Lord of the Rings

Lord of the Rings is a Zoanthus strain named for the gold to green centre ring set into a pink radial face, the ring standing out like a halo around the mouth of each polyp. The radial patterning gives the colony a patterned, almost woven appearance when polyps open together. A Tier 3 collector strain, it is less ubiquitous than the common pink zoanthids and is kept for that distinctive ringed centre rather than for size or speed of growth.

Care

Place it under medium lighting with medium flow in the bottom to middle of the tank. Flow should pass through the mat, not blast it, and nutrients should remain measurable — zoanthids sulk in ultra-clean water and this strain is no exception. Stable alkalinity supports consistent opening. Rated intermediate in difficulty, it benefits from a mature, stable system and patience after placement, as radial patterns often look muted until the polyps are fully expanded.

Keeping and spread

Growth is moderate and mat-forming, spreading by encrusting outward across available rock. Leave roughly 2 in of space so the mat does not overrun and smother slower neighbours. With moderate aggression, management is mostly about spacing and, if needed, isolating the colony on its own rock. To frag, cut the mat between polyps with a sharp blade, mount the section, and let it heal in moderate light and flow.