Cotton Candy Apple Zoas

About this coral

Cotton Candy Apple Zoas are a zoanthid/palythoa group coral for reef aquariums, grown and sold for their spreading polyp mat and colorful, fleshy polyps. Use them to build a “zoa/paly garden” on rock or sand where you can provide gentle, stable conditions and suitable lighting for frequent polyp opening.

Features:

• Colonial polyps that form a mat-like growth pattern on the chosen substrate.
• Typically suited to reef aquariums using low to moderate lighting; they can adapt within a range but do best when placement matches your light.
• Prefers gentle, clean, low-debris water movement that helps keep polyps open without blasting them.
• Often benefits from occasional feeding with appropriately sized foods, since polyps can capture small particles.
• A practical choice for aquarists looking for hardy, easy-care soft-coral/zoa-style additions (group-level guidance).
• Best long-term results come from stable tank conditions and gradual placement changes rather than sudden shifts.

Specifications:

• Care level (group guidance): Beginner-friendly / easy-care (zoanthid family general guidance). ([bulkreefsupply.com](https://www.bulkreefsupply.com/content/post/coral-care-guide-zoanthids?utm_source=openai))
• Lighting (group guidance): Low to moderate; commonly cited ranges include ~75–250 PAR depending on placement and adaptation. ([bulkreefsupply.com](https://www.bulkreefsupply.com/content/post/coral-care-guide-zoanthids?utm_source=openai))
• Water flow (group guidance): Gentle to moderate; use flow that is strong enough to keep polyps open and free of debris. ([bulkreefsupply.com](https://www.bulkreefsupply.com/content/post/coral-care-guide-zoanthids?utm_source=openai))
• Temperature: About 24–26 °C (reef aquarium range guidance for zoanthids). ([acquariodibologna.com](https://www.acquariodibologna.com/en/revista/tides/zoanthus-spp-zoanthids/?utm_source=openai))
• Salinity / specific gravity: About 1.024–1.026 (reef aquarium range guidance for zoanthids). ([acquariodibologna.com](https://www.acquariodibologna.com/en/revista/tides/zoanthus-spp-zoanthids/?utm_source=openai))
• Alkalinity: About 8–9.5 dKH. ([bulkreefsupply.com](https://www.bulkreefsupply.com/content/post/coral-care-guide-zoanthids?utm_source=openai))
• Calcium: About 400–450 ppm. ([bulkreefsupply.com](https://www.bulkreefsupply.com/content/post/coral-care-guide-zoanthids?utm_source=openai))
• Magnesium: About 1300–1450 ppm. ([bulkreefsupply.com](https://www.bulkreefsupply.com/content/post/coral-care-guide-zoanthids?utm_source=openai))
• Diet (group guidance): Can capture small foods; commonly suggested options include very small marine foods/fine coral powders and zooplankton-sized items (e.g., rotifers/copepod-sized foods). ([hydrohabitats.com](https://hydrohabitats.com/guides/saltwater-coral-zoanthid-coral?utm_source=openai))