SWfreshmen31

Yesterday I got a little frag of zoa with about 10 polyps on it. How long will it take for them to open up big like they are in everyones pictures?

SWfreshmen31

ANYBODY?? they have been open up during the day but they have increasd in size or spread to the other rock its on. ANY ADVICE?

Slug

No set time. Sometimes they open that day, sometimes it could take a week.

SWfreshmen31

how long did it take for yours to get like full size?

SWfreshmen31

i have 15w of lights they would be better at 130w right? i plan on getting an anemone in the future

ATP

You should upgrade lights fast. You're way under lighting requirements. I recommend you get power compacts.

http://www.marinedepot.com/lighting_...xtures-ap.html
http://www.marinedepot.com/lighting_...linear-ap.html
http://www.marinedepot.com/lighting_...xtures-ap.html

Wait about a year after you set up your tank before getting an anemone. They require fully cycled tanks. They are very sensitive to water parameters and it would be a pain when they die. They release massive amount of nitrates, phosphates, ammonia. You could even smell the water that's something's wrong.

They would be best under metal halides. Some people has had success with other lighting, but halides has shown the best results.

SWfreshmen31

how do you know when the coral has died?

ATP

For SPS, they turn white and for softies, they will harden

SWfreshmen31

What is zoa known as?

ATP

soft I guess

Slug

Zoas will basically just disappear when they die. Literally. They just curl and shrink to nothing.

ATP

Oh yeah. I forgot. I had this flat rock that's covered with zoas and my yellow watchman goby (I was hoping for the goby to die, but it didn't) bit it and the coral was left under a rock with no lights for half a year. Most of it died when I found it, but some of it is still living and multiplying right now.

SWfreshmen31

thanks cause its been closed up for a couple days but its because the nassurius snail and bumble bee snails keep climbing all over it so it just stays closed.

SWfreshmen31

it looks like some of the polyps r shrinking so should i take it out or give it a chance?

SWfreshmen31

some of them are now open. 48 watts of T5HO

SWfreshmen31

just to let you know it has been going great the polyps are oprn all the time and now they have yellow centers!!!