Featured or filler: Are the zoanthids the stars of your reef?

[Peace River]

Featured or filler: Are the zoanthids the stars of your reef?

Zoanthids, often called zoas, are common in many reef tanks, however, they serve a wide range of purposes in the aquascape and are curated in various ways. Sometimes they are featured in a “zoa garden”, other times they are used as filler corals around other more prominent corals, and occasionally they are the centerpieces of the tank. Today let’s talk about how you use zoas in the aquascaping of your tank. Are the zoanthids the stars of your tank?

Pro Tip: When working with zoanthids in your tank, it is suggested to manage your zoa colonies by trimming and fragging polyps. All zoas do not grow at the same rate and some can outgrow and overwhelm others.

Photo by @GoFish


This QOTD is sponsored by Nutramar: https://www.qualitymarine.com/nutramar/

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[revhtree]

For me I love zoas but they are not the feature coral of the tank. Used to be!

 

[exnisstech]

They always died in my tanks. I have one very small patch that has been hanging on for several years but not thriving. All other I added would die

 

[MXz_reefs]

I've set up a whole section of my aquascape dedicated to softies, but the few zoa frags I've added are intended to be the main feature of that section...once they grow out of course. Im still tuning my refugium to not strip my nitrates and phosphates to 0, and want to set up a solution to peg my pH higher, so unfortunately growth has been slow for most of my zoas

 

[CHAOS79]

I had some but dam mushrooms took them over lol, i have a mushroom garden

 

[Lebowski_]

Not sure I have a "feature" coral. Zoas are definitely one of the first thing to catch people's eye, though.

 

[kevgib67]

A zoa garden was a must as I was planning my tank. Ian’s reef was my inspiration. The best looking picture of my garden.

 

[Stephen8169301]

they are directly in front of my glass but I feel that because zoas are small so they don’t get the most attention from a non reefer maybe from another reef tank owner

 

[West1]

A zoa garden was a must as I was planning my tank. Ian’s reef was my inspiration. The best looking picture of my garden.

Nice Zoas but that Blasto on the right got my attention! Looks like a Jumbalia?

 

[kevgib67]

Nice Zoas but that Blasto on the right got my attention! Looks like a Jumbalia?

You know what, I got that from my local lfs. The owner hates all the names, she has been in business for a few decades. It was an impulse buy because I liked the look. It has at least 4 babies under it.

 

[Vladthelarge]

I have 3 tanks with one being a zoa dominate scape.

 

[West1]

You know what, I got that from my local lfs. The owner hates all the names, she has been in business for a few decades. It was an impulse buy because I liked the look. It has at least 4 babies under it.

Awesome.
I’m such a sucker for Blastos. Had like 9 different high end species and when I moved out of state, I lost all but one, my CaliKid Flamethrower Blasto. So bummed but I’m starting back with the collection

 

[tweeter]

I love zoos and plays, they grow like wildfire for awhile, then melt away....so sad!

 

[1979fishgeek]

Zoa have always been a firm favourite of mine, but I both love and hate them sometimes! Hate coz of the ability to melt!

That last photo, I’d grown out the colony from a single head, took a photo of it as it was my pride and joy all time favourite zoa and a week later it melts to nothing!

I can’t seem to stop collecting them though!

 

[Azael]

Unfortunatelly, no. I just lost my only zoa due to high temperature while I was in vacation. Now I only have two types of paly. But I plan on buying again zoa in the future.