Nightmare Zoas

<p>Zoanthids are a perfect coral for the newbie to the aquarists' hobby. Their appearance resembles a cluster of miniature sea anemones that often creates a hard matting appearance. While they look similar to sea anemones, Zoanthids are generally smaller with an oral disc measuring only from 1 to 2 centimeters in diameter.</p> <p>This is the water parameters in cultivating Zoas:</p> <ul> <li>Calcium: 380 - 430 ppm</li> <li>Alkalinity: 3.2 - 4.5 MEQ/L</li> <li>Phosphates: 0</li> <li>Magnesium: 1250 - 1300 ppm</li> <li>Strontium: 8 - 10</li> <li>Temperature: 72° - 82° F (22° - 27° C)</li> <li>Salinity / Specific Gravity: 1.023 - 1.025</li> </ul>

<p>In the wild, Nightmare Zoas has developed a symbiotic feeding relationship with marine algae called zooxanthellae. But in captivity, you have to feed them with nanoplankton or dissolved organics.</p>

<p>A mature tank is highly recommended in propagating Nightmare Zoas. They should be set in the middle or top part of the tank where they will receive the most amount of light.</p>

<p>Nightmare Zoas requires strong lighting and moderate water flow.</p>

<p>While the Nightmare Zoas are easy to maintain, you have to be alert for filamentous algae that can overgrow and smother their polyps. They are also prone to box snail which feeds on them, so you need to remove this particular snail from the tank. You also have to look out for large crustaceans and fish like angelfish and butterflyfish that nibbles on their tentacles.</p>

<p>Nightmare Zoas are known to possess high levels of palytoxin and vibrio bacteria, especially in their mucus. So, you need to wear gloves in handling them.</p>

<p>Nightmare Zoas are purely marine. So, therefore, salinity must be maintained thoroughly at 1.023 to 1.025 specific gravity.</p>

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