Best way to set up a ZOA friendly tank?????

[Mike]

I am getting a custom starphire 40 gallon for ZOa's, Chalices and Euphyllia. I am going to be using a dimmable LED array for lighting and will have a sump. My question is how aggressive does the skimmer need to be? I have had a hard time in the SPS tank with ZOA's and I think it is because there is so little for them to feed on though I could be wrong. SO help an Acro nut out here

[Mike]

I was thinking of getting a small SWC cone for the tank and running it 12 hours a day when the lights are off.

[ReeferRob]

Ya, I wouldn't go nuts on a skimmer. Those corals like their water rich.

[Mike]

I am going to go with the small SWC cone for this one

[Sir Patrick]

12 hours a day- while the lights are off is a great idea- with a skimmer of that calibre!!

When it comes to polyps (zoas, palys, ect..) a nutrient rich system is best. Mind you- nutrient rich doesnt mean dirty water (nitrates, po4, ect). Dirty water and nutrient rich are 2 very different things! Gotta admit though- polyps of many varieties can handle some dirty conditions, just dont look as good as they could under these circumstances.

In most cases, higher levels of po4 and no3 can cause polyps colors to not look as nice as they could. Much like sps- their colors can brown out. Growth can, in some cases, be stunted also.

When I say nutrient rich, I mean water with usable nutrients suspended in the water column, often, to be used by said polyps, but skimmed/filtered before they have a good chance of breaking down in the tank and causing dirty water. This is one of the reasons we have in the past heard that zoas dont do well in ULNS's, and the whole zoas do great w/ vitamine c (just another form of pro-biotics). The ULNS of the past were overskimmed, and lightly fed- and the probiotics have low nutrients and plenty of "food" for the polyps to thrive on.

alk swings are no good- and can cause issues- so keep an eye on that. Temp swings can bring on zoa poxs- so stay away from that, and lighting needs to be varied in the tank. There needs to be very intence areas, as well as low light/shade areas- for the varying needs of the different types of polys and their very different needs. Also- random, indirect flow is a huge plus!!

Looking forward to seeing this new tank up and running!!

[Mike]

I am pretty excited myself to see how this will turn out.

[Sir Patrick]

The maxijet wavemaker would do a great job randomizing some flow in that tank!!

[Wy Renegade]

Is this one up and running yet? Curious as to results.

[Sir Patrick]

I am curious also!

[Sir Patrick]

Still a work in progress? Would love to hear what ya got planned!!