My experience tanks less then 3 months old,was having trouble getting frags to grow.to clean water frags of zoas wasn't doing to hot either. Then I let some stupid asteria get in my system.they was eating my zoas at night.I don't think there getting enough light hrs are u acclimatin them?are your lights up full blast ?I spot feed my zoas a lot, I neglect the tank my zoas are in more, as in don't clean glass filters and kind of ignore tank more. It's a frag grow out tank
I can't grow zoas for the life of me!
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OP
OP
My experience tanks less then 3 months old,was having trouble getting frags to grow.to clean water frags of zoas wasn't doing to hot either. Then I let some stupid asteria get in my system.they was eating my zoas at night.I don't think there getting enough light hrs are u acclimatin them?are your lights up full blast ?I spot feed my zoas a lot, I neglect the tank my zoas are in more, as in don't clean glass filters and kind of ignore tank more. It's a frag grow out tank
My lights were dimmed and they were drip acclimated.
40B Knasty
Valuable Member
I have Rastas. I guess they are slow growers. Had 4 polyps when I bought them 9 months ago. Grew 3 more up till December. Then I was recommended Reefroids. They say shut your pumps off for 1/2 an hour to target feed them, and use a whole 1/4tsp. Well I use half that and shoot it in front of the powerhead. Here is the thing I have gathered for info. Zooxanthellae is brown algae that covers your coral and uses photosynthesis to feed the coral. I just seen a video from BRS saying that zooxanthellae does the highest amount of photosynthesis during dawn & dusk. Not high noon peak hours. So feeding your corals with the light/photosynthesis at 10am and 4pm hours is when you should give it the best light. I switched it up already. In 2 days of light change instead of running my ATI BLUE+, CORAL+, BLUE, TRUE ACTINIC from 1pm-5pm. I now run all 4 from 9:30am-11am and 3:30pm-5:30pm. Run the 2 BLUE+ 11am-3pm. Reefroids after I feed the fish with a turkey baster in front of powerhead. Since I started using Reefroids the Rasta went from 7 polyps to now 13! 3 months. Fire and Ice blew up too. Had about 5 or 6. It grew onto my live rock and now I have 3 frags. The original has about 15-17 now. pH matters to corals for health & growth. Mine is at 8.0 as well. I have heard pH does not matter to much for zoanthids. Hope this helps.
OP
OP
I have Rastas. I guess they are slow growers. Had 4 polyps when I bought them 9 months ago. Grew 3 more up till December. Then I was recommended Reefroids. They say shut your pumps off for 1/2 an hour to target feed them, and use a whole 1/4tsp. Well I use half that and shoot it in front of the powerhead. Here is the thing I have gathered for info. Zooxanthellae is brown algae that covers your coral and uses photosynthesis to feed the coral. I just seen a video from BRS saying that zooxanthellae does the highest amount of photosynthesis during dawn & dusk. Not high noon peak hours. So feeding your corals with the light/photosynthesis at 10am and 4pm hours is when you should give it the best light. I switched it up already. In 2 days of light change instead of running my ATI BLUE+, CORAL+, BLUE, TRUE ACTINIC from 1pm-5pm. I now run all 4 from 9:30am-11am and 3:30pm-5:30pm. Run the 2 BLUE+ 11am-3pm. Reefroids after I feed the fish with a turkey baster in front of powerhead. Since I started using Reefroids the Rasta went from 7 polyps to now 13! 3 months. Fire and Ice blew up too. Had about 5 or 6. It grew onto my live rock and now I have 3 frags. The original has about 15-17 now. pH matters to corals for health & growth. Mine is at 8.0 as well. I have heard pH does not matter to much for zoanthids. Hope this helps.
Wow very cool pics and great info! Thanks I will try
40B Knasty
Valuable Member
Just fill up the glass with your tank water. While the Reefroids are all kicked up in the water in the glass. Suck it right back up with the turkey baster and squeeze it in the tank. I have never washed that shot glass. Just rinsed it with warm water every week or 2.
40B Knasty
Valuable Member
Better phone pics ☺ The green an yellow skirt had 4 polyps when I got it 3 months ago. Purple an green was in bad light and dead spot. Now after Reefroids, better flow, and lighting wow what a difference. Fruitloops were faded BAD and 4 polyps. Now 9 and color is coming back after reefroids. Proof is in the pudding. Post some pics of your stuff man. I love zoas.
OP
OP
Better phone pics [emoji5] The green an yellow skirt had 4 polyps when I got it 3 months ago. Purple an green was in bad light and dead spot. Now after Reefroids, better flow, and lighting wow what a difference. Fruitloops were faded BAD and 4 polyps. Now 9 and color is coming back after reefroids. Proof is in the pudding. Post some pics of your stuff man. I love zoas.
Sadly, I don't have any survivors hence the title. This tank is new, I am totally going to use reefroids but when will I know when my tank is established? My clowns are doing great. The sad part is... zoas are my favorite coral!!!!
Pola0502ds
Zoa Addict
Rastas are extremely slow growers typically
PaulKreider
Valuable Member
What test kits are you using? If this is your first tank and its a month old I really doubt the notion that all levels are 0.
Kessil lighting is more than enough for zoas.
Tank may just be too new, last thing I would recommend you start doing is dosing random things.. zoas definitely do not need iodine dosing or especially using a coral food like reef roids.
Focus on keeping a new tank stable, probably the best advice out there, don't rush coral it tends to react poorly.
Kessil lighting is more than enough for zoas.
Tank may just be too new, last thing I would recommend you start doing is dosing random things.. zoas definitely do not need iodine dosing or especially using a coral food like reef roids.
Focus on keeping a new tank stable, probably the best advice out there, don't rush coral it tends to react poorly.
Bro, its much simpler than what some make it seem.
Just let your tank mature for a few more months and while it is maturing raise your No3 between 3-5 and you will not only see your zoas make it. They will multiply and other corals will also apreciate it.
Also have some barely detectable Po4, like about .03 and that will do it.
I did this and all my corals started flourishing. Didnt dosed any of the "majic" bottles. Just No3 and Alk, Ca & Mg to keep those big 3 params at their ideal levels.
If you dose No3 make sure you test it every day to make sure you dont overdose.
Just let your tank mature for a few more months and while it is maturing raise your No3 between 3-5 and you will not only see your zoas make it. They will multiply and other corals will also apreciate it.
Also have some barely detectable Po4, like about .03 and that will do it.
I did this and all my corals started flourishing. Didnt dosed any of the "majic" bottles. Just No3 and Alk, Ca & Mg to keep those big 3 params at their ideal levels.
If you dose No3 make sure you test it every day to make sure you dont overdose.
OP
OP
I am using API, my fish dont eat much, that is why there is really nothing showing up
Scott.h
Valuable Member
4 systems, all have Zoas. The best growths and color of all 4 are coming from 2 nitrates and t5. My frag tank ran zero. My dirtiest tank is 20. If you are using carbon or gfo with those numbers (zero) stop immediately.
OP
OP
The last thing I want to do is dose. So the more natural simple the better, thanks man for the advice
wattson
Valuable Member
please explain over dosing No3
Had the same problem. I thought these were the easiest corals to grow. Put several in my tank at about 2 months after setup. They withered so I threw them in the back corner so I didn't have to look at them. After a few months they really multiplied. Once then my tank has matured and I now have a nice zoa island display right up front. I think this reminds us of what we already know. They like lower light and flow, higher nutrients and can grow very slowly until established.
OP
OP
Had the same problem. I thought these were the easiest corals to grow. Put several in my tank at about 2 months after setup. They withered so I threw them in the back corner so I didn't have to look at them. After a few months they really multiplied. Once then my tank has matured and I now have a nice zoa island display right up front. I think this reminds us of what we already know. They like lower light and flow, higher nutrients and can grow very slowly until established.
Wow great picture! How did you know that they were still alive?
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