Your First Saltwater Coral – Zoanthids, the Beginner Coral

Zoanthid corals are one to the most common corals that are kept by the beginning aquarist. This is probably the most common beginner coral, and they are equated in the saltwater community as being so easy to keep that they could grow in toilet water. While this is not true, Zoanthids can be kept in tanks that do have less than perfect water quality. Zoanthids, unlike SPS corals, actually do better in water conditions that have a higher amount of nitrates, or nutrient rich water.

Zoanthids are the perfect choice of first coral, they are easy to keep, and do not require special feedings. They can attain most of their required nutrients by filter feeding out of your water column. Zoas as they are nicknamed come in an assortment of colors, and generally grow very quickly. You can get a small zoanthid frag and have it become a full colorful colony in a matter of a few months.

When choosing your new coral purchase, make sure you look for coloration; your zoas should be very vibrant. Zoanthids that have any discoloration, or look like they are getting white could be going through something that is known as coral bleaching, or expelling their Zooxanthellae. Your coral should also be fully open, with all of its feeders/ tentacles sticking out. Zoas that are partially closed could potentially have zoanthid eating nudibranches, and if this is the case then you will be introducing a very parasitic creature into your tank that you will later regret. IF your coral is colorful open and vibrant then you can plan on buying and bringing the new addition home and acclimating it your tank by either means of floating the bag or drip acclimation. Remember that these are inverts, and that they will be very sensitive to any copper treatment. You also need to have very powerful lights so plan accordingly.

JD is a long time aquarium keeper, who is majoring in biology. For more information about purchasing new saltwater aquarium Corals or Zoanthids please Visit: http://www.reef-tanks.com/

About the Author

JD is a long time aquarium keeper, who is majoring in biology. For more information about purchasing new saltwater aquarium Corals or Zoanthids please Visit: http://www.reef-tanks.com/

How to frag corals (zoanthids)

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Dissekt-Rite Ultimate Coral Fragging Kit $64.99 New at DR Instruments: The ultimate coral fragging kit! This fragging kit consists of the essential tools to frag the wide array of corals kept in a mixed reef tank. You will have the perfect tools to quickly and precisely frag SPS, LPS, and softies! For the larger SPS, we`re including our 7″ Heavy Duty Cutter (BS70). The blades are sharp and the leverage this tool offers is incredible. Place the blades approximately 1/3 into the SPS stem you`d like to frag, give it a quick twist/compression movement, and you`ll have the perfect frag cut! Fragging smaller SPS pieces or need to get in at an angle? No problem, we`ve included our curved 4.5″ medium duty coral cutter (BSS45) for just that! This tool helps negotiate densely branched SPS and helps to make even more precise cuts.Need to frag softies? Your kit includes our 6.5″ Coral Cutting Scissors(6SS). These coral scissors makes quick and true cuts through Toadstools, Mushrooms, Leathers, and Zoanthid mat giving your new coral frag the quickest healing time possible. We`ve also included 10 General Scalpel blades (B10) with Scalpel Handle #3 (27) to assist in scraping loose frags such as Zoanthids or Ricordia off of their rock. A Microdissection scalpel (52) is included as well to assist in those hard to reach places (not shown in picture). It works great to help extract nuisance algaes as well such as bubble algae. When you`ve got your new frag and are ready to place it on that rock or glue it to that frag plug, you`ll be using either the 6″ Forceps (19) or Microdissection Forceps (18) to make placement a snap and keep that glue off your fingers! Speaking of glue, we`ve also included a tube (DR116) of IC-GEL — the best frag glue on the market! All of this is included in an easy to carry pouch designed for this kit. After you are done fragging, rinse off your tools in fresh water (to prevent chemical residue & superficial corrosion), dry them off, and place them in your pouch. You`ll know exactly where they are the next time and not have to go hunting for your fragging tools anymore!

Boston Aqua Farms Ceramic Reef Disks – 15 Count $5.99 Ceramic Reef Disks 15/BagBoston Aqua Farms Ceramic Reef Disks are designed to the same standards as the Ceramic Reef Plugs. The disk measures approximately 1 3/4″ diameter by 1/4″ thick.Boston Aqua Farms coral Reef Disks are great for Zoanthid colonies, soft corals and any frags that require a wider base to grow on.

Boston Aqua Farms Reef Discs 15 count $5.99 Boston Aqua Farms coral Reef Disks are designed to the same standards as the Reef Plugs described above. The disk measures approximately 1 3/4″ diameter by 1/4″ thick topped with the same bright reef sand.Boston Aqua Farms coral Reef Disks are great for Zoanthid colonies, soft corals and any frags that require a wider base to grow on.

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