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

[that Fish Guy]

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?modul...&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.

Tuesday -

1. Reef Roids
2 BRS Reef Chili
3. Seachem AquaVitro Fuel Vitamin and Ammino Acid Supplement

I mix all 3 Together in some Tank Water

Friday -

1. Reef Roids
2 BRS Reef Chili
3. Seachem AquaVitro Fuel Vitamin and Ammino Acid Supplement

I mix all 3 Together in some Tank Water

Sunday -

1. 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

[zoobie88]

Great information

Sent from my SM-G920R4 using Tapatalk

[that Fish Guy]

Originally Posted by zoobie88

Great information

Sent from my SM-G920R4 using Tapatalk

Thank You.

Glad You Like It

[Sweitz1972]

Sticky this, great info. Im a new hobbyist and love the zoas, this will be my go to for sure.

[Monkeypod]

Thank for the great info. It's time to move my zoa's higher up on my rocks.

[that Fish Guy]

Originally Posted by Sweitz1972

Sticky this, great info. Im a new hobbyist and love the zoas, this will be my go to for sure.

I am Glad you Like It

[that Fish Guy]

Originally Posted by Monkeypod

Thank for the great info. It's time to move my zoa's higher up on my rocks.

Your Welcome

[JohnnyHildo]

i agree completely!
one thing i also notice people debate is IMO the misconception/misinterpretation is that zoas like "dirty water". i'm finding no trouble keeping them thriving in a system that has weekly 10% water changes, new filter floss every 2 days, strong flow and that is well skimmed.

[plecoco]

Thanks for this guide!

[scallywags]

sorry maybe noob question but "Bayer Dip"is what exactly?? I have a few ideas and i'm sure one is correct and the rest are silly and wrong. cheers and thank you

[that Fish Guy]

Originally Posted by plecoco

Thanks for this guide!

Your Welcome

[that Fish Guy]

Originally Posted by scallywags

sorry maybe noob question but "Bayer Dip"is what exactly?? I have a few ideas and i'm sure one is correct and the rest are silly and wrong. cheers and thank you

Your Welcome

Bayer Dip is a Dip in Bayer Insecticide (Lowe's, Home Depot, Walmart. etc).

There are a few Types (Get Soil and Turf).

I posted a Picture Below of the Bayer you want to use.

It is the Least Stressful Dip for Coral as well as the Most Effective Dip against Coral Pests (Nudibranches, Red Bugs, AEFW, etc.)

There are Different Recipes.

I Do

1 Gallon Saltwater
4 Ounces Bayer

15 Minutes

I have a Powerhead in there (Koralia 240) for Movement
I also use a Turkey Baster

Then Rinse in Saltwater.

Then I inspect for Eggs with a High Powered LED Magnifying Glass that is Used by Coin Collectors.

Remember NO Dip Kills Eggs even though some Advertise that they do.

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[that Fish Guy]

If anybody has any Questions on Anything Please Post them.

[scallywags]

So what about initial care and placement. I will be starting monday-wednesday adding some zoas. After the dip and everything, should i have lights on/off, flow high/low/off, placement. I'm guessing start low and bring then up gradually (How low, I have weird tank dimensions for a 35g (18x19x24) with AI nano's . Should I start feeding right away? I was also curious if care will be a little different if i am getting a frag for 2 or 3 polyps compared to something with 10-15. thanks and im appologize for th zillion questions... im just excited

[that Fish Guy]

Originally Posted by scallywags

So what about initial care and placement. I will be starting monday-wednesday adding some zoas. After the dip and everything, should i have lights on/off, flow high/low/off, placement. I'm guessing start low and bring then up gradually (How low, I have weird tank dimensions for a 35g (18x19x24) with AI nano's . Should I start feeding right away? I was also curious if care will be a little different if i am getting a frag for 2 or 3 polyps compared to something with 10-15. thanks and im appologize for th zillion questions... im just excited

Care is the same regardless of Polyp Count.

Since your Tank is High I would Put the Zoanthids Higher Up because After the First 12 Inches PAR Tends to Drop off Quite a Bit and your Tank is 24 Inches Tall.

Zoanthids usually can take alot of Light.

When I get New Zoanthids I put them anywhere from 6-12 Inches Under the Light.

[rickztahone]

Great write up. May I ask, after the dip, how exactly are you using your loopa? I know it is a silly question to ask but you aren't leaving the zoas out of water and inspecting them right?

[that Fish Guy]

Originally Posted by rickztahone

Great write up. May I ask, after the dip, how exactly are you using your loopa? I know it is a silly question to ask but you aren't leaving the zoas out of water and inspecting them right?

Thank You

I put them in Another Tank that has No Zoanthids and I Inspect them in the Water Through the Glass.

[that Fish Guy]

Some People asked for Pictures of my Zoanthids so Here they are.






Bloodsuckers



Candy Apple Reds

[that Fish Guy]

Frozen Armageddon



Fruit Loops



Fruit Loops



Fruit Loops



Gobstoppers

[that Fish Guy]

Gobstoppers



Ice Armageddon



Mello Yellow and White Walkers



Mindblowing Paly's



Mohawks

[that Fish Guy]

Monarchs



Monarchs



My Clementines



Pink Constellations



Pink Constellations

[that Fish Guy]

Pink Hippo / Chuckies Bride



Pink Krakatoa



Pink Zippers



Rainbow Rhino



Raptors Rainbow

[that Fish Guy]

Rastas



Rick Sawz



Space Monsters



Sunny D's



Mello Yellow

[that Fish Guy]

Mello Yello



Tyree Orange Rainbow



Utter Chaos



Utter Chaos



Vampire Paly's

[that Fish Guy]

Vampire Paly's



Vamps in Drag



Vivid Rainbow



White Walkers



Wow Paly's