How do you keep Zoanthids happy??

[TomV]

I got some Zoanthids (Button Polyps) exactly one week ago today and a couple, at first, had their polyps fully extended.

But that only lasted for a day or two. Since then, they have stayed as you see them here: open, but with polyps only slightly extended...

So, what can I do to get these little guys to color up and extend?

Should I buy something to feed them? What should I feed them? Should I feed them directly?

My water params are where they should be with only a slight bit of nitrates. Temp is 78 and SG is 1.025. Also, this is in my 10g Nano tank. All the other corals seem to be doing well except for these.

What can I do?

[mnreefman]

ime spot feeding em once a week or once everyother week with some meaty food or cycolpeeze, good light, and good flow, that will get you great results... imo these also like water a little higher in nutrients hth...

[Travis]

These do like higher nutrient water. However, Tom, if you've got some nitrates I'd venture to guess you'v e already got that. I'm also a bit concerned about feeding zoanthids when you've got nitrates already, and I remember seeing some hair algae in your photos as well (correct me if I'm worng...). I have a 20L prop tank, skimmerless, with zos in it and some hair algae and the last thing I would do right now is try to feed the zoanthids. I would try increasing the flow to them and see how that does- it's easy, and doesn't require you putting more nutrients into your system.

Zoanthids in general do not need feeding, especially in a tank with some nutrients already. The only reason to feed them IMO is to accelerate growth, and that's a luxury that should be tried only in a lower-nutrient, algae-free system. If you feed the zoanthids, you'll be feeding the algae as well.

In short, increase flow, give them time, and see what happens. Unless straight from the wild, zoanthids take a very long time to die off.

Just my opinion, of course.

Travis

[TomV]

OK.. I'll try the flow idea.