bleached out Zoas
- Thread starter mzsigmapi
- Start date
FiReBReTHa
Master Blaster!
I would drop them down. and give them time.
Were they new arrivals that you placed at the top day one?
Were they placed low for some time in your tank and then you moved them to the top of your tank?
Zoanthids can be found in regions of shallow water as well as deeper water. The problem is that there is no magic dept chart to inform us where to place them. You mentioned that they were bleached, and that is exactly what you are experiencing, Bleaching. There are dozens of possible reasons for this, most likely in your case, it was from light shock or excessive heat if placed under a very hot bulb. This can transpire with most any coral that is placed instantly in these conditions, if that is indeed what happened. Minute color shifts are normal with some corals as they adapt to your lighting. Gradual moves upwards are always better than instant placement too high, but persistent moving will also stunt the growth of your coral. If the polyps are still alive, I'd move them low to mid tank level, but I wouldn't necessarily shade them. Zoanthid rely on Photosynthesis, complete shade would deny them of this as they try to recover from the mass exodus of zooxanthellae. Some polyps will actual fair much better under partial shading, then again, some will lose their intensity and growth rate if shaded. If you don't know what region your polyps are from, you could actually hurt them with complete shading. To error on the side of caution, this is why I place them low to mid level, away from direct light spray and in current. The perfect conditions to allow them to recover.
I have placed bleached frags that I have purchased low to mid level, to the left or right of my halides with med to med high current. I never moved them once and they recuperated on their own. It took many months, but it can be done. I hope you have the same results my friend. Just my own opinions, good luck.
Mucho Reef
PS, here's a great article of many to read.
http://www.peteducation.com/article.cfm?cls=16&cat=1927&articleid=2693
Were they placed low for some time in your tank and then you moved them to the top of your tank?
Zoanthids can be found in regions of shallow water as well as deeper water. The problem is that there is no magic dept chart to inform us where to place them. You mentioned that they were bleached, and that is exactly what you are experiencing, Bleaching. There are dozens of possible reasons for this, most likely in your case, it was from light shock or excessive heat if placed under a very hot bulb. This can transpire with most any coral that is placed instantly in these conditions, if that is indeed what happened. Minute color shifts are normal with some corals as they adapt to your lighting. Gradual moves upwards are always better than instant placement too high, but persistent moving will also stunt the growth of your coral. If the polyps are still alive, I'd move them low to mid tank level, but I wouldn't necessarily shade them. Zoanthid rely on Photosynthesis, complete shade would deny them of this as they try to recover from the mass exodus of zooxanthellae. Some polyps will actual fair much better under partial shading, then again, some will lose their intensity and growth rate if shaded. If you don't know what region your polyps are from, you could actually hurt them with complete shading. To error on the side of caution, this is why I place them low to mid level, away from direct light spray and in current. The perfect conditions to allow them to recover.
I have placed bleached frags that I have purchased low to mid level, to the left or right of my halides with med to med high current. I never moved them once and they recuperated on their own. It took many months, but it can be done. I hope you have the same results my friend. Just my own opinions, good luck.
Mucho Reef
PS, here's a great article of many to read.
http://www.peteducation.com/article.cfm?cls=16&cat=1927&articleid=2693
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