I can't grow zoas for the life of me!

[Sandroni]

Is it just me or has anyone experienced/experiencing not being able to grow zoas?? I would love to have a zoa dominated tank.

 

[bruleyii]

You might have too "clean" of a tank. I've read they like dirty water.

 

[saltyfilmfolks]

No Problem. Just get more Acros!

Just kidding. What are your parameters like and how much light do you have?

 

[Clownman727]

How long have you been trying? Some zoas grow faster than others as well.

 

[Sandroni]

No Problem. Just get more Acros!

Just kidding. What are your parameters like and how much light do you have?

lol Nitrite 0 Nitrate 0 Ammonia 0 dKH 9 Calcium 420 Sal 1.026 ph 8.0

 

[saltyfilmfolks]

lol Nitrite 0 Nitrate 0 Ammonia 0 dKH 9 Calcium 420 Sal 1.026 ph 8.0

Po4?
And yes. You'll def need more nitrates in the water.

 

[Sandroni]

How long have you been trying? Some zoas grow faster than others as well.

Well, I have been trying 1 month so far and have gone through 5 frags. Weekly water changes, leds are on for around 6 hours

 

[Sandroni]

Po4?
And yes. You'll def need more nitrates in the water.

Po4 0.0

 

[Sandroni]

Po4?
And yes. You'll def need more nitrates in the water.

How can I safely raise nitrates without causing a spike?

 

[saltyfilmfolks]

Well, I have been trying 1 month so far and have gone through 5 frags. Weekly water changes, leds are on for around 6 hours

Youll need to measure your par or estimate it.
And Id have to say, the water may be too clean, esp if your not spot feeding....

 

[saltyfilmfolks]

How can I safely raise nitrates without causing a spike?

you can dose liquid No3 and Po4. But would just feed slightly more honestly. And cut down on the water changes a bit. Also skim dry.

 

[Sandroni]

you can dose liquid No3 and Po4. But would just feed slightly more honestly. And cut down on the water changes a bit. Also skim dry.

Thank you!

 

[saltyfilmfolks]

@TheEngineer you more of a Zoa Pro than I.

 

[TheEngineer]

All good advice from @saltyfilmfolks, per usual

What are you seeing happen to your frags? They definitely prefer nutrients in the water, but I haven't lost frags to low nutrients. They usually just don't grow.

 

[Tooch]

Do you have fish in the tank? How many polyps, on average, do the zoa frags have? It takes longer for smaller frags to grow. At least that has been my experience.

 

[LBReefer]

How do you keep the algae growth at bay with high nutrients in the water?

 

[ebulldog]

Dose an iodine supplement. I use Kent's Lugols solution. My zoa's have grown like weeds since.

 

[A. grandis]

No nutrients needed in my tank!
I've had my tank very healthy with undetectable nutrients for years and years.
There must be something else happening.
Perhaps the tank is too young or something like that.
"Dirty water" is a myth, my friends!
Grandis.

 

[A. grandis]

How do you keep the algae growth at bay with high nutrients in the water?

You don't.
Grandis.

 

[A. grandis]

Dose an iodine supplement. I use Kent's Lugols solution. My zoa's have grown like weeds since.

Not good. You will have problems with too much iodine!
Grandis.