience and testing, if you drop below 7.0 alk, some species of zoa/palys will start to wither/melt.

 

[ugluk]

Soft corals are much more forgiving of water quality. They are filter feeders so they are better in a little “dirtier” water. Lighting has more to do with it IMO. Just start off with some cheap Zoas.

 

[DSC reef]

Don't underestimate the need for flow as well. Personally, I never considered a zoa an "easy" coral as some just dont do well. Lighting spectrum/intensity, flow, nutrients and stability all play a role.

 

[hockeyhead019]

@DSC reef I think I'm going to agree with you on the comment of "not easy"... some of my LPS (duncans and acan especially) seem to fair much better than my ever tricky zoa colonies. I have two colonies that were doing fantastic when I first added them, which for me is 2 new heads a month. And all of a sudden they've started to wither :/