15G Zoa tank

[sunce_22]

So over the last year, I thought it was finally time to start my own zoa tank. My other nano tanks have typically been fish only, although one does have some star polyps in there. I decided it was time to take the plunge, spend the money and start a tank just for corals.

Finally deciding on a 15 gallon tank, it was time to start putting it together. I used 20lbs of live sand, it is white with black in it as well (wanted something a little different).
Then the supplies, we got an acrylic lid custom cut for the top of the tank. It had to be acrylic because my cats have a bad habit of walking ontop of my tanks to look at them, and i didn't want them ending up inside.

We added a 50W stealth heater, I chose that one because it is black and basically shatter proof. I have used it in all of my mantis tanks and it works great, the temp never fluctuates and I love that it doesn't have a red light that turns on and off!

We are trying a new salt instead of the one I was using on my other tanks. This one is D-D H2Ocean! I have heard amazing things from the LFS so I thought I would give it try...

After a trip to the local fish store we picked up 2 peices of beautiful thick branching type rock. It weighed 18 pounds and was only 6.99 per pound!!

Will add pics later and give you update on planned live stock!!

[Boomboy]

thats awesome, i always wanted to do a small scale for just corals but having only one tank i cant resist the urge for putting fish in there. i love the look of a mature zoa tank and having them all mish mashed against each other. cant wait to see what it looks like.

[sunce_22]

Got a couple pics:

These were the liverock quality inspectors! They had to check it out!
http://www.canreef.com/vbulletin/attachment.php?attachmentid=4118&stc=1&d=1237765073

FTS 30 mins after set up!

http://www.canreef.com/vbulletin/attachment.php?attachmentid=4119&stc=1&d=1237765073

Tell me what you think! The light is temporary until we pick up a 24" 4 Bulb T5 HO light fixture! I'm really excited about this tank!

[Pazil]

pics don't seem to be working for me

[sunce_22]

Ah! your right, I dont see them either, I will try again once I get home! Sorry guys, new at posting pics haha

[sunce_22]

First pic is the quality inspectors, who felt a need to check out the box as soon as it landed in the house!

Second is the full tank shot!

I hope this works this time I tried putting them on there as attachments. Let me know what you think?

[Myka]

Very nice rock! Where did you get it?

[sunce_22]

Thanks! I got it from Oceans Aquatics. I love the thick branching type rock, whenever I see some I instantly want to buy it, even when I dont have the space lol :wink:

[Myka]

Wow, very nice. What do they sell it for there?

[sunce_22]

I think it was 6.99/pound? lots of selection which was nice

[rocketlily]

Those rocks are going to be perfect for a zoanthid tank. Good choices, this is going to be a very nice tank.

[sunce_22]

Thanks. We have been considering many different "decorating" options. One idea would be a themed tank (blue, red or green) another option was getting all nice zoas and putting them in the tank based on colour groups. Or simply putting them in by deciding what looks good where at the time...

What do you guys think?

[rocketlily]

I think doing a themed color tank will really limit your choices. When doing my 10 gal nano for the contest, I first put them in where I thought they would look good, but had to rearrange if they didn't like the light or the flow.

[sunce_22]

yeah I am thinking we are going to go with randoms. Whatever looks good and it happy in its spot.

GETTING THE LIGHT FIXTURE TONIGHT! So excited! Will take pics of it and post them as soon as we get home!

[sunce_22]

So we got the fixture last night! Its an Aquamedic Oceanlight 4X24 T5 HO fixture. We are going to buy bulbs this week. We were thinking 2 10,00 K and 2 actinic.

Will post pics once we get the bulbs.
Would that be the best combo of bulbs for zoas?

[karazy]

tank looks great!

if it was me, for bulbs i'd get (in this order in the fixture)

KZ new generation(14K)
KZ Fiji purple
KZ coral light
KZ new generation(14K)