All Zoa Tanks??

premilove

Active Member
hey I also want to do a all zoo tank. do I need anything in particular? i have a Current USA nova extreme T-5 light fixture and 2 koralia #1s..Filter wise, I have a HOB emperor 280 but I am searching for a new filter maybe a refugium? What kind of filter is needed to keep an all zoo tank?
 

flricordia

Active Member
What size tank? 10gl or 500g? A refugium will make keeping about anything much easier. Depending on the size tank will determin if the koralins are enough flow same witht he depth of the tank.
 

premilove

Active Member
sorry i should have mentioned that. My tank is a 29 hex. it is almost 20 " high. Depth, i think it was close to 18 " i am not sure
 

premilove

Active Member
i forgot to add that i have a aqua clear 30 that i keep towards the bottom to allow all that junk to be circulated towards the filter..
 

flricordia

Active Member
That setup should do fine to start with. As long as you have the right amount of LR, a full cycle, preferably a refugium, which you could modify the Emperor for that and you probably also need some surface skimming. Depending on the fish load whether you will need a protien skimmer or not. If you are planning to have fish and feeding you will more-than-likely need one. Idealy if the back of the tank could be drilled near the top for a 1" bulkhead to surface skim down to a sump/refugium where you could put a small protien skimmer, heater, auto top-off and return pump, you could have a nice set-up.
Didn't see where you listed the light wattage either. Probably a 2x24wt? If so would be OK for zoas mid to top, but 20" deep is iffy on 2x24wt. Might be OK for low light zoas.
 

flricordia

Active Member
never heard of a 20wt T5 but that doesn't mean much. Is it an 18" fixture? Maybe the 18" ones are 20wt. I haven't seen the bulbs in them myself. The 18" are fairly new addition to the T5s.
I would think that would be enough to keep zoas alive just fine. Later down the road if it looks like they could use more light you could always add another fixtrue of T5s or PCs. Maybe even a MH pendant. But that would be fine for most all zoas. They do not need intense lighting like sps and most lps. Wouldn't be enough for clams or anemones but for zoas should be OK. You will jsut need to keep an eye on them and if the stalks of the zoas begin streatching might need to add more light.
 

premilove

Active Member
yeah it was an 18 inch..this wouldnt work for anemones? what would work? i ordered 2 mini anemones from someone off the site..will they die?
 

flricordia

Active Member
Depends on what mini anemones are. I don't know. You may want to go to the Clownfish and Anemone forum and ask there. I would say it is not enough light though. Would need at the min 2x what you have though I wouldn't personally keep an anemone such as a bubble tip without metal halide.
It is good to research and ask questions before-hand. We all have made the mistake of getting livestock that will not do well for one reason or another, I know I did before the internet was available (yes, I am an oldie reef keeping before cell phones and home computers...even power compact lighting). No excuses now though. Check over on that forum and I bet you will find out.
 

premilove

Active Member
that's the thing. i have another tank , 75g with a coral lite light fixture, worse comes to worse ill stick the minis in there..
 
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