Upset zoa?

[Bkimberlin14]

Picked up an utter chaos frag from the lfs a few days ago. Noticed it was more brown than black and vibrant in my tank..
Just wondering if I should move it for more/less light or if it is fine and the expensive lfs lights fooled me again?

Thanks!

 

[Capitol Reef Corals]

How old is your tank and how long has it been in one spot in your tank? I would leave them alone for a while before you go about moving them. I have multiple colonies of Utter Chaos in my tanks and I think yours are pretty typical, except probably less of the red colors. I find that zoas like more of a blue spectrum instead of a white spectrum and will open up the best. What type of lights do you run and do you know your spectrum or par?

 

[Bkimberlin14]

How old is your tank and how long has it been in one spot in your tank? I would leave them alone for a while before you go about moving them. I have multiple colonies of Utter Chaos in my tanks and I think yours are pretty typical, except probably less of the red colors. I find that zoas like more of a blue spectrum instead of a white spectrum and will open up the best. What type of lights do you run and do you know your spectrum or par?

Tank is 3 months old, It’s been in that spot for 3 days.

I have the light that came with my tank (Aqueon OptiBright LED). No idea as far as spectrum/par goes. I was told it could handle some med-low light coral depending on placement.

I’ve been looking at the Current USA Orbit or the Fluval Marine & Reef as an upgrade but not sure where to go as I can’t really hang a light above the tank.

 

[LouisianaReef]

I had a Current USA IC light and unless you plan on keeping nothing but zoas, I would stay away from them. They are great lights, but simply do not put out much par.

 

[Capitol Reef Corals]

I also find that Utter Chaos in particular tend to like higher PAR. I'd give it a few more days in that spot since they don't look bad or that stressed to me. If they don't look good after that I'd try to move them up more or purchase a better light. I tend to love the AI lights.

 

[Bkimberlin14]

I had a Current USA IC light and unless you plan on keeping nothing but zoas, I would stay away from them. They are great lights, but simply do not put out much par.

Good to know before I ordered, thank you!

 

[Bkimberlin14]

I also find that Utter Chaos in particular tend to like higher PAR. I'd give it a few more days in that spot since they don't look bad or that stressed to me. If they don't look good after that I'd try to move them up more or purchase a better light. I tend to love the AI lights.

Okay I’ll give that a shot. I did notice the lfs had there’s rather high in the tank.
The AI lights are very nice I just wish they weren’t so expensive.

Do you have to hang them?

 

[Capitol Reef Corals]

Okay I’ll give that a shot. I did notice the lfs had there’s rather high in the tank.
The AI lights are very nice I just wish they weren’t so expensive.

Do you have to hang them?

I have 6 AI Primes over my display and frag tanks, they grow zoas extremely well and I am very pleased with them. I highly recommend them. You don't have to hang those you can mount them to the tank like in my profile pic. I do not recommend the goose neck mounts as I have had difficulty with them, I recommend the hard metal mounts instead.