Faded hawaiians

[Foxxy]

I picked up a small frag of some hawaiian zoos 2 weeks ago and they were one of the last frags left from that shipment, so probably not the most vibrant to begin with. They were a bit stressed by the time I got them home and acclimated, and i noticed 1 very tiny polyp was already dark and closed up.. I have a column tank and set them near the middle, but my cleaner shrimp was throwing a fit about sharing that space and wouldn't leave the frag alone and actually knocked it off the rock over night :hmm5:

So they've been on the substrate since and being left alone. One polyp up and vanished over a night, I have NO idea who or what happened to that guy, but the rest open up nicely (minus the 1 mini polyp that I assume is a goner) but they're so pale to me. There is still speckling and the mouth is green, but what I can do to bring back the more vibrant coloring?

 

[A. Grandis]

Where they pale like that at the store?
What store?
Pics?

Grandis.

 

[A. Grandis]

I meant:
Were they pale at the store?
What store did you buy them?
Pics?

Grandis.

 

[Foxxy]

I meant:
Were they pale at the store?
What store did you buy them?
Pics?

Grandis.

They were not as pale at the LFS, but they weren't completely bright and vibrant like you would expect either. We only have 1 LFS here so I get everything through them.. What I do know is they found a new supplier for the Zoas, because it is the first time in a year they've had any.

I'm trying to get a decent pic for you!

 

[Foxxy]

As far as my 15 gal tank goes:
temps average around 80-81
all my params have been stable for a long time
Haven't added anything else to the tank in months and only keep 2 clowns, cleaner shrimp, an a turbo in there
I have a T5 and moonlights
oh and my water comes from about a mile out off the beach: same source the LFS uses.

 

[A. Grandis]

What's the name of the store?
Where is the source of water?
What are the number for the params? Alk, phosphates, nitrates, calcium, magnesium?
What T5s are you using? How many tubes and what fixture?
Did they tell you who is the supplier for the zoas they've got?
Pics?
Please.

The more info the better chances for people to help you out.

Grandis.

 

[Foxxy]

Faded hawaiians

What's the name of the store?
Where is the source of water?
What are the number for the params? Alk, phosphates, nitrates, calcium, magnesium?
What T5s are you using? How many tubes and what fixture?
Did they tell you who is the supplier for the zoas they've got?
Pics?
Please.

The more info the better chances for people to help you out.

Grandis.

Sorry, I only know the more "basic" info. I'm still pretty new to this game so bear with me please as I want to learn more and continue this for a long time Also, didn't realize you're in Hawaii so I didn't list names/places figuring nobody would know them, haha.

They came from Coral Fish in Aiea/pearl. Don't know the supplier, the kid working that day didn't know any info about them and the owner wasn't there that day either.
Water comes from off Sand Island. I always test it before adding it to the tank though when I do changes.
pH is 8.2
No ammonia/nitrites
1.024 salinity
Nitrates are between 10-20ppm according to the color matching..
I don't know specifics on the lights, my boyfriend installed them for me. I can guess but don't want to say wrongly and will wait to ask him. There's 2 tubes though.

Took this today, they seem to be "peeling" skin or something and look fat because of it on the tubes. All still open/close nicely and I'll get a pic in the moonlights later, but the day obviously shows more of what my concerns are.

Thank you for your help

 

[A. Grandis]

Thanks for the answers.
Yep, I know the store and the owner.
I know who is their supplier too. All very nice guys.

Those polyps aren't that bad at all. It will get a little darker than that after a while and it is probably adapting to your lights right now. Hope they are good reef lights!!

I'll give you some valuable tips:

1) Use Instant Ocean, from Coral Fish Hawaii instead the Sand Island water! That's what I do.
Even if you don't have an RO/DI filter for your tap water, that would be better than the Sand Island water.
Just trust me on that!
If you ask around People will tell you that I'm crazy. I'm not.
They are cheap and don't want to spend the money for the salt. That's all.
Most people prefer to believe the sand island water is good.
I buy those buckets once a year and last for long time"¦
If you want the BEST for the polyps use water from a clean beach or salt mix, not the Sand Island water.
Sand island water is OK for a fish only tank, but not the best for any type of tank.

2) Leave the polyps alone and avoid move them around. They'll probably be fine and start to reproduce soon if conditions are great. Their colors are the ones found in the ocean. They were recently collected. Colors will change to a darker, more vivid pattern, if you care for them and have an optimal system.

3) Stability and maintenance schedule with a combo of good chemistry, skimmer, lights and optimal water flow. That's what zoas need in our systems.

4) I would change the black substrate for aragonite sand or coral sand. You need to do that slowly, once a month a little here and there, while doing water changes, so you don't kill the bacteria present in the black substrate. The bacteria will populate the new substrate and therefore everything should be fine. Black substrates may contain metals and other "impurities". Not the best.

5) Your nitrates should be close to undetectable. You probably need to do more water changes. Don't get higher volumes at a time, but perhaps every week or so. Common sense on that.

6) make sure your temperature isn't that high!!!!! Best would be 79°F. If you don't have a chiller you can put fans on the top to help cool the system down through evaporation on a 45° angle to the surface. That would drop only about 3 to 4°F though, depending on the air circulation close to the aquarium's location. Chiller would be the best, of course!!!

7) The "peeling skin" is a normal thing that comes with some Hawaiian zoas from certain areas. I don not recommend to pell it off. Just leave it. It will fall off after a while.

8) Your pH is probably lower than 8.2. I would double check on that.

You're very welcome and have a great weekend!:thumbsup:
Aloha!

Grandis.

 

[Foxxy]

Thank you!! I will take all that in and do what I can
I do have some instant ocean. I bought it when I initially set up the tank and have a decent amount left. Too bad, Sand Island is so convenient! Haha.

 

[A. Grandis]

Thank you!! I will take all that in and do what I can
I do have some instant ocean. I bought it when I initially set up the tank and have a decent amount left. Too bad, Sand Island is so convenient! Haha.

No problem.
If you've got the salt just try it again. You'll see what a mean.
Some people can solve all the problems they're having just by changing to salt mix and not using SI water.
SI water isn't convenient, but cheaper. The convenient is to have the salt and water at home.:thumbsup:

Grandis.

 

[A. Grandis]

One more thing:
Very, very important!!
Please read to inform yourself about Palytoxin.
All zoas have some, and Hawaiian zoas could have a lot!!

Some LFS refuse to deal with zoanthids because of the risk of Palytoxin!!!

http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1858696

Goggles, gloves and a closed mouth are a must when handling them.
No kids/pets around and clean all the area and instruments really good after dealing with any type of zoas.
If you are allergic you could die very fast, when Palytoxin goes in your circulatory system!!

Please be safe!
Grandis.

 

[Foxxy]

Will do! Appreciate the advice

I did read up on that before my purchase and have been quite cautious so far!

 

[Reefa25]

Hawaiians love low light. Mine have all regained color as well as growth once i placed them on bottom of tank.

 

[A. Grandis]

Hawaiians love low light. Mine have all regained color as well as growth once i placed them on bottom of tank.

All Hawaiian polyps can be found in really, really shallow waters around tide line.
They actually love lots of light, as far as I know. They love metal halides too!!

There must be something missing there"¦
They're probably not Hawaiian polyps?

Grandis.