Zoanthid and fish only tank

[DonW]

Anyone have a zoanthid and fish only tank. Is there any drawback to letting a tank get completely filled with zoanthids. What are the lighting requirements.

Thanks
Don

 

[nano_reeflover]

I've thought about doing this as well.

 

[joshinjosh]

the only draw back i can see is that it won't be a FO anymore a typical pc fixture will be sufficent, t5 and halides will be a step up of course, depending the size of the tank you probably could get away with NO flouresents. but remember that you might not get the colorization/growth/etc with less lighting

 

[Krish]

Don...I think that would look really cool. Brenden is setting up a zooanthid and FO tank...Maybe he'll chime in

 

[mfinn]

Anyone have a zoanthid and fish only tank. Is there any drawback to letting a tank get completely filled with zoanthids. What are the lighting requirements.

Thanks
Don

One of the most important things imo is to use q-tank for new/wild zoanthid colonies.
Adding a new colony with nudibranchs in it to the main tank can be a disaster.
I'd recommend heavy use of a zoanthid dip.
Also have a couple different types of wrasses in the tank that prey on these types of small critters will help.
It's easy to stock a zoanthid tank and to get them to grow, it's harder to keeep them preditor free.

 

[DonW]

One of the tanks that really jumps out at me is Mucho Reef's. I concidered all softies but this is probably the route my tank is going to go. I can leave the halides, clams and the few sps colonies remaining. As of now I have no actinics and they seem to be needed for visual effect of the zoanthids.
Anyone care to make a recomendation for halide bulbs and actinic set-ups?
Maybe some local sources for zoa's.

Thanks
Don

 

[big t]

You don't need actenics, but they do help a little. Try the 20k side of bulbs, they make a big difference for zoa's

 

[mfinn]

20k's are good.
I like the Hamilton 14k myself. I do use some pc actinic with mine.
Mucho was big on using a dip and q-tank.

 

[DonW]

You don't need actenics, but they do help a little. Try the 20k side of bulbs, they make a big difference for zoa's

XM's ok? Found them for $65ea.

Don

 

[big t]

The 14k hamiltons are good, but don't look that great without actenics. Xm 20's do look pretty nice. I just ordered some bulbs and I will let you know how good they look. I got EVC 14k's for $50 each.

 

[DonW]

The 14k hamiltons are good, but don't look that great without actenics. Xm 20's do look pretty nice. I just ordered some bulbs and I will let you know how good they look. I got EVC 14k's for $50 each.

I ordered 2 xm's. I may try to get by with just the 2 bulbs and see what happens. I guess if its not enough for the clams I can turn the third on.

Don