OK here are some thoughts on this.

First of all to keep that type of anemone alive and thriving for so long is an achievement most people couldn't hope for, I would consider it a success and not a failure. The idea of a huge group of clowns hosting in that anemone I think deserves consideration, it would make a magnificent display. Another thought is that maybe after reaching a certain size these anemones become more predatory, if it is possible to make it split a few times (mechanically or by stressing it) you might have a more peaceful anemone as well as a few clones to sell, just a thought.

As far as losing an entire tank of corals it will happen to all of us sooner or later, it is the law of probabilities. Redundancy such as two half-powered heaters might help but eventually something will fail or a power outage will wipe out a tank. The best way around this IMO is an active network of people swapping frags, so if one person's tank got wiped out he could quickly restock his tank with frags from other hobbyists.

Anyway just my thoughts on this, my tank is young still and I know this will happen to me sooner or later.

[quote="reef_raf"]Well I solved that by going the mail order route. There are lots available it is just a matter of finding them. I also think Christy has some, and Ocean Aquatics too. :biggrin:

Can you think of anyone else that has zoos?? :razz:

I know Bob has some! :eek: Because I just bought some from him! :biggrin:

You know I'm somewhat surprised that the Grammar Gendarme does not refer to them as "zoa's". I forget where I first heard that rant, "They're not ZOOANTHIDS they're ZOANTHIDS so why call them zoos? Zoos are places you might find zoas" (or some such). :razz:

TriLinear, thanks for your thoughts (and kind words regarding the amount of time I've kept it ... It's funny that one tends to forget or overlook the positives ... "guilty"). I am giving serious thought to the small-group/sharem idea, we'll see where that goes.

On an interesting side note, I feel it's an important distinction to note that it is not so much "predatory" as it is "highly defensive." It shows no interest in eating anything larger than mysis sized pieces.

As for the law of probabilities ... I think you're completely right. It really is a question of "when" not "if" and anyone who feels otherwise is probably naïve.

You mixed a hard and soft G sound here - therefore "Grammar Gendarme," while cutesy enough due to the mixing of French and English, must be disallowed... I'll talk to a mod... :wink:

This is why I hold my breath for long stretches...

I don't know if I would call that a rant, but let's explore this. (post padding :question: )

The first place I saw this controversy mentioned was in Eric Bourneman's "Mything the point". He stated (quite correctly) that we are talking about Zoanthids, not cutesy terms like "zoos", or indeed "zoas".
However, I don't see where Zoas is any more legitimate than Zoos. Both are equally wrong grammatically.
I myself use the word zoanthid, and zoos interchangeably(sp?). It depends if I want to be gramatically correct, or just go with the flow. :eek:

I lost a mystery wrasse and a foxface today.

Both have been in quarantine for 6 weeks or so because the wrasse had developed a white *bump* on his belly. It was going down in size and both fish ate quite well... at least twice a day, sometimes 3x a day... a good variety of foods, clean tank, good flow, stable params...

and yet, both dead, for no apparent reason as the white bump that kept them in quarantine for an extra few weeks had gone away this weekend and I said to myself - I'll just give it a nother week before I put them in the big tank...

Also noticed 1 coral completely RTN'd overnight... it was about 4-5" across. 2 more corals are looking like they are ready to go as well.

Bah. But, I am still gonna get my bigger tank setup and keep my chunk of the ocean going... even though I am a bit upset with it all today.

Brad if you want you can have all mine.

Seriously. Let me know.

Christy.

Since this is turning into a zoo fest, I want to ask a question about the toxicity of zoo's, I remember a couple stories from Anthony Califo and also reading several articles about how toxic zoos are. could this make it hard to keep other types of corals in a tank with a bunch of zoos?

Steve

christy, I should perhaps drop by next time I'm in town. Which might be this wekend. I'll let you know, and thanks fo rthe offer.

I believe that some of us know where the local canreef term "zoos" came from, right Tony.... :razz:

Brad, I seriously wonder if you starved your tank. :confused:

I mean really, I must feed 6 times what you do. What did your corals eat if you fed so little to your fish?

Just a random thought.

Deb, I feed frozen cyclop-eeze to the corals. I actually fed more this year than the three before, and this is when I had more trouble. I know people with much nicer tanks than mine that almost don't feed ever. Their corals live off light and dissolved fish waste.
I actually see most of my colonies catching and consuming the cyclop-eeze, so I don't think that's it.

I need to add that it's only the acros that are doing poorly. The other corals are all doing very well, and the fish are very fat and happy.

I'm sure that now that I've finished mucking around, patience is all that's required to get things back on track. I think. Maybe. :razz:

So I'll say it.

I only say that cause I have had many nights where I just dont understand the W'5 of the hobby. Fenner, Calfo, Borneman, Shimek, etc. whom I have had communication on many, many topics but....oh ya, and a few bucks.

This really sounds like a pity party.

Most of you have provided some of the best captive enviornments I have had the pleasure to witness in many tank tours in many cities.

Dont give up, Chin Up and "fragment & propagate".

Wendell

I think that's because it is. :razz: I am feeling sorry for myself, and I do think I deserve that pleasure right now. I've been fighting long and hard to keep things going. I'm going to have to continue fighting, just because of logistics, however, I'm also sure that I won't regret it in the end. As I said above somewhere, with some patience, my tank will turn around from this slide and start growing well again. I'm almost sure of it!! :razz:

My tank also has fish in it which are doing very well, and as family pets, they just can't be gotten rid of. I will persevere...

"Just keep swimming, just keep swimming..."

:biggrin:

When bad stuff happens, we have the right to feel PO-ed, frustrated, sad, depressed and all other not-so-great feeling there are.

I lost a fish a few weeks back and was I ever bummed the day it died :cry: And I don't apologize for that, either.

I have never noticed any problems, even when the zoo's are right up against another coral. I think the toxicity comes into play if they are eaten, or the juices end up in a cut or scrape.

Yes, I've read of zoanthids toxicity as being defensive as opposed to offensive. They need to be consumed to do the damage.

Brad,
I know it probably isn't much of a consolation but I do have some zoanthids that are fraggable. Also mushrooms, GSP, and even some pulsing xenia and colt if you can wait a little bit. I've been reading everyone's posts and have realized how furtunate I have been up 'till now. I think that sharing clones with others in the hobby is like insurance. That way no disaster can wipe out all your corals because all your corals aren't in one tank. I don't know...

Chad

I just started a different thread along those lines in the Lounge...

We were doing that.. just happened to crash at the same time. :rolleyes:

Steve

Dang! So much for that idea... I'll just go delete my other post... :razz:

just keep swimming, swimming, swimming :mrgreen:

Dory was awesome !

what were we talking about again ? :eek: :razz:

Hi Brad, sorry to hear about your Acro losses. There is nothing worse than helplessly watching your prized corals RTN.

Did you do the red bug treatment to your tank and if you did do you think that there may be a delayed reaction to the medication that may be causing some of your problems with just the Acros? Have you added any new Acros since you did the treatment and if so how are they doing?

Dave

Dave, I did the red bug treatment several months ago, but no, I don't feel that this has anything to do with it. I'm fairly confident that all th emucking around I've done is the source of my current issues, as all the non acro corals are doing very well. Acros, being a bit more sensitive, are affected more easily than other species.
I'm sure all I need now is time to recover. As for the red bug treatment, I know many others that have treated and not experienced any problems whatsoever.

Oh, and adding new acros. Yes, I have added new ones, with mixed results. Some are doing very well, others died.

I think you may be right Brad. Some established tanks of large acro colonies just dont seem to like being "mucked" with. Unfortunetely its needed many times, like in your case and somewhat mine.

One of my biggest problems and "taker away of enjoyment", is my living in the country. The lack of someone to watch over my tank is one of my main problems.

A smaller tank, with a lots less equipment may not scare some of my local friends so much. They look at my set up now, with all the equipment, cords, plug-ins and the such, and run for cover. :lol: