​Zoanthids (Zoa / Button Polyps)

​Looking to add a carpet of mind-blowing, fluorescent colour to your reef? Zoanthids, affectionately known in the hobby as "Zoas," are an absolute staple for any aquarium.

​These fast-growing, colonial polyps come in almost every colour of the rainbow, with highly sought-after designer morphs boasting neon skirts and contrasting glowing centers. As they grow, they will rapidly encrust over your rockwork, creating a stunning, densely packed "Zoa Garden" that looks incredible under blue actinic lighting.

​At UKReef Hampshire, we highly recommend Zoas for both complete beginners and hardcore collectors alike. They are incredibly hardy, highly adaptable, and bring an instant pop of brilliant colour to the tank.

​Quick Care Guide:

• ​Care Level: Easy. They are incredibly forgiving of minor water chemistry swings, making them the perfect beginner coral.

• ​Temperament: Peaceful but fast-growing. While they don't have stingers, they grow like a vibrant weed and can eventually encrust over neighboring corals. We highly recommend placing them on an isolated rock on your sandbed (a "Zoa Island") to keep them beautifully contained!

• ​Placement: Bottom to Middle. They are happy anywhere they can grab onto rock or rubble.

• ​Lighting: Low to High. Zoas are highly adaptable. However, under moderate to high lighting, they will stay tight to the rock and show off their brightest, metallic colours. If placed in deep shade, they may "stretch" their stalks reaching for the light.

• ​Water Flow: Moderate. They need enough random flow to stop detritus and sand from settling on their polyps, which can cause them to close up.

• ​Feeding: Highly photosynthetic. While they don't require direct feeding, they will absorb nutrients from the water column and will grow noticeably faster when supplemented with coral amino acids or broadcast-fed micro-plankton.

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Safety Note: Like all Zoanthids and Palythoa, these corals can contain a naturally occurring compound called palytoxin. Always handle with care, wear gloves when propagating or moving them out of the water, and wash your hands afterwards.