help with button polyps

[scarter]

well heres the deal, Three seperate colonies of button polyps are closed up and have been that way for about four months. They never open, but do not seem to be receding at all. The colonies seem to be as large as they were before this all happened.
I also have many smaller zoos that are doing fine. This only seems to effect the larger colonies. I have looked closely and do not see any sign of predators, such as nudibranches.
I have tried moveing them to higher light, less light, more flow, less flow. I cant seem to get them to open.
I have only one guess at to what happened. I am guessing, for lack of a better explination, that they were stung by another coral. Thats the only thing I can think of.

all of my parameters are in check.
200 gallon with 2x 400w MH 20,000k (no, they are not in direct light)
I keep a mixed reef.
please help me, these are large colonies and I do not want to loose them.


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[EvilInSin]

You know I had a few frags just close up on me for several weeks too. I couldnt find no reason for it, there are only other zoos in the tank with my cleanup crew (sexy shrimp and snails). I finally moved them out to my husbands bigger older tank and they opened right up. The big tank is only a 46gal, but is over 2 yrs old and is a mixed reef. I am guessing that it has to do with how mature the tank is???
Zoos are just difficult sometimes.

ETA: also all the zoos that did this wihtout dieing were Zoanthus gigantus (sp) or the PE types.

 

[MinibowMatt]

sometimes zoas will close up for a few days to a week. if it has been longer than that there could be a predator or other organism irratating them. Did you do a FW/Lugols dip? If you dip them, you may find nudis you couldnt see, they are very skilled at hiding.

ALso, moving them isnt always the best thing to do. new lighting/flow conditions can cause them to stay closed longer.

IMO, i would do the MUcho's dip (from the stickies above) and then place them in medium flow, medium light and see what happens in the next few days.

 

[scarter]

il give it a shot