Zoas and T5's

DereksReef77 · May 5, 2016

Hello to all zoas lovers. I have a 48"×48"×16" zoa dominant tank, will only be zoas and plays within a month. I have been running t5s on the tank for 9 months now, 2 ATI fixtures one 6 bulb and one 8 bulb. I very recently changed to two 8 bulb ATI hybrids with leds. Fixtures are about 2 feet above the tank. I used most of the bulbs from the old fixtures and burned some new ones for 50 hours. I have always struggled with my zoas and am looking for some advice from some seasoned veterans. I am using blue+ on one channel each fixture so total of 8 bulbs blue+ and 4 coral+ and 4 aqua blue special on the other channel. I am running the leds only blue at 10% from 2pm-3pm then blue plus from 3-4:30pm then coral+and aqua blue special from 4:30-7:30pm then blue plus from 7:30-9pm then blue leds from 9-10pm. I am only running the t5s at 20%. Any one out there running ati hybrids over zoas that might be able to help me out. My par is like 50-60 in the middle then gets to like 30-40 on the ends with my par apogee par meter.

glb · May 5, 2016

For what it's worth, I haven't had much luck with zoas and LEDs. But lots of people have so hopefully they'll chime in!

DereksReef77 · May 6, 2016

Thanks for the input but I'm only using the blue leds for color pop in the beginning and end of the light cycle. I'm really just looking for help with the T5's as far as par values and bulb selection and mounting distance.

joshporksandwich · May 6, 2016

I have a few zoas on my T5-reef brite tank and they're at around 200 par. They're doing very good. Can you post pictures of the tank?

DereksReef77 · May 6, 2016

Hi jps I just got a new phone this week and haven't taken any pics with it yet. But I will take some later tonight and post them. I feel honored to be talking to the zoa master!!

DereksReef77 · May 6, 2016

Here's some pics

fatihmavi · May 17, 2016

under T5

masterbuilder · May 17, 2016

I agree with the previous poster. 150-200 par or so. I would drop AB Specials they seem to wash out the colors. Like you seem to be doing, I would use the led's mainly in the deep blue channels for pop.

Me and with paly/zoa I would go with 5 B+, 2 Coral+ and 1 Purple+ in each fixture. Maybe even 6 B+, 1 C+ and 1 P+. Zoas like a little bit of red provided by the P+.

Triggreef · May 17, 2016

Why quite so high up? I might try to drop them. Some in the pics look to be reaching for light. Not by much though I think everything in those pics looks happy. I definitely would not be worried by going up to 100 par at least. All my zoas are between like 100 par and 200 par (LED and T5 but for years only LED). Some such as in my frag tank are closer to 300 par and doing very well but the light cycle is shorter in that tank.

DereksReef77 · May 17, 2016

Triggreef said:
Why quite so high up? I might try to drop them. Some in the pics look to be reaching for light. Not by much though I think everything in those pics looks happy. I definitely would not be worried by going up to 100 par at least. All my zoas are between like 100 par and 200 par (LED and T5 but for years only LED). Some such as in my frag tank are closer to 300 par and doing very well but the light cycle is shorter in that tank.

Well my tank is only 16" minus sand and 1" at the top that leaves only like 13" of water. Even with the fixtures where they are at I am running them at very low intensity imo because if I go higher then all my zoas close up and shrivel to death. I don't understand it, i know they should be able to handle more light. Maybe its the aqua blue special bulbs but idk. Maybe I will get rid of them for more coral+. Should I burn all bulbs at the same time or keep them staggered like my original post. I don't get it my zoas hated my radions but they seem to like the blue leds on the ati fixtures now.

Triggreef · May 17, 2016

DereksReef77 said:
Well my tank is only 16" minus sand and 1" at the top that leaves only like 13" of water. Even with the fixtures where they are at I am running them at very low intensity imo because if I go higher then all my zoas close up and shrivel to death. I don't understand it, i know they should be able to handle more light. Maybe its the aqua blue special bulbs but idk. Maybe I will get rid of them for more coral+. Should I burn all bulbs at the same time or keep them staggered like my original post. I don't get it my zoas hated my radions but they seem to like the blue leds on the ati fixtures now.

Hmm. Yeah both my tanks are much deeper, I was comparing my par with yours but lets say there is a harmful spectrum that they don't like that is filtered by the water.... I'm sure the tank depth has a fair bit to do with it.

Another theory possible, perhaps not enough available nutrients for the amount of light your giving them. It would have to be ridiculously low nutrients though I would think.

DereksReef77 · May 17, 2016

I have 4 wrasses, 1 hiding for long time (total of 5). 3 clowns 1 damsel 1 diamond goby and 2 just added bartlet anthias. So I do feed a good amount. So much so I just recently set up an ats ( been about month I'd say) but just got a mars plant grow light led for it last friday. I feed acans and other corals by hand 1-2 times a week. Nitrates got high so vacuumed the sand. So now I've been feeding a little less so I can adjust ats with feedings. I just don't get the lighting.