All my zoa colonies have decided not to open

[boostat4500]

I have 2 40G breeders side by side set up as frag tanks. They are tied together as one system. About a month ago my zoas started closing up. It started in one tank and then about 2 weeks later, the other. Now, none of them open up any more. These are colonies ranging from 5 heads to over 200 on a rock. The water tests fine and all other corals (LPS, SPS, mushrooms, clams) are doing fine. I tried a new bulb over one tank but it didn't make much difference. The zoas still look alive and healthy, they just don't open. Any ideas?

 

[firebirdcrzy]

I would start looking for predators (nudis, spiders, sundial)

 

[MUCHO REEF]

So sorry to hear this, just wish you could have posted this as soon as the problem arose. But don't despair, I'm sure someone here can help you.



I don't think it's your bulbs at all, why? The problem started in one tank, then migrated to the other.

Question - You said you are keeping sps also, correct? Did the zoanthid retraction begin in the tank with the SPS?

Please see the link at the top of the page and answer all of the question if you can please. I've linked it below.

http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1852463

Even though you said your parameters were fine, can you list all of them?

Then click on the link below and see if anything rings a bell, then get back to us soon.

http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1154238



I have an idea what the problem could be, but would like to hear back from you on the questions above and also in the links above.

Are you testing often, if so, what test kits are you using?

Can you provide the exact number of days in which both tanks have had this issue?

Have you performed a water change recently?

If both tanks are tied together, is there filter screen, a filter sock,sponge filter, etc, anything at all filtering the water from one system to the next? Or are they free flowing?

Last question for now, did you make any new purchases or additions just before the problem arose in the first tank?


Keep your chin up, there is hope my friend.

Mucho Reef

 

[boostat4500]

I'll do the best I can hear to answer questions..

SPS has been in the tanks as long as the Zoas

1.025 salinity, 400ish calcium, zero nitrate, nitrite, and ammonia, 78 degrees. 250W 20k Halide over each tank. Was on 10 hrs a day, turned down to 8 last week.

I've tried doing a few water changes and it made no difference.

Both tanks are tied into the same sump, so the water has been mixed from day 1.
All the colonies were open for at least a week or 2 before anything started closing up. Some colonies I've had for 3 or 4 months with no issue. It was 3-4 weeks before the 2nd tank started to have colonies close up, from the time all the colonies in the first tank stopped opening. I will say it started with the biggest (2-300 heads) colony, which was also the newest, and worked its way down to the smallest and oldest colonies. The colony farthest away physically (and in the 2nd tank) was the last to close up. They literally started closing up from right to left across the tanks. So you may be on to something saying it's a pest of some sort. I can't see anything on them, but that might mean nothing.

3 days ago, I moved 3 colonies into my main display tank as an experiment. So far, only a very slight improvement for those. Still about 75% closed up.

The only reason I didn't ask sooner, was I've seen other Zoas do this before and they don't appear to be dying or anything. I've never seen it last this long however, hence my concern.

So what's your idea?

Thanks for the help!

 

[Friday Night]

Add anything new?
You dose?

Hit it with a flash light at night. Tank's are a whole another world at night.

I also use my turkey baster and hit the colonys and zoas once a week to give them a quick cleaning.

That is random to hear this... but yet again Zoas are random as well.

 

[boostat4500]

So i just tried dipping four of the smaller colonies in Coral Revive. After about 5 minutes I pulled them out and found 4 or 5 roughly 1/8 to 1/4 inch worms (they look like little centipedes) in the water. And a bunch of much smaller, Amphipod looking creatures. The lights wont be on for another hour or so, so I'm anxious to see if it made any difference. If so, Everything in the tanks will be getting dipped.

 

[MUCHO REEF]

Based upon the info you have provided, I don't think that is your problem. I could very well be wrong, but respectfully, I doubt it. I will wait until tomorrow before I give my opinion/suggested. No need to cloud anything you are trying now. Good luck and I hope you're right, fingers crossed.

Mucho Reef

 

[boostat4500]

Your killing me I promise not to try anything else till tomorrow if you'll divulge your secret. The lights have been on about 1.5 hours now and I all ready see some improvement in the ones I dipped. I'm dipping the rest right now.

 

[MUCHO REEF]

There are no secrets, just a process of ellimination. From your details, I still don't think it's worms. But it doesn't matter now, if they are looking better, that is GREAT. And I was dead wrong. You solved the problem yourself and that is just grand in my book man, good job dude. Now keep us posted so we can all learn from your experince.

 

[boostat4500]

I'd still love to hear your thoughts of possible causes. I'm always looking to learn something new.

 

[boostat4500]

Update- Most of the colonies opened up about 50-60% today. I think I'll try dipping them again in a few days.
Mucho- still curious as to your thoughts of the cause.

 

[XSharkboyX]

Did you dip each new piece as you added them into your system? Or just started to dip as you had problems?

 

[mallorieGgator]

1. Were the worms black? There are certain euncid(spelling?) worms that are known to burrow into the skeletons of corals. Also, if your amphipod population was high then that could be why they were irritated also. I had a higher amphipod population and they irritated my zoas. I dipped them in coral revive once and then once again 2 weeks later. Maybe try getting a few wrasses for each tank to eat some of the pods. My Lubbocks fairy wrasse has destroyed the amphipods in my tank.
2. What is the flow of the tank? If flow is too low, the colonies may not open all the way.
3. Also, when you do water tests. Test from the bottom of the tank. It makes a difference.

 

[boostat4500]

A few pieces were dipped before being added, but most were not. From now on, everything is getting dipped first. Today, they all looked about the same as yesterday, roughly half open. I'm going to try dipping them again tomorrow morning. The amphipod/copepod population is definitely high. I put a small spotted mandarin in one tank a few weeks ago, and he is fattening up quick. I'll try moving a 6 line wrasse into the other to help out a little.
The worms were a light brown color. The amphipods were the vast majority of what appeared in the dip water.
Flow was a little low up until about 2 weeks ago. The flow increase didn't change anything. Currently about 30X turnover.
I'll try testing from the bottom to see if there is any difference.

Thanks for the help guys/gals.