Zoanthids and their light requirments?

[justin2895]

It took me a couple of weeks but I finally listened to all the podcast

Well I have been looking around here for a while... have finally decided to post.

I am still in the very early stages of setting up a tank, and i am reviewing my options for lighting. (NOT ANOTHER LIGHTING QUESTION!!! AHHHHH)

I really like the Zoanthids, what kind of lighting should I be looking at. I was thinking T5 but how many bulbs. Or is T5 not appropriate at all for these?

My tank is a 90 gallon. 60L X 18D X 20T acrylic

Also what other corals should I be looking at that like the same amount of light and flow?

Attached is my tank w/stand and hood. (stand and hood custom built by my father and I)


Thank you
Justin

[PSH]

Great looking stand and hood. Can't wait to see that filled.

If you are considering T5's then I 4-6 bulbs for softies/LPS. 6-8+ bulbs you could do most SPS with the right set up. If it was me I would do 2 14K or 10k 150 watt MH with 2-4 T5 actinics. Current has a really nice MH T5 combo. It will be my next light fixture, unless the price of LED's comes down to where I can afford them.

If all you plan on keeping is softies (that was my plan when I started my tank but then had to have more light) then PC fixture would be a cheaper option.

It all depends on your budget and tank goals.

[doctorthompson]

Welcome To Talking Reef, Justin,

Your hood looks a little shallow for metal halides, but as PSH stated, ~4-6 80W T5 bulbs should do you just fine for zoanthids (and many other corals). Lots of retrofit kits are available that will fit that hood.

[JR Aquatics]

WELCOME JUSTIN. Personally I would go MH but many people have had success with T5. Some zoanthids will not show their bright colors under low or moderate light. My sunflower zoas didn't show their color until I moved them under MH. ( they were originally under 500watts worth of PCon a 55gal).

[CarmieJo]

My zoas, rust with orange, blue, yellow or green centers and pink with green centers and brown fringes look good and are thriving under 50/50 PC lights.

[Raggamuffin]

I am a Zoa nut myself, I had no problems keeping them under 36w of PC in my aquapod, when I moved to a 75g tank I really did need to boost my power though. Under 520w of PC mine are happy and healthy and show most (not quite all) of thier colors. Keep in mind that some don't like as much light. My pink ones and orange LOVE being at the top of my tank but if I tried putting my green ones there they would close and never open because it's just not comfortable to them. Alot of corals are like that, you have to match them to what they like.

[gwen_o_lyn]

to TR. Very nice tank!

I find zoas to be unhappy in my nano under a MH, but they really thrive under my pc's.

[CarmieJo]

Justin,

I just realized that I answered you without saying to TR and telling you that I really like your cabinetry.

[justin2895]

thank you

here is what I have been looking at
http://www.drsfostersmith.com/Produc...&N=2004+113175
with the 8 bulb configuration

or

http://www.specialty-lights.com/960040.html

or should I go PC like some are suggesting.

Thank you
Justin

[CarmieJo]

IMO I would go with T5 over PC. I have PC and I'm saving my pennies to get the new Solaris LED or I would probably would have already upgraded.

[doctorthompson]

here is what I have been looking at
http://www.drsfostersmith.com/Produc...&N=2004+113175
with the 8 bulb configuration

Looks like a good choice if you can fit it in your hood. Is it a hood or a valence (open top)? If it isn't an open top you could look at retrofit kits to save a few $$$

[Raggamuffin]

If you can afford it go T5 over PC in my opinion. many MANY more options when it comes to light temps.

[justin2895]

ok that was what I was thinking anyways

[Amphibious]

justin2895,

to Talking Reef Community and Podcast.

I had my 135 reef lit by MH until six weeks ago and switched to the new Solaris LED system. Not only am I happy with the switch, my Zoanthids are, too. Here's a pic of them.

[justin2895]

very very nice!

I am so excited to set up a tank, im waiting for tax return season (it is just around the corner!) to fund my big ticket items like lights and a skimmer and all the other stuff thats not cheap.

[pham411]

t5s should be ok, youll know if your zoanthids are not getting enough light. they start streching upwards and not cluster to well when lighting isnt sufficent.

tank is beutiful.

[justin2895]

thank you

I think it will be ok to... my tank is only 20" high plus I am planning on using a DSB, plus the height of the live rock.

[doctorthompson]

We only have 130W of PC lighting on our 29g (18" deep) and we have a few zoanthid and protopalythoa colonies thriving and growing near the bottom of the tank. I used to spot feed the Protopalythoa (a P. grandis colony we got as a hitchhiker) once a week but they're still doing fine since I stopped a couple of months ago. I think all the zoanthids in our tank are common Zoanthus sociatus and they've been growing and spreading fine with no spot feeding. All of them have that healthy "jam-packed-with-zooxanthellae" glow to them under the actinics.

Anyways, I can't speak for any other species (at least not with any certainty) I honestly don't think you'll have any problems, light-wise, if you go with one of those 6 or 8 bulb T5 fixtures you were looking at -- heck, you may even have to trim the colonies back a bit after a year or so.

[CarmieJo]

I have a 130 & an 18 watt PC light over my 23" deep tank. My zoas sit upon my 4" DSB and are happy and growing.