Some Simple Tips for Keeping Zoanthids Happy, Healthy, and Growing Fast

[Pola0502ds]

Furan 2, i found some in powder form by API. @that Reef Guy what are mixing instructions and dip times?

Also, what else can be used for bacteria/Fungus?

 

[that Reef Guy]

Your write-up pretty much covers it in a clean well formatted outline. My wish would be a "little" more detail... not too much though ;-) ...What do you keep your nutrient levels at...or do you even measure? Also - how is "high" light defined?

Thanks again for an awesome post!

Thank You

Yes, I Test (Alot)

I test Alkalinity Every Day on all my Tanks (One Tank has to Be Tested and Dosed 2 to 4 Times a Day !!!!)

Temperature - 78 Degrees
Salinity - 1.026
PH - 8.1
Alkalinity - 8.5
Calcium - 480
Magnesium - 1440
Ammonia - 0
Nitrite - 0
Nitrate - 5 to 20 Depending on the Tank

 

[that Reef Guy]

Furan 2, i found some in powder form by API. @that Reef Guy what are mixing instructions and dip times?

Also, what else can be used for bacteria/Fungus?

The Normal Dip Amount and Time are on

http://zoaid.org/zoapox-zoa-pox-the-search-for-the-cause-and-cure/

I use a Longer Dip with Less Furan to Save Money

Both Methods are Dip 3 Days in a Row and Wait 4 Days (Repeat if Necessary).

Normal Dip is 15 Minutes (I Do 60 Minutes).

I was Doing 2 Scoops / Packs per Gallon.

Normal Method is like 10 (I Think - Been Quite a While Since I have Had POX).

 

[myboyblu]

how do you get nitrates?

I have found as well that keeping zero nitrates will stunt or slow my zoa and LPS growth. Keeping it around 5-10 and regular water changes has led to a major boost in growth. As well as maintaining consistent parameters. Thanks for the insight!!

 

[myboyblu]

how do you get nitrates? mine stay at zero

 

[ReeferMaddness843]

I joined the 0 trate club a while back myself. But, I've heard stump remover from lowes is a good supplement. As far as dosing, I don't know that exactly.

 

[Sagecritter4life]

@that Reef Guy I have a Illuminati frag that seems to be reaching? everything else seems okay in QT tank (cheap 20 long with cheap lighting sigh as just getting started) It is the frag next to the Yuma on right in the picture...should I move it up even though rest seem content? Using Reef Roids 2x week and 5ppm NO3 steady.

 

[Triggreef]

@that Reef Guy I have a Illuminati frag that seems to be reaching? everything else seems okay in QT tank (cheap 20 long with cheap lighting sigh as just getting started) It is the frag next to the Yuma on right in the picture...should I move it up even though rest seem content? Using Reef Roids 2x week and 5ppm NO3 steady.

just move it more into the middle and that alone will increase the PAR that its getting

 

[that Reef Guy]

how do you get nitrates?

-Waste
-Food
-Not being able to export the Nitrates you got from the above two.

 

[that Reef Guy]

@that Reef Guy I have a Illuminati frag that seems to be reaching? everything else seems okay in QT tank (cheap 20 long with cheap lighting sigh as just getting started) It is the frag next to the Yuma on right in the picture...should I move it up even though rest seem content? Using Reef Roids 2x week and 5ppm NO3 steady.

Up to you but keep and eye on it.

If it looks like it is getting stressed bring it back down to where it was.

 

[Rob Romalino]

I have Talked To and Read About quite a few People who have been Having Trouble Keeping Zoanthids so I decided to Make this Thread to Help them Out.



Here are My Tips for Happy, Healthy, and Fast Growing Zoanthids.

1. Bayer Dip
2. Keep Everything Stable
3. Feed, Feed, Feed
4. Higher Light and Higher Flow (Generally Speaking)
5. Keep an Eye Out for POX
6. Do Regular Water Changes
7. Don't Buy Animals that Might Go After Zoanthids





1. Bayer Dip -

- No Coral (And I mean no Coral) goes into my Tank without an Aggressive Bayer Dip for 15 Minutes.
- Then I check for Eggs with a High Powered Magnifying Glass with a Built in LED Light Used by Coin Collectors.
- Bayer Kills the Pests but Does NOT Kill the Eggs.
- Zoanthids are Targeted by More Pests than any Other Coral (Nudibranches, Spiders, Sundial Snails, etc.)

http://www.zoaid.com/index.php?module=Gallery2&g2_itemId=384

See the Above Link for all things that can Kill Your Zoanthids!

P.S. I put a 6 Line Wrasse in Every Tank as they LOVE to Eat Pests. Without Fail Every Time I add a New Frag the 6 Line Wrasse Swims Over and Sticks His Nose in Every Nook and Cranny Inspecting for Pests. These Guys are AMAZING and Every Tank Tank Should have a 6 Line Wrasse for Pest Control!




2. Keep Everything Stable -

For Me
Temperature - 77 Degrees
Salinity - 1.026
Alkalinity - 8.5
Calcium - 480
Magnesium - 1440

- Test, Test, Test (I cannot Stress this Enough).
- I Test and Dose Every Day on 6 Tanks (2 of the Tanks I Test and Dose Twice a Day - Once in the Morning and Once at Night).
- My Alkalinity Does not Drop more than 0.3 a Day.
- Remember Alkalinity is Depleted more than anything Else in a Reef Tank and is the Most Important thing to Keep Stable which is Why I Test So Much.




3. Feed, Feed, Feed -

- Don't Listen to anybody that says you should have Zero Nitrate and Zero Phosphate with Zoanthids.
- They LOVE Food!
- I feed 3 Times a Week.


I Feed 4 Different Foods to my Corals

1. Reef Roids
2. BRS Reef Chili
3. Seachem AquaVitro Fuel (Vitamin and Ammino Acid Supplement)
4. Larry's Reef Frenzy Frozen Food (LRS)


Here is my Feeding Schedule

Tuesday -

- Reef Roids
- BRS Reef Chili
- Seachem AquaVitro Fuel (Vitamin and Ammino Acid Supplement)

I mix all 3 Together in some Tank Water

Friday -

- Reef Roids
- BRS Reef Chili
- Seachem AquaVitro Fuel (Vitamin and Ammino Acid Supplement)

I mix all 3 Together in some Tank Water

Sunday -

- Larry's Reef Frenzy Frozen Food (LRS)

LRS is more for my Acans and Chalices which I Target Feed after Chopping it Up Fine with a Razor Blade but there are Fine Particle Coral Foods in LRS that the Zoanthids can Use.




4. Higher Light and Higher Flow (Generally Speaking) -

Unfortunately alot of people will Classify Softies like Zoanthids as Low Light / Low Flow Corals.

I think this is at least Partly Due to the Fact that Softies are More Forgiving Corals than SPS and LPS and a Lot of New People are Told to Start with these Corals when they enter the Hobby. Most people when starting out typically do not have a lot of light and flow so I think alot of LFS's just tell the New Hobbyist this because they know the Corals will Probably not Die on Them.

Now they may Live in These Conditions and Tolerate Low Light / Low Flow but they will not Thrive and be Healthy and Grow Fast in these Conditions.

- Remember not all Zoanthids are the Same.
- Some will do better in Lower Light and Flow.
- But in My Experience Most will Grow Faster, Have Bigger Polyps, and Better Color in Higher Light / Higher Flow Tanks.




5. Keep an Eye Out for POX -

I used to get Pox Outbreaks Quite Often When I Did Not Feed My Corals and Had Zero Nitrate and Zero Phosphate.

But Since I have been Feeding Heavily I have never gotten it so I feel that Poorly Fed Zoanthids are Prone to POX because of this.

I have also Read that some people feel that it comes from Changing of the Seasons or Temperature Drops in the Tank and I have noticed POX from both of these Situations (Fall to Winter and Spring to Summer Time, Power Goes Out and Temperature Drops - Boom POX the Next Day).

Thank God I do not get POX anymore (What a Nightmare)

If you get POX Dip the Zoanthids in Furan-2

Furan-2 can be found at your LFS (It is usually used to Treat Fungus on Freshwater Fish)

- Dip Once a Day for 3 Days in a Row.
- Wait 4 Days and if POX is still there Repeat.




6. Do Regular Water Changes -

- Do Water Changes on a Regular Basis.
- Water Changes will Help Take Out Excess Nutrients.
- They also help Replace Minerals that were Used Up in Coral Growth (Calcium, Magnesium, Strontium, etc.)




7. Don't Buy Animals that Might Go After Zoanthids -

- Angelfish
- Butterflies
- Foxface (Rabbitfish)





Hopefully these Tips will Help Some People Out that are Having Issues Keeping Zoanthids

Great

 

[Rob Romalino]

Great info!!!

 

[ilan84]

Zoas dont need direct feeding so much to grow and multiply quick. Feeding the fishes every day and keeping nitrates and phosphates in check is enough.
They just love it when nitrates are around 5 and phosphates around 0,05.
You can achieve that by adding food, but food also brings organic waste and in alot of cases some unwanted metals too.
Thats why i dose it in pure form calcium/nitrate and also phosphates.
Zoas are still happy, but many more advantages for me, thats why i dont need to do water changes for example.

 

[DJO]

Thanks for the article. Can you send a version of your link that works in Chrome. The link generates a 404 error.

http://www.zoaid.com/index.php?module=Gallery2&g2_itemId=384

I have trouble with high phosphate and low nitrate. I am feeding my tubastrea and Duncan corals brine shrimp, chopped scallops every one -2 days (no fish at the moment) and adding "Fuel" onece or twice a week. I have old rocks and I think they are leaching phosphate and GFO does not help.
I think that the nitrate is used up by the hair algae and bacteria that break down the unused food. I have tried some zoas but they are not growing.

 

[T2Play]

These are at the top of my tank and I have some at the bottom, they are always reaching.

@that Reef Guy I have a Illuminati frag that seems to be reaching? everything else seems okay in QT tank (cheap 20 long with cheap lighting sigh as just getting started) It is the frag next to the Yuma on right in the picture...should I move it up even though rest seem content? Using Reef Roids 2x week and 5ppm NO3 steady.

[/QUOTE

 

[Sagecritter4life]

These are at the top of my tank and I have some at the bottom, they are always reaching.

Awesome looking tank ;-) and thanks for the feedback

 

[wattson]

These are at the top of my tank and I have some at the bottom, they are always reaching.

more flow and a little more light..

 

[Katy did]

I have Talked To and Read About quite a few People who have been Having Trouble Keeping Zoanthids so I decided to Make this Thread to Help them Out.



Here are My Tips for Happy, Healthy, and Fast Growing Zoanthids.

1. Bayer Dip
2. Keep Everything Stable
3. Feed, Feed, Feed
4. Higher Light and Higher Flow (Generally Speaking)
5. Keep an Eye Out for POX
6. Do Regular Water Changes
7. Don't Buy Animals that Might Go After Zoanthids





1. Bayer Dip -

- No Coral (And I mean no Coral) goes into my Tank without an Aggressive Bayer Dip for 15 Minutes.
- Then I check for Eggs with a High Powered Magnifying Glass with a Built in LED Light Used by Coin Collectors.
- Bayer Kills the Pests but Does NOT Kill the Eggs.
- Zoanthids are Targeted by More Pests than any Other Coral (Nudibranches, Spiders, Sundial Snails, etc.)

http://www.zoaid.com/index.php?module=Gallery2&g2_itemId=384

See the Above Link for all things that can Kill Your Zoanthids!

P.S. I put a 6 Line Wrasse in Every Tank as they LOVE to Eat Pests. Without Fail Every Time I add a New Frag the 6 Line Wrasse Swims Over and Sticks His Nose in Every Nook and Cranny Inspecting for Pests. These Guys are AMAZING and Every Tank Tank Should have a 6 Line Wrasse for Pest Control!




2. Keep Everything Stable -

For Me
Temperature - 77 Degrees
Salinity - 1.026
Alkalinity - 8.5
Calcium - 480
Magnesium - 1440

- Test, Test, Test (I cannot Stress this Enough).
- I Test and Dose Every Day on 6 Tanks (2 of the Tanks I Test and Dose Twice a Day - Once in the Morning and Once at Night).
- My Alkalinity Does not Drop more than 0.3 a Day.
- Remember Alkalinity is Depleted more than anything Else in a Reef Tank and is the Most Important thing to Keep Stable which is Why I Test So Much.




3. Feed, Feed, Feed -

- Don't Listen to anybody that says you should have Zero Nitrate and Zero Phosphate with Zoanthids.
- They LOVE Food!
- I feed 3 Times a Week.


I Feed 4 Different Foods to my Corals

1. Reef Roids
2. BRS Reef Chili
3. Seachem AquaVitro Fuel (Vitamin and Ammino Acid Supplement)
4. Larry's Reef Frenzy Frozen Food (LRS)


Here is my Feeding Schedule

Tuesday -

- Reef Roids
- BRS Reef Chili
- Seachem AquaVitro Fuel (Vitamin and Ammino Acid Supplement)

I mix all 3 Together in some Tank Water

Friday -

- Reef Roids
- BRS Reef Chili
- Seachem AquaVitro Fuel (Vitamin and Ammino Acid Supplement)

I mix all 3 Together in some Tank Water

Sunday -

- Larry's Reef Frenzy Frozen Food (LRS)

LRS is more for my Acans and Chalices which I Target Feed after Chopping it Up Fine with a Razor Blade but there are Fine Particle Coral Foods in LRS that the Zoanthids can Use.




4. Higher Light and Higher Flow (Generally Speaking) -

Unfortunately alot of people will Classify Softies like Zoanthids as Low Light / Low Flow Corals.

I think this is at least Partly Due to the Fact that Softies are More Forgiving Corals than SPS and LPS and a Lot of New People are Told to Start with these Corals when they enter the Hobby. Most people when starting out typically do not have a lot of light and flow so I think alot of LFS's just tell the New Hobbyist this because they know the Corals will Probably not Die on Them.

Now they may Live in These Conditions and Tolerate Low Light / Low Flow but they will not Thrive and be Healthy and Grow Fast in these Conditions.

- Remember not all Zoanthids are the Same.
- Some will do better in Lower Light and Flow.
- But in My Experience Most will Grow Faster, Have Bigger Polyps, and Better Color in Higher Light / Higher Flow Tanks.




5. Keep an Eye Out for POX -

I used to get Pox Outbreaks Quite Often When I Did Not Feed My Corals and Had Zero Nitrate and Zero Phosphate.

But Since I have been Feeding Heavily I have never gotten it so I feel that Poorly Fed Zoanthids are Prone to POX because of this.

I have also Read that some people feel that it comes from Changing of the Seasons or Temperature Drops in the Tank and I have noticed POX from both of these Situations (Fall to Winter and Spring to Summer Time, Power Goes Out and Temperature Drops - Boom POX the Next Day).

Thank God I do not get POX anymore (What a Nightmare)

If you get POX Dip the Zoanthids in Furan-2

Furan-2 can be found at your LFS (It is usually used to Treat Fungus on Freshwater Fish)

- Dip Once a Day for 3 Days in a Row.
- Wait 4 Days and if POX is still there Repeat.




6. Do Regular Water Changes -

- Do Water Changes on a Regular Basis.
- Water Changes will Help Take Out Excess Nutrients.
- They also help Replace Minerals that were Used Up in Coral Growth (Calcium, Magnesium, Strontium, etc.)




7. Don't Buy Animals that Might Go After Zoanthids -

- Angelfish
- Butterflies
- Foxface (Rabbitfish)





Hopefully these Tips will Help Some People Out that are Having Issues Keeping Zoanthids

 

[Katy did]

What is Pox? Can you post a pic?

 

[that Reef Guy]

Great info!!!

Thank You