Corals in need of expertise

[Mardukumz]

So I've noticed that a few of my Zoas have been elongated in the neck but are opened up, all my corals are doing pretty good I was fighting a low nutrient battle for a while but I got my nitrates up and everything is starting to blossom. My parameters are:

Sal: 1.024
Cal: 450
Alk: 8
Nitrate 8ppm
Phos: .04
Lighting: Radion gen 2

If y'all can gimme some pointers on what to do that'd be great.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[BeanMachine]

Try moving them up in the tank some... baby steps and see if they improve.

 

[weelo111]

The 3 things I notice when zoas start reaching is not enough lighting, or salinity/alk swings. Are you running an ATO?

 

[MreasyC]

Consider what depth they are at in the tank, and what % power you are running your radion at. They probably need more light. Also could be a shading problem from other corals above them. Also if they are outside of the recommended light coverage radius for the fixture.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[pga7602]

I'm going with needs more light.

 

[Mardukumz]

Those bowsers were actually higher up in the tank and I decided to move them down a little and they've been thin like that regardless.. I'm running Randy's two part alk and calc.

And my radions are at like 50% strength, should I bump up the strength?


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[thegrun]

I agree, increase the lighting, but do it slowly over a couple of weeks. No more than a 10% weekly increase, so start with 55%, then 60%...

 

[Mardukumz]

What percentage strength would you say is a good stop?


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[Mardukumz]

Nd I'm using the 14000k spectrum that comes integrated with the lights


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[dodgerblew]

If your other corals are doing good then I'd move the ones needing more light up. I myself wouldn't change the light

 

[Mardukumz]

If your other corals are doing good then I'd move the ones needing more light up. I myself wouldn't change the light

Yeah i was going to leave it as is I don't want to shock or over light my corals cuz of two Zoas. I did however bring those down from higher up and they were still like that in the upper region of the tank. My other zoos are nicely planted on the plugs lol


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[macdaddynick1]

If you dosed too much magnesium, or your magnesium is too high , zoas don't like that. Your tank might be too clean for zoas also, feed your fish more, add more flow.

 

[five.five-six]

One way to increase light is to clearify the water. GAC works well and is cheep but be carful. Depending on how yellow your water is ( you won’t see the yellow) clearing it up can make a significant increase in light.

 

[dodgerblew]

One way to increase light is to clearify the water. GAC works well and is cheep but be carful. Depending on how yellow your water is ( you won't see the yellow) clearing it up can make a significant increase in light.

Very very carefully. You can burn the corals. In my opinion if the Zoas are open I'd just chill and watch. My concern is when Zoas are closed for an extended period of time. That indicates a problem to me. The bottom of my 60 cube is dominated by zoas and palys growing on the bare bottom and glass. My most dominant being the Tyree Orange Rainbow paly. They're all extended and they're all healthy and multiplying. Sometimes and I emphasize sometimes, not all the time, less interference is best.

 

[JustAClownFish]

So I've noticed that a few of my Zoas have been elongated in the neck but are opened up, all my corals are doing pretty good I was fighting a low nutrient battle for a while but I got my nitrates up and everything is starting to blossom. My parameters are:

Sal: 1.024
Cal: 450
Alk: 8
Nitrate 8ppm
Phos: .04
Lighting: Radion gen 2

If y'all can gimme some pointers on what to do that'd be great.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

They're reaching for the light. IMO you can blast zoas with lots of PAR. I have some on the bottom of one tank and some in the top half and the ones in the top grow bigger and faster than the ones on the bottom.

 

[Mardukumz]

If you dosed too much magnesium, or your magnesium is too high , zoas don't like that. Your tank might be too clean for zoas also, feed your fish more, add more flow.

I started dosing neonitro for nitrates instead of feeding like crazy, my fish were getting obese lol


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[Mardukumz]

Very very carefully. You can burn the corals. In my opinion if the Zoas are open I'd just chill and watch. My concern is when Zoas are closed for an extended period of time. That indicates a problem to me. The bottom of my 60 cube is dominated by zoas and palys growing on the bare bottom and glass. My most dominant being the Tyree Orange Rainbow paly. They're all extended and they're all healthy and multiplying. Sometimes and I emphasize sometimes, not all the time, less interference is best.

I was thinking of adding carbon to clean the water a bit but since I never added any chemicals to the tank besides neonitro, I was a bit hesitant. Think that's a good idea?


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[dodgerblew]

I think running carbon is fine but whether running carbon will increase par enough to get them to stop stretching remains to be seen. If you do attempt to run carbon heed Marks advice and do it very slow as the clarity it'll create can and will burn the corals if to much carbon is used. I know, I've done it. I don't run carbon myself because I don't have room for a reactor but if I did have the room I probably would but mines doing well without it. If you do want to try higher par is your Radion hung in such a way that you can lower the light an inch or two instead of moving coral or changing light program? I am of the opinion that corals will adapt to good lighting whether it's more blue or more yellow in color or higher and not as high par and the more you mess with lighting the more you mess with the corals. They want stability. My opinion is still I'm not seeing what I would consider a "problem"

 

[bowlopho]

If it’s just 2 zoas doing that, some zoas just do better in some tanks than others. Just cross your fingers and hope for the best lol. How long have you had them? Is the plug glued down?

 

[JustAClownFish]

I would run some carbon. It really helps with water clarity and PAR. Just put them high up and see if they will recover. They really probably need more light.