Magician Zoas

Magician Zoanthids are a classic, high-contrast zoa variety with a deep reddish center, bright ring, and lighter skirt. They’re hardy, adaptable, and excellent for both collectors and farm systems because they grow steadily without being invasive.

Lighting

Moderate light, typically 80 to 150 PAR. Magicians keep their red and ring coloration best under mid-intensity lighting. Too much light can bleach the center or tighten the polyps. Too little light causes stretching and dulling of the inner ring.

Flow

Moderate, indirect flow. Enough movement to keep debris off the mat and encourage frequent opening, but not so strong that skirts tuck inward. A gentle, swaying flow pattern works perfectly.

Placement

Flexible. Mid to lower rockwork is common, though they’ll do fine almost anywhere with stable conditions. Magicians develop tight, uniform mats, so place them on a rock or tile where you want them to spread gradually. Keep away from aggressive LPS sweepers since zoas don’t fight back.

Water parameters

They thrive in nutrient-positive, stable conditions.

Calcium around 400 to 420.
Alkalinity around 8 to 8.6.
Magnesium near 1300 to 1350.
Nitrate 5 to 20.
Phosphate 0.05 to 0.1.

Ultra-clean water tends to wash out zoa colors. Slight nutrients deepen the reds and purples.

Feeding

Not required, but they respond well to occasional small-particle foods or amino acids. Feeding increases head production and strengthens coloration, though they mostly rely on light and dissolved nutrients.

Growth behavior

Moderate to fast. Magicians tend to spread in tight circles and maintain uniform heads, making them easy to frag. They usually grow faster once they form a stable mat over rock rather than on a plug.

Sensitivities

Watch for zoa-eating nudibranchs, sundial snails, and vermetid irritation. Sudden changes in salinity or temperature can cause temporary closing. They’re generally tougher than many high-end zoas.

Compatibility

Peaceful, no stingers. They mix well in zoa gardens and don’t overrun neighbors unless left untrimmed for very long periods. Their vivid red-and-ring pattern adds strong contrast in both mixed reefs and dedicated zoa displays.