Starting Zoa Frag Tank and have a few questions.

[ValorG]

I will be using a 3x2' 8" deep tray with sump. There will be no other livestock other than zoas.

-I will have a lot of live rock, do I need a skimmer? Plan on doing a 20% water change every 2 weeks like my main system.
-Will I need to dose something to keep alk up or is using IO reef crystals enough? I can easy just add kalk to my ato.

 

[Mike J.]

You should do fine with just water changes on a zoa specific tank. Using a skimmer probably isn't necessary, but I would check nitrates before a water change. What are you going to use as nutrition for your zoas. They do like a lot of light and you're going to have to have some kind of food - phytoplankton for them. They certainly won't do well in very clean water.

 

[joshporksandwich]

Make sure you get a tang, hermits and snails to control algae and at least 1 wrasse to control pests. Also a mandarin. You won't need a skimmer for the first 5-6 months but after that usually it's needed.

 

[Ep3n3wp]

Make sure you get a tang, hermits and snails to control algae and at least 1 wrasse to control pests. Also a mandarin. You won't need a skimmer for the first 5-6 months but after that usually it's needed.

+1 on the live stock idea.. I'm about to fire up a new frag this week and have similar plans with livestock in it

 

[ValorG]

You should do fine with just water changes on a zoa specific tank. Using a skimmer probably isn't necessary, but I would check nitrates before a water change. What are you going to use as nutrition for your zoas. They do like a lot of light and you're going to have to have some kind of food - phytoplankton for them. They certainly won't do well in very clean water.

Well I was actually thinking of putting in some of my aquarium water into my frag tank whenever I do water changes. I feed heavily in my DT.

 

[ValorG]

Make sure you get a tang, hermits and snails to control algae and at least 1 wrasse to control pests. Also a mandarin. You won't need a skimmer for the first 5-6 months but after that usually it's needed.

Hmm... well if livestock is a must, then i will have to invest in a skimmer then. Thank you!

 

[Balz3352]

If you're light on livestock skimmer is not necessary... Especially in a zoa only

 

[joshporksandwich]

Small skimmer = less water changes

 

[mike007]

Are guys saying that zoos do not do good in clean water? Do they need be fed, is feeding of the fish not enough wastes to feed?

 

[joshporksandwich]

Are guys saying that zoos do not do good in clean water? Do they need be fed, is feeding of the fish not enough wastes to feed?

I think zoas adapt to most tanks. I've seen them do great on super clean tanks and dumps like my tank. But generally they do better on tanks with .05+ phosphates.

 

[mike007]

I am running gfo and gac so is this going to be a Issue?

 

[joshporksandwich]

I am running gfo and gac so is this going to be a Issue?

I run GFO and carbon but change it every 6 months lololol. Try to keep the po4 from .05-.15 and you'll be ok. .05-.07 almost all corals do good.

 

[mike007]

Okay but if my zoos die I am coming to Florida and we will have a talk. lol

 

[joshporksandwich]

Okay but if my zoos die I am coming to Florida and we will have a talk. lol

If you come to FL you better bring a lot of $$$$$ lol