Zooanthids lighting requirements

[flanque]

Hello all,

I know this is probably species dependant, however I will ask all the same. The LFS says that 'almost all' zooanthids can survive under regular fluro lights. I told him mine (2x30w - one act, one day) and the answer was, "yeah no problem".

Suspect, I thought I'd look it up on the net. It does seem to be species dependant, but I was wondering what you folks think?

Another nice comment from him was that "pretty much" all "redish" looking corals don't need much light. Seems a little odd to me.

[melosu58]

I know that zoo`s dont need as much lights as other corals but wheather that low or not I do not know. I know my red mushrooms are at the bottom of my tank not using as much either. Dont know about the red coral thing.

[flanque]

Hmm.. perhaps someone else might have some additional details. I guess it's hard to know as you have VHO lights in probably with the corals lower down, where as I wanted to put them up the top with lower lights.

[melosu58]

Check out my gallery to see my placement

[Brenden]

I would say that is not enough for zoos but it is species specific. If you put them high enough I guess it is possible . I do not agree with the red statement. For example I have a red lobo, red trachyphyllia and also red montipora capricornis that need good light.

[flanque]

Yeah it did seem very general and made me raise an eyebrow of suspicion.

[flanque]

What about polyps? Specifically the white star polyps shown in this website:

http://www.livestockusa.org/POLYPS.html

What sort of lighting?

[seaham358]

what size tank do you have?
I have a 55 which used to be a flowr before my Kenya trees took over the reef.
55 with 2 40 watt uri bulbs one white, one actinic.
I have kenyas from top to bottom and they are doing great, I also have some hitchhicking green polyps which are living for about a month and a green shroon is doing great in the mid to lover level of the tank.
I put some green star polyps at top of the lr which is about 5" below the surface and they died in a week. So IMO the stars polyps are out with your lighting. In my reef the star will not grow into the shaded area of the tank so they need some good lighting.

[flanque]

Hi seaham358,

I have ...

Set Up: 36.25 x 14.25 x 21 inches (WxDxH), or 92.08 x 36.2 x 53.34 cm (WxDxH) 46.96 US Gallons / 39.1 UK Gallons / 177.8 Liters 2 x 36" fluros (1 blue [30W], 1 white[30W]). 45KG live rock, fine sand bed. 1 x external 1500L/hr canister filter, 4 layers (top to bottom) containing: prefilter + ammonia filter, crushed coral + black bioballs + active carbon, blue + black bioballs, blue + black bioballs. 2 x internal 1500L/hr power head. Inhabitants: 2 x Ocellaris Clowns 1 x Orange Tail Damsel 1 x Red Blenny 1 x Coral Beauty 1 x Hermit Crabs 18 x Coralmorphs 4 x Button Polyps

Do you mean "kenya tree corals" like this?

[seaham358]

Ya, thats a kenya..
What are your nitrates? This is something you need to consider when looking at corals.

[localhost]

OK my experience with my little frag under normal flourescent survive and that is it. They don't grow/propogate at all. have had mine for over 6 months. I wouldn't try it though.

[flanque]

Amonia, Nitrites and Nitrates have been zero for three years now. Phosphates has always been around 0.25ppm regardless of how much filtration, lower feed and phosphate absorbing materials i have used. Calcium is a little low at the minute and I am buffering it back to 400-450ppm. Carbonate hardness is at 190ppm.