Queen Stratospheres Zoanthids
Queen Stratosphere Zoanthids are loved for their unique White-Yellow body coloration, contrasted by tones of blue and purple. Unfortunately I can't recall who first coined their trade name, but I believe it to be either Cornbred or Golden Basket. The name "Queen Stratospheres" was given to them most likely to gain attention to the morph, as a much more sought morph called Stratosphere already existed. These zoanthids are very similar to the more elusive White Velvets/ White Walkers, but a bit easier to find and care for.
I've found that these Zoanthids aren't particularly difficult to care for and are a great choice for intermediate reefers who have had experience caring for most corals in their tank. If your tank is growing and flourishing for at least a few months to a year, then it would be safe to try one of these. Place these Zoanthids in medium lighting to see more of their "white" sheen/ coloration or give them less light for a larger polyp size, but they will have less of a metallic look.
It's recommended to start this Zoanthid lower in your tank for the first week to allow it to adjust to its new home. Avoid placing the new frag in places of high flow, since the high flow may cause the polyp to detach. Once settled down, Queen Stratospheres will begin to lay a "mat" and create a foundation for itself. Out of the mat, small polyps will begin to emerge. It is best to wait for this Zoanthid to grow over the plug before attempting to create any frags from it.
Originator
Cornbred/ Golden Basket
Care Level
Best tried after you've had success with a few other easier corals first and have an understanding of basic reef chemistry such as keeping salinity, alkalinity, calicium, and magnesium levels consistent. The coral itself is very easy to care for if you test for your parameters often and have created a consistent maintanence routine for your reef!
Growth Rate
Moderate, with noticable growth within the first month.
Lighting Placement
Prefers to be kept in lower to medium light. Lower light will result in larger polyps while higher light will result in more condensed colors.
Flow Strength
We recommend starting smaller zoanthid frags in lower flow until it reaches a small colony size. Once established, increase the flow level to avoid any detritus building up in between the mat. If detritus builds up inside the matting of the zoanthid, it can cause bacterial issues.
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