Can't Grow "CERTAIN" Zoa's (In Mature Healthy Tank). Photo (Is this ChemicalWarfare?)

[Wally.B]

Those are Ampipods, I erradicate those things as I've had those decimate Zs and Ps on my other tanks. Especially when you have a really large population in your tank.

Search here and also on youtube, you'll see vids of those things tearing at polyps.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=62kaq0T1gU0

Thanks so much (I was starting to guess). I knew it was something other than my lighting.

How did you get rid of them? I read posts.

I have no fish, so was thinking they are getting out of control having no predator.

Need to get a fish. Spoke with Local Fish Store and they said LongNose HawkFish might be a good choice. I placed an order.

 

[Wally.B]

Moving Forward (Got a Longnose Hawkfish)

So I'm pretty sure my Zoa griefs were not lighting, but the Ampipods (which many posts say folks have had issues with Zoa's ). Some counter arguments, but anyone with problems like I've point to these pests.

- So I've put back all Zoa's into Sump Frag Tray
- STARTED slowly increasing my PhotoPeriod (which had been lagging for some time)

And got this nice Ampipod eating fish (Longnosed Hawkfish)

He'll be alone in the tank, (with snails and hermits), and I'll see what he needs for extra feeding, but not too soon.
Best to keep him hungry and hunting

(After a 2 hours drip, he's in the tank and fits in quite nicely)

Yes there is a risk to hermits, but that's ok. I'd rather have snails for Algae control. Certainly cheaper than replacing Zoa's continuously.

 

[650-IS350]

Wrasses, Halichoeres family. Or yellow/green coris wrasse.

 

[650-IS350]

http://www.tfhmagazine.com/details/...-hawkfish-oxycirrhites-typus-full-article.htm

 

[Ocean envy]

Those are very cool fish. Mine took too much of an interest in my cleaner shrimp and then he was no more. Other than that, it was nice to see him out.

 

[Wally.B]

HAWKFISH is doing it's work. (Saw with my own eyes, eating an Ampipod.).

So today, I was watching the Hawkfish, sitting and watching my Zoa Frag Pod.

Then he lurched and got a Ampipod. Chewed it down nicely.

This is GREAT!!!

I did offer him some Frozen Brine Shrimp, and he took it hastily. So he'll eat both. BrineShrimp will be a weekly reward (or as needed), to ensure he get vitamins and proper nutrition.

I'll be inspecting the tank at nights, for Ampipod population.

 

[homer1475]

Some zoas just don't do well, why I have no idea.

I've bought some fruit loops a couple times now, and while everything in my tank is thriving(including several other zoas), this one type always melts away. No matter where I put it. One polyp, several polyps, they always melt away. This is the only one I've come across that I cannot grow in my tank.

The 3 polyp frag I have now of fruit loops is the longest one I've had, going on 2 months now. It originally had 3 polyps, one melted away(thinking, ok here we go again), and now its recovering and growing!!! Currently have 4 polyps, but are still super small and not opening fully.

 

[Wally.B]

Am I now getting Paranoid about Ampipods?

So I've been watching Ampipod activity after Dark.

Things get pretty active at night. Scary scenes. Ampipod swaming my Acans.

Maybe they are just picking at dead tissue. Maybe not.

Either way, wish that Hawkfish was a night time hunter, since Ampipods are really active at night.

They were running around, while Hawkfish was snoring my my Finger Leather.

I guess this is no such thing as a night time predator for Ampipods?

 

[Wally.B]

Yeah, I hear you.

My Utter Chaos Zoa is doing great. Multipled 7x. Others just shrivel up and fade.

Weird thing is all Zoa's do good in Sump on Frag Tray (same Water), but not in tank.

It's not lighting, since I put them in very shady areas.

It's not circulation since Sump and Tank are both gentle, but consistant.

 

[650-IS350]

Not at this point, no night time hunter. Best to get a active hunter like a wrasse that spends all day going through every rock and crevices hunting.

What's the ampipod population in your sump? IF they are a lot there, they might have a lot of food in the sump to not want to bother the Z's and P's.

I think its a combo of light and Ampipods causing your issue. Just my .02 from my experiences.

 

[Wally.B]

You mean the Hawfish isn't good enough. I actually see him hunting and killing already (daytime).
But sleeps at night like all fish do.

I actually decided last weekend to inspect my sump. Decided to clean it up.
It's (loaded with just live rock) & a skimmer (ie natural filtration), and 2 snails, 1 hermit and a Rock Boring Pencil Urchin, that keep rock scrubbed and porus).

After dumping it out into buckets, and cleaning. Only found 1 dead Ampipod in cleaning buckets. So appears then like Tank better.

At this point, I don't want any more fish (even a wrase). Might not be enough critter to keep 2 alive, and I don't want to feed this tank.

Once I see no more Ampipods, I'll start loaded it with CopePods, and then get Pellet Eating Mandarins from ORA farms. (Coming out in 6 months, according to sales guy).

 

[Wally.B]

Something wrong is going on. Acan's are dying (at least two).

Amphipods are now on Acan's.

One Amphipod is sitting right on top.

However it could be Acan's is not healthy (notice the bottom part is receeding and Skelton emerging).
But Top Acan (colony fine).

It didn't look like this a week ago. (Are they going after Acan's since all Zoa's removed and in sump).

I have another Acan in the Sump that is also in really bad shape. Thought it died, but it's slowly recovering in Sump Tray.

Could this be the Amphipods, just them picking of Acan die off?

Or is this due to lighting increase (Small 5%)?
But other Acan had no lighting increase prior to collapsing.

I'm puzzled. Something is causing a rapid change in this tank to a Few Corals. No other Corals are reacting this way (YET!!).


(Did the Cheap Zoa's I got bring something into tank). I dipped the new Zoa's all in Revive (Extra Long).

 

[Wally.B]

Chemistry is fine. Perfect. No recent changes.

I'm afraid to take the Acan out and put in sump to recover. (since if Amphipods, they might go after Last choice for eating)

There is one other Acan that is in perfect condition. Same Level, experienced same light changes.

THIS IS THE PART OF FISH TANKS THAT I HATE (The unknown cause).

 

[650-IS350]

could be something bacterial or some infection, the corals get weak start dying and ampipods finishing off or cleaning up.

 

[Wally.B]

could be something bacterial or some infection, the corals get weak start dying and ampipods finishing off or cleaning up.

I have two dip solutions that I mostly use for SPS introductions for my SPS tank.

- Two Little Fishes (ReVive)
- API (Melafix)

I'll dip all loose corals (Acan's Zoa's), and it might help. (to save them).

The other Acan (NOW in the sump Frag Tray) was a wreck before taking it out tank (almost nothing but skeleton, and I was going to toss) , but it's puffing very well up and might recover.

Can't hurt.

 

[Wally.B]

One positive note.

I did notice there were less pods out last night. They were around, but not in swarms.

This Afternoon, I had a look at the Hawk fish.
His Belly is slightly swollen full, and I haven't been feeding him. (Must be eating something )
I did test a Tiny bit of Frozen brineshrimp [appetizer], and he readily accepts. (leaves no waste)

Great Fish. Kids like his looks and have named him "Dart", 2nd choice is "Spike". Great personality too. Cute.

 

[Wally.B]

Just figured out why HawkFish is so Full !!

Kids noticed this and pointed it out to me. Emerald Crab Parts.

I'm ok with this, Emerald crab did his part and cleaned up all the Tough Turf Algae.
Plus he was sitting on top of the damaged Acan yesterday (That's a no-no!)
Should be two more somewhere (they better hide).

I'm sure Hermits will be next, but the few I have are constantly killing my snails and wearing their Shells as Trophies. Rather have snails.

 

[hotelbravo]

I did offer him some Frozen Brine Shrimp, and he took it hastily. So he'll eat both. BrineShrimp will be a weekly reward (or as needed), to ensure he get vitamins and proper nutrition.
.

so just letting you know since you talk about brine shrimp like they are healthy and all. they are actually only nutritional for 6 hours after they hatch and then they become bad. a brine shrimp has very little to no nutritional value after that 6 hour mark and are commonly refered to as potato chips in comparison to other foods you could be feeding..

 

[Wally.B]

so just letting you know since you talk about brine shrimp like they are healthy and all. they are actually only nutritional for 6 hours after they hatch and then they become bad. a brine shrimp has very little to no nutritional value after that 6 hour mark and are commonly refered to as potato chips in comparison to other foods you could be feeding..

I'm not feeding him live brine shrimp yet. I make a batch every other week.
I'm feeding him enriched Frozen Brine Shrimp, two kinds (one gut loaded with Spirolina, and another one)

Thanks for the reminder about Live Brine Shrimp. I kind of read about that recently. However I do feed Reef Nutrition PhytoPheast Phytoplankton to my Copepod Farm (for Mandarin), so if I feed my brine shrimps ( after hatching the PhytoFeast), allow them to mature and become semi-adults don't they become nutritious by having their guts loaded with it? Or not? If not then the tiny brine shrimp might be only good for Mandarin, this Hawkfish can eat a whole frozen cube in a few bites. (Just like he polished off my Emerald Crab).

 

[Wally.B]

So I coming to a hypothesis (It's my Lighting, and then a one-two punch with the Amphipods)

I dipped the dwlinding Acan in both dips, and decide not to put back in tank.

It went into Sump with almost recovered Zoa's.

Just a few hours, under the super low LED Sump Light, and he POPPED back to life. (Dips may have helped).

So my Kessil light is too strong (over 40% for Acan, and Zoa's).
(They get light damaged and along come the Amphipod to pick a the damaged, receding Acan, and possibly same reason for Zoa's.)

Maybe I didn't need the Hawkfish at all. Hey I like him a lot, he's a keeper, and my first on only fish for now.

So I'm going to now have to figure out better Light Senstive Coral placements, and a real slow ramp up test of the Kessil/T5 Lighting. (And figure out the limit). Then try to make the other LPS corals happy too, with more lighting by better Upper Placements.

I learned a lot, and still am learning.

Thanks for everyone's helps.

I'll post more progress on the Zoa's if I manage to get them into my tank and prosper.