All zoos fading!! Help!!!

[eaglesrx]

Okay, I need some help!

All of my zoos are fading! I have tubs blues and some other zoos that have brown skirts that are now fading and turning white. All of my zoos aren't opening up as much as they used to. They are still open, but just not as much.

My yasha died 2 days ago. He probably sat in the tank overnight before I pulled him. My ammonia was still negligible when I measured it.

All parameters within normal limits (ph, nitrite, nitrate, alk). I did change back to dosing my bionic 2-part on march 26th after using two little fishies 2-part for a couple of months. Prior to going with two little fishies brand, I was using bionic over a year.

No warfare between any sps or other corals that I can see. I run carbon and overskim on my tank. I also feed somewhat light, but enough that there's food for the corals.

Any help would be appreciated!!

 

[SIR PATRICK]

I see many variables here....

I will start with-

Are these new addition zoas, or have they been in the tank a good while?

Have you changed bulbs recently, or switched to a whole new (stronger) light than you originally had over said polyps?

A little more info, and help will be sure to come.

With so many variables, many different things could be causing this problem. Any help in narowing it down will help. You have done well in your description so far as to what may be happening, just need any more info at all to narrow it down.

Any more changes in the system, and how long the said polyps have been in the tank is a good place to start.

 

[eaglesrx]

3 of my zoo colonies have been in the tank for over 4 months, one of them for over 1 year. 1 colony has only been in there for a month. However, they are all showing the same signs. I know, odd. I can't figure it out, either.

I've done 2 water changes in the last week. Hmm, the only change is that I used Carib-Sea's premixed salt water during these last 2 water changes of 2.5 gallons each for a 28g tank. Maybe that's it. Maybe I should do another water change with my typical reef crystals??

The premixed stuff typically runs a high sp. gravity, which I made sure to dilute it.

let me know and thanks

 

[JMBoehling]

If all your paramters are in check, I would dose a little Iodine and see if that helps em' out.

 

[the808state]

i say clean you glass so you can see better... it brightened my polyps up a lot.

 

[Milez803]

actually i have the same problem..i had mini colony of rainbow.. after having it in my tank under 2x400 watts halides..the orange ring seem to faded..and color doesn't even look like rainbow paly no more .. any tips to bring the color back would be greatful

 

[stevensun]

Generally color fading could be caused by lighting or low nutrient level in the water. Too much or too little light can both lead to lighter color. If the nutrients are too low eg over skimming or bacteria driven systems, coral can't process the amount of light provided/received so they expel zooxanthellae. What you see in terms of color would be lighter, brighter or sometimes washed out look. If you continue starving them, the color will become faded looking. This is why adding food back to the tank is so important for zeovit tanks.

Still, there are many other possible causes that might lead to the same outcome. If I were you, I would start with SIR PATRICK's questions and try to keep your parameters as stable as possible. Once we are certain water isn't the issue here, adjusting lighting and feeding can be helpful.

 

[eaglesrx]

hey thanks stevesun,

I assumed it had to do with stability as the slight changes that I made over the last month or so could have set it off. I think adding an extra variable by using the premixed saltwater to do a massive water change didn't help either.

We'll see. I moved as many of my colonies to the shade several days ago. We'll see if it helps. I think I'll try another change, too.

Thanks everyone,

 

[200mfromocean]

As for iodine how much should I dose. One of my colonies is looking sickly and the skirts and polyps are recessed. Directions say 1 drop per 30 g.

My other zoanthids look fine. I also upgraded to 250 MH from sump light and T5's recently. The T5 fixture fell in the water.

PH 7.8+
N 0
DKH 8
Ca 480
SG 1.222

Should they be placed on the bottom?

 

[stevensun]

eaglesrx, that's a good start. Give them some time since it does take longer for zoas to regain their color than sps.

200mfromocean, salinity of 1.222 is going to wipe out everything in your tank. I'm assuming that's just a typo. The best way to know how much to dose is testing the iodine in your tank. Salifer makes iodine test kits. I personally didn't see any improvement on zoas when I dosed lugol's but I've read some people did. I think the proven benefit of iodine is seen on goniopora and montipora maybe. Your Ca is a on the high side especially in proportion to your alkalinity and mag. In NSW, the ratio of Mag to Ca is 3:1 and I'm not sure what the apporpriate Alk level for Ca of 480 ppm is but I bet it's a lot higher than 8. Anyways a pic can be of great help.