Practical, step-by-step guides to keeping zoanthids and palythoa healthy. Start with the topic you need:
- Lighting: Zoanthids do best under moderate, steady light, and new frags should always start lower and work their way up.
- Water Flow: Moderate, indirect flow keeps zoanthids clean and open without pinning their polyps shut.
- Water Parameters: Zoanthids tolerate a wide range of conditions, but stable salinity, temperature, and alkalinity matter more than chasing perfect numbers.
- Feeding: Zoanthids get most of their energy from light, but light feeding can speed growth and help colonies recover.
- Fragging: Fragging zoanthids is simple, but it should always be done underwater with gloves and eye protection.
- Pests: Most zoanthid pests come in on new frags, so quarantine and careful inspection prevent most problems.
- Dipping: A coral dip knocks off pests before they reach your display, but it only works if you repeat it and inspect carefully.
- Palytoxin Safety: Palytoxin is a serious hazard, but simple precautions greatly reduce the risk when keeping zoanthids and palythoa.