Zoanthids vs. Acropora: Which Coral Gets Your Vote?

[revhtree]

Never found the reason to have sun flower like peddles but to each their own yet I also prefer mushroom covered rocks over sticks. go figure

HA! We'll have a shroom VERSUS thread soon!

 

[GARRIGA]

HA! We'll have a shroom VERSUS thread soon!

Please

 

[PhishMonger84]

I don’t really like the looks of SPS other than birdnest a few montis-
Zoas may be easier but they are sooo much cooler looking

 

[leepink23]

I love them both, grow them both. My new tank will predominantly be acros with a few zoa rocks on the sandbed.

 

[keef reeper]

They both look so rad. Ive been slowly collecting some cool zoas as i am a new reefer. Im kinda nervous to get an acro so ill wait haha

 

[Aaron75]

Both, I think visually I like Acropora more, but growth wise, it's almost instant gratification with Zoas

 

[MintyMan]

I love me some acropora. I just realized I only have 3 sets of zoas. Shame on me lol

 

[Minifoot77]

I voted acros but I have more and more success with zoas

 

[CorktownNano]

I don't get the appeal of acropora. They have very little movement; they're not all that colorful for the most part; and they're difficult to keep. I think they're only popular because they are so difficult to keep. They've become a sign of mastery (and for good reason). However, once the hobby advances to the point where most reefers can keep them, I predict that you will see their popularity fade very quickly. People in the future will ask, why did anyone find acro-dominant tanks attractive???

 

[Larry Stewart]

Zoas become very invasive and they are definitely TOXIC. I do my best to remove them from my display...

After all the horror stories, I wear gloves and eye protection when dealing with the zoas in my tank.

Acros are definitely the most sought after coral due to their challenge to keep health and thriving. The challenge is the reason for their popularity.

 

[Troylee]

I don't get the appeal of acropora. They have very little movement; they're not all that colorful for the most part; and they're difficult to keep. I think they're only popular because they are so difficult to keep. They've become a sign of mastery (and for good reason). However, once the hobby advances to the point where most reefers can keep them, I predict that you will see their popularity fade very quickly. People in the future will ask, why did anyone find acro-dominant tanks attractive???

That’s the same thing people have been saying for the last 20 years and it hasn’t gotten any easier.. a successful Sps tank is very colorful and like you said a very hard challenge to succeed but it’s possible..they got plenty of movement .

 

[Kathy Floyd]

Zoas. I can't keep acros alive.

 

[Dburr1014]

I don't get the appeal of acropora. They have very little movement; they're not all that colorful for the most part; and they're difficult to keep. I think they're only popular because they are so difficult to keep. They've become a sign of mastery (and for good reason). However, once the hobby advances to the point where most reefers can keep them, I predict that you will see their popularity fade very quickly. People in the future will ask, why did anyone find acro-dominant tanks attractive???

On the flip side, zoa can only cover rock. No form of reef, I never understood the appeal of zoas. Not that colorful for the most part and not very difficult to keep. Once one gets the hang of keeping the most basic of coral, I predict they will move on and forget all about them and move to acros and build a real reef. Then they will ask "why did I ever think a zoa dominant tank was attractive"?

 

[i cant think]

Zoanthids vs. Acropora: Which Coral Gets Your Vote?

These two popular corals often get a spotlight in reef aquariums, but everyone has their own preferences. We want to know which one you love more and why! Are you mesmerized by the vibrant colors, unique patterns, and diverse morphs of Zoanthids? Or do you find yourself drawn to the intricate branching structures and stunning growth forms of Acropora?

Which one gets your vote and why?

View attachment 3164656
coral image via @AquaSD

Acros because I can’t grow Zoas without bleaching them under too much light or them being munched on by my angels.

 

[Wildcats1023]

I love them both but zoas tend to take over in my reef so I will stick with acros

 

[mruggee]

I built my reef with a zoa garden in the center and acros the tops on the sides. My two favorites but my vote went to zoas because they have such nice unique color patterns and also are so unique - I’ve got some stylo, anacropora, Montipora and digitata that are all kinda like acro

 

[MiniCoco]

It is the diversity that I appreciate and that is why I like them equally.

 

[littlebigreef]

I have a healthy appreciation for both but I'm clearly team zoa.

Reason being is that acros will break your heart in the course of a day or two; zoas will always give you a chance to save them. I realize that's a pretty broad statement but there's a lot of truth it in. I love all the branching acros and I love how people have coaxed so many different colors out of tennuis sp. I'm a sucker for colonies of large tabling acros as well. The 'but' is that in some cases their care and coloration is so tied lighting and and water parameters that it's difficult to have sustained success over the course of years and years - I know I'm not the only one who's had to break up a big beautiful long-held acro colony due to RTN or something else. That said, I do have a piece of potato chip pavona from 2003. I love my montis for the same reason I dig that pavona; it lives, looks cool.

Zoas, for their part, are a massive pain in the but. They tend to suffer from all kinds of bacterial and protozan issues. However, in most cases an zoa starts going sideways there's always things you can do to try and save them... which I've gotten very good at over the years. Further, it is a lot of fun looking for old strains and finding new ones (and I'm not talking about paying a ridiculous PP premium for something 'named' and 'released' by one coral site or another). People are coming up with 'discount bin wins' all the time in the zoa forum looking for ID's. I'd already been in the hobby 15 years when I finally really started to get into zoas. Still have the first 4-5 strains I bought including fire and ice back in 2011. That's some quality longitivtiy.

 

[Treefer32]

I have zoanthid eating Asterina starfish in my tank. I've tried creating zoanthid gardens and everytime I did, they were gone in 2 weeks. My acropora though, grow from a half inch frag to being 6-8 inches tall with numerous branches. So, I guess acropora love for me.
I have a zoanthid plug that started with 6-8 polyps that I finally glued down to my rocks. So far it's taking off. Either the asterinas haven't found the zoanthids yet or they moved on to other food sources. We shall see. . . My love may switch at some point.

 

[cwerner]

I thought acro's were boring when I first started the hobby. Now I think they're easily the most beautiful things in the tank except for euphyllia.