Help! Zoas not opening!

[philtheso]

Hi guys,

Some background info on my tank:

It's a 34g Solana up and running for about 2 months now. I use Chemi-Pure Elite, Purigen, and filter floss in the central chamber. I have a Aquamaxx HOB-1 skimmer in the first chamber. I only use DI water for water changes. I used a 150w Sunpod with a new Phoenix bulb, which is on between 9-10 hours a day.

Problem:

Almost all of my zoas are closed up or barely open. They have been like this since my tank went up. They aren't dying I don't think, but they don't look very healthy.

My tank parameters have been stable at:

Temperature stable at 80 with 0.1 hysteresis
Nitrates at 0
Nitrites at 0
Ammonia at 0
Salinity at 1.025

I don't dose anything, I do weekly 15% water changes with Red Sea Coral Pro.

So again, does anybody have any idea why my zoas aren't healthy or opening? I do have a slight diatom bloom but I'm not sure if that's enough to elicit this response...


Status:

Hawaiian Sticky Punch: Open or fully opened most of the time
Tubbs Blue: Mostly closed
Nazanins: Mostly closed
Blowpop: Mostly closed
Lakers: Mostly closed
Candy Apple Red: Closed
Pink Zippers: Closed

Thanks for any help in advance!

 

[tiburone9162003]

What u feeding ur zoas?

 

[philtheso]

What u feeding ur zoas?

I'm not feeding anything in particular, but I was told that zoas/palys don't require special feedings..

I have a Carpenter's Flasher Wrasse, Percula Clown, and Purple Firefish in the tank.

I feed frozen Cyclopeeze and mysis shrimp every 3 days, New Life Spectrum pellets every 4 days, and Ocean Nutrition Formula One Flakes every other day.

 

[geoxman]

You and the tank are new.....give it time. What are you parims?? Temp, KH and PH?? I could care less about nitrate and ammonia good luck

edit..
Do you have an idea as to where these polyps came from and their requirements as far as light?
Hawaiian Sticky Punch: Open or fully opened most of the time
Tubbs Blue: Mostly closed
Nazanins: Mostly closed
Blowpop: Mostly closed
Lakers: Mostly closed
Candy Apple Red: Closed
Pink Zippers: Closed

I would first look at chemistry then figure out the flow and light for each type of polyp. Are these newly fragged polyps?? I am also guessing they are smaller frags..I could be wrong?? Any information is helpful

 

[haywood503]

sence you are running a skimmer you should be add some kind of trace elements to the tank...the skimmer takes most of the elements out over time...it does help to feed them as well...but not now sence they are closed! some kind of plankton when they open!! geoxman is right some zoas need more light then others...now that you are having some problems put them in a low spot with medium flow!

 

[geoxman]

ence you are running a skimmer you should be add some kind of trace elements to the tank...the skimmer takes most of the elements out over time...it does help to feed them as well...but not now sence they are closed! some kind of plankton when they open!! geoxman is right some zoas need more light then others...now that you are having some problems put them in a low spot with medium flow!

best of luck to you...but please do not give advice until you have a grasp of this hobby...In theory yes, but in reality, no! At least with his system. You are on the right track and keep absorbing all the information you can...good luck and keep collecting!


Alk?
PH?
Temp?
Water changes?
Do you have some idea of an origin of your polyps?


Any info would help...good luck!

 

[haywood503]

im just letting the guy know what works for me!! and it does work for me i get at lest 3-6 new polyps a month that way! he doesn't have to do it but if he want to try something new go for it....thats all!!!

 

[Scott-CapeCoral]

sence you are running a skimmer you should be add some kind of trace elements to the tank...the skimmer takes most of the elements out over time...it does help to feed them as well...but not now sence they are closed! some kind of plankton when they open!! geoxman is right some zoas need more light then others...now that you are having some problems put them in a low spot with medium flow!

He said he's doing 15% water changes Weekly. That's 60% a month.. His trace elements are fine.

You only have 3 small fish in the system, you could dial down those water changes some. Do you see diatom blooms by chance ? Doing water changes like that could be keeping your tank cycling. Your system is only 2 months old as is, you said they've been like this since they were introduced to your tank.. When might that have been? They could be recuperating from being added to soon. Your temp is a steady 80 you say, is that 24-7 or just during the day? Make sure your not dropping the temp to much in the night hours. Also, post your alk and ph like geo asked before.