Do my zoas need more light?

[RX FILLER]

Hi Everyone,
This is my first post to this site.
Thank you all for sharing your amazing amount of knowledge!
Started in saltwater aquariums back when it was undergravel filter and a lot of prayers.

No back in it again and the advancements are amazing, you can actually keep animals alive, who knew?

I'm having some issues with my zoas and would appreciate any advice.
My tank is a Mr. Aqua 12 gallon with a Eheim 2217 canister filter.
It has been set up around 9 months, it has two 30 watt Lomi full spectrum lights.
All the water parameters are with in range.

My zoas are stretching like they need more light.
everything else in the tank is doing fine, even other zoas

I sent along a picture to show what I mean.
Thanks in advance. Bob

 

[RedFrog211]

Yep! When they stretch like that, they’re reaching for more light. I would recommend moving the frag up a little to see if you can reach the right PAR levels. Best of luck!

 

[Isopod80]

+1

 

[RX FILLER]

Yep! When they stretch like that, they’re reaching for more light. I would recommend moving the frag up a little to see if you can reach the right PAR levels. Best of luck!

Thank you for your reply I'll increase the light and/or distance. Bob

 

[sp1187]

zoa's or paly's?
hard to tell what you have there.
zoa's, maybe.
paly's, no.

 

[RX FILLER]

zoa's or paly's?
hard to tell what you have there.
zoa's, maybe.
paly's, no.

Hi,
I was told they were zoas at the store I bought them from.
I'm new to reef aquariums i.e. coral but not new to salt water aquariums still working on the " learning curve" for corals
How much difference is there for light needs of zoas and palys? Thanks, Bob

 

[Gtinnel]

Thank you for your reply I'll increase the light and/or distance. Bob

If you do decide they need more light (which I agree if they're zoas they probably do) then I'd strongly recommend moving them closer to the light. Increasing the lights intensity to help one specific coral is a slippery slope that can lead to aggrevating other corals.

 

[txgunsmith14]

My palys extend a lot even next to zoas.

 

[sp1187]

My palys extend a lot even next to zoas.

this

 

[txgunsmith14]

Here’s a better shot.

 

[James_O]

Hi,
I was told they were zoas at the store I bought them from.
I'm new to reef aquariums i.e. coral but not new to salt water aquariums still working on the " learning curve" for corals
How much difference is there for light needs of zoas and palys? Thanks, Bob

They do look like palys to me. Mine extend like crazy, but I personally think they are getting just the right amount of light:

—

Welcome to R2R!

 

[ZoWhat]

IMO

Zoas stay flattish. They may stretch a little but not long stems longer than a half-inch. If not enough light or too much they shrink and get tiny heads. Many close up and start the melting process.

Palys are much more aggressive to stretch out with long stems over an inch long to find their right PAR. If you start blasting stretching palys and you have other zoas, the other zoas will struggle with too much PAR

I've learned to just let palys do their thing. As long as your close to what they want, they'll adapt. Zoas are faaaaar less adaptable. If they struggle they just melt and call it quits


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