Radions and zoas

[adams901]

What settings does everyone use for zoas on a mixed reef.

Originally had hydra 26hd, zoas grew like mad and formed a nice zoa garden.

Upgraded to radion xr15 G4 and over the course of a year my zoas shrank back, only opened for a few hours a day and almost died off.

Changed back to hydra, this time 52hd.. zoas started making a comeback and a year later were almost back to their former glory.

Upgraded to xr30 G5, zoas have reverted back to only opening a few hours a day and are dying back.

Are my zoas just hating radion.

Parameters have been consistent and ICP tests show no issues.

Cheers

 

[cesar6261]

I use the radion xr15 G5 blues at 60% on the AB+ mode on 12 hour dawn to dusk mode zoas have spread like crazy over the last month since installing them.

 

[cesar6261]

I would think that the radions intensity might be set to high to what your zoas are used to

 

[adams901]

My radions are only set at 40%, and the zoas are on the bottom with about 200 -250 par.

Bottom left in the attached photo. It was taken at start of may, they open up for about 4 hours a day but are thinning out since that photo was taken

 

[Ewok1]

The bottoms shouldn’t be 200-250 par that’s what the middle should be and what sps like

 

[adams901]

The bottoms shouldn’t be 200-250 par that’s what the middle should be and what sps like

Not really much I can do about it, the SPS at the top are in 340 par and start browning out at lower readings.

I used to run my hydras at a higher %

 

[Superlightman]

Sps not need 350,200-250 is way enough,turn it down and every one should be happy.radion are stronger than hydras

 

[Reefman71]

I use the radion xr15 G5 blues at 60% on the AB+ mode on 12 hour dawn to dusk mode zoas have spread like crazy over the last month since installing them.

I had mine on the LPS template and just switched back to the AB+ do you keep your point intensity at 100% also?

 

[dadnjesse]

I have 5 XR30's running 75% on my SPS 120 gallon tank. I have Eagle eye Zoa's that I can't control, they are spreading like crazy. My par is around 600.

 

[Reefman71]

I have 5 XR30's running 75% on my SPS 120 gallon tank. I have Eagle eye Zoa's that I can't control, they are spreading like crazy. My par is around 600.

600? Are you sure you’re reading it correctly? That’s pretty high

 

[dadnjesse]

600? Are you sure you’re reading it correctly? That’s pretty high

Absolutely I own a Apogee MQ 510 meter and have checked numerous times.

 

[Reefman71]

That would fry my Zoanthids. Most of them anyway

 

[ADAM]

Ummm........no.... I’ll just leave it at that....


Secondly, one of the more well know high end Zoa growers uses the Ecotech G4 XR30s set to CoralLab LPS/Soft profile with polyps getting 70-90 par for best coloration and growth.

 

[smiley28]

@adams901 I wouldn’t recommend anything over about 140 par and I really wouldn’t be surprised if it’s the par that they can’t handle. Did you check the par when the zoas were under the hydras? Either time? The numbers where your zoas are could be different just based on each lights coverage abilities let alone their actual output.

 

[adams901]

@adams901 I wouldn’t recommend anything over about 140 par and I really wouldn’t be surprised if it’s the par that they can’t handle. Did you check the par when the zoas were under the hydras? Either time? The numbers where your zoas are could be different just based on each lights coverage abilities let alone their actual output.

No didn't have the ability to check unfortunately, I was running them at about 40% on the David Saxby settings.

I've added a couple more xr30 blue since (got them cheap and am still trying to grow SPS up top).

I've dropped the intensity to 23% after taking par readings, some of the Zoa's have opened up, they have stopped wasting away but are still not spreading.

LPS seem a lot happier and the SPS frags that have done nothing for nearly a year have encrusted a little bit.

 

[dadnjesse]

So you added more light and they look better. I wouldn't be afraid of more Par.

 

[dadnjesse]

These Zoas have spread within 4 months when I glued the Home wrecker above them.