Darn Zoa POX!
- Thread starter ErnieC
- Start date
Fishinfool
Reefer
Are you waiting at least a week after the 3 consecutive days of Furan 2 dips? I got better results doing that and only using about 12oz of tank water to mix the furan 2 with. I also did a 5 min RO/DI dip before putting back into my tank. If there are any polyps that look better than the others try fragging them off to save it. I was able to save 1 polyp from each of my affected colonies before they completely melted.
ErnieC
Member
Thanks for the info Fishnfool, I lost any whole colony's of zoas yet, it just seems that Zoapox has been circling through my system for weeks. I have been doing dips every three days in a small bowl of water. I have been researching ZoaPox and it seems to be a mystery why Zoas get this. I have atleast 30 different types of Zoas in my system and nearly all have had pox.
My love for Palys cant be stronger as they aren't affected.
Has anyone struggled with Pox and conquered it by making changes to their system? If so, what changes? any suggestions or experiences would be appreciated.
My love for Palys cant be stronger as they aren't affected.
Has anyone struggled with Pox and conquered it by making changes to their system? If so, what changes? any suggestions or experiences would be appreciated.
dark_stranger
New member
i have had pox on several occassions, but never dip (causes too much stress on zoa's) & simply leave the zoa's to recover in their own time. I have found that pox is brought on by temp swings, so get the temp stable & your half way there to beating the pox.
Friday Night
New member
what zoas are getting the pox bud?
Reef Junkie
Premium Member
Ooh, Zoa Pox sucks.
If you don't mind me asking, why are you running UV in your aquarium?
Cheers,
If you don't mind me asking, why are you running UV in your aquarium?
Cheers,
ErnieC
Member
Seems that I have gotten pox on nearly all my Zoas. I have been trying to stick with Palys lately in my trades because seems no matter what I get Pox. I run a chiller on my tank and it stays at a constant 77 degrees. I began using UV about a year ago and there was a noticeable reduction of Algae on my glass and my water was crystal clear. My Params have always been fine (well when I used to be obsessed and test all the time) and my tank has been set up for over 10 years.... I have stepped back from my tank over the last couple of months and keep my HANDS OUT, and only use B-Ionic every other day, and perform a 5 gallon water change weekly.
Pox still there though, I lost my Rastas this week matter of fact.....
Pox still there though, I lost my Rastas this week matter of fact.....
Last edited:
Reef Junkie
Premium Member
Typically if you remove the components of the tank one at a time, you may find out what the culprit is. Or... The zoas may be too far gone to wait for you to try every different scenario to solve the problem. If you have the option, try removing the colonies to a new tank or even a really good friends tank that has had success with zoas. Even though it hasn't been proven whether the pox is contagious, but from most aquarists accounts it isn't.
A 10 year old tank is nice, but keep in mind if you have a faulty piece of equipment or something leaching toxins into your water, that can also be a culprit. So check your equipment.
Do water changes.
Finally, I have never seen anyone have long term success running UV all the time. Try cutting back on its use. Maybe do half days and then every other day.
Personally, I would remove it completely, but the choice is yours.
Cheers,
A 10 year old tank is nice, but keep in mind if you have a faulty piece of equipment or something leaching toxins into your water, that can also be a culprit. So check your equipment.
Do water changes.
Finally, I have never seen anyone have long term success running UV all the time. Try cutting back on its use. Maybe do half days and then every other day.
Personally, I would remove it completely, but the choice is yours.
Cheers,
TampaSnooker
Active member
Ernie - if you are dipping every third day, your procedure may be off. Conventional treatment is dip 3 days in a row then take a couple days off. Treat another 3 days in a row if needed. I use 1 packet of Furan2 per half to full gallon of water. Stronger is OK to a point. I chatted with someone who uses a packet in 16 oz tank water.
ReefJunkie - from my experience, I disagree about them being contagious. Last time I brought in fresh 'deepwaters' they infected several colonies that had been growing for months - both in the DT and frag bin on separate systems.
ReefJunkie - from my experience, I disagree about them being contagious. Last time I brought in fresh 'deepwaters' they infected several colonies that had been growing for months - both in the DT and frag bin on separate systems.
Reef Junkie
Premium Member
So you think it is contagious?
I don't think it's contagious and still believe it's a response to temperature swings in the home/area. Especially when the ambient temperature of the room they are in drops or spikes significantly. Temperature swings are deadly and wreak havoc in the wild. In our aquariums, they happen and they happen quickly. That is what I think the killer is. Not how high or low, but how quick the temprerature swings.
Of course, I could be totally wrong too.:lolspin:
TampaSnooker
Active member
If there are no sick zoas in my stable tank and I add new zoas that get pox and old, stable colonies get pox, then I'd say it's contageous.
There does seem to be a pattern forming of pox hitting aquariums seasonally. Zoas grow in areas that can see a large sudden change. "deepwaters" grow in puddles and offshore species are subject to thermoclines. Ever been diving or snorkeling and felt the sudden change in temp 5-10 feet down? I believe that temp is one of several factors that can contribute to the spread of pox, but also factor in how recirculating systems don't flush bugs, wastes, etc away.
There does seem to be a pattern forming of pox hitting aquariums seasonally. Zoas grow in areas that can see a large sudden change. "deepwaters" grow in puddles and offshore species are subject to thermoclines. Ever been diving or snorkeling and felt the sudden change in temp 5-10 feet down? I believe that temp is one of several factors that can contribute to the spread of pox, but also factor in how recirculating systems don't flush bugs, wastes, etc away.
Reef Junkie
Premium Member
You could be right, but honestly we're both really just guessing.
I have felt severe thermoclines while diving, but one question is if you have a deepwater species that gets the pox because your aquarium is 10 degrees hotter than it's natural enviroment, how does the pox spread from an unhealthy deepwater species to a well established colony used to the higher temp if it is temperature related?
Also, what other factors could be causing the pox?
It would be nice to finally know exactly what the cause is.
I have felt severe thermoclines while diving, but one question is if you have a deepwater species that gets the pox because your aquarium is 10 degrees hotter than it's natural enviroment, how does the pox spread from an unhealthy deepwater species to a well established colony used to the higher temp if it is temperature related?
Also, what other factors could be causing the pox?
It would be nice to finally know exactly what the cause is.
chucktd321
New member
It seems like it is zoapox is hitting hard right now, you can read it across all differnt kinds of forums. It also seems the furan 2 is the ONLY way to go if you have it. I "thought" i had it beat but of course I went to the same shop again where i think i might've got it from and the frag looked fine but it def did spread pox in my tank. Has anyone here got rid of it and it never came back? Seems like it dwells in your system.
Reef Junkie
Premium Member
We have had an unusually HOT summer here in NY. I wonder where the pox is hitting the hardest?
TampaSnooker
Active member
They sneeze.
I suspect that the pox is some kind of virus or protozoan that has a juvenile phase that settles on the host and matures inside the cyst. When the cyst breaks, it probably releases babies/spores.
It's like in the wintertime here in FL when we are all healthy and acclimated to our environment and the tourists come into our habitat and bring different cold and flu bugs, so we all get sick when the family visits...
I can't believe that noone's dissected one of these and looked under a microscope.
chucktd321
New member
See i've heard that too and ive also heard that this is how they are releasing the "pox". Someone on here mentioned that they would pop all the blisters and didn't dip and it completely went away. We can't say that, thats a fix for everyone but it contradicts a lot of what we're are told about zoa pox.
Recently, i did pop all the sores on a frag in a seperate container and then dipped them and they look a lot better than the other frags. Im thinking this is kinda like how when someone gets poisen ivy it takes a while for it to heal without popping the blisters. Where as if you pop the blisters and put an ointment on the sores they heal much faster as long as you get rid of the oil from the ivy. In our case it would be the popping the sores and getting rid of all the "pus" and then dipping them.
Reef Junkie
Premium Member
Hahahaha:lolspin:
That could very well be it. I honestly don't have the answer. I do know that I love getting input on a disease that still hasn't been completely figured out. Especially since I love zoas. It's not like getting acro bugs or having a coral bleach.
TampaSnooker
Active member
I think that's why they got the name "pox". It's not acne. As a biologist, my best guess as to the success in popping the sore is that it may release spores before they are developed enough to cause infection.
Doesn't anyone have a microscope??? Lemme go make another rum drink and see if I have any more smart aleck ideas...:wildone:
