Is the Culprit Zoa Spiders?

[A. Grandis]

I don't know, but people did report irritation from copepods and predation from amphipods.
The two types of "pods" are very distinctive from each other and both types have herbivores and carnivores species. Some species are both.
I know some herbivore amphipods can irritate zoas without eating them, specially when in high numbers. I do see some of my herbivore amphipods around my zoas' coenenchyme and they kinda close sometimes, but not a big deal. I have a chalk bass and it takes care of the population pretty well.

Normally people solve the problem with other fishes, like dragonets and wrasses, I guess.

It's really hard for me to tell you if they are doing some damage or not once there are so many types and species of what people call "pods". You'll need to observe closely and see for yourself.

If they are really tiny they are probably copepods. Could they be red bugs?

When the polyps stay close for long time, or when the "pods" reach great numbers, is when you have to decide what to do. Look for damaged spots and act fast if you find open wounds!

Please pay special attention to remove all the hermit crabs now. Perhaps the "pods" aren't bad at all!

Grandis.

 

[swsm]

Thanks for all of your help!

My tank is so small that I don't think a wrasse or a dragonet would be appropriate. It seems to only be zoas in that specific area that are affected...

I don't believe they're red bugs since they're kind of a skinny long shape. They're brown. That's the best I can describe it since I can barely see them (they're smaller than a tiny grain of sand).

I can see the scratch marks from the hermit on my zoa with a little bit of the zoa's color coming through the scars... should I dip it in Revive Coral Cleaner? That's what the fish store told me to do.

I have about 6 small colonies of zoas and all of them are doing fine except for the two I had mentioned. I took out the Sunny D's and put them in Revive yesterday and glued it to a different location. It has yet to open up. Do you think I can get away with removing just the hermit crab that I know is doing the damage?

Thanks again Grandis!

 

[SushiGirl]

Where in the middle of the pic are they?

 

[swsm]

They're an inch to the left of the clown fish. They're in the exact middle of the picture.

 

[SushiGirl]

Ok. I thought maybe they were under that frogspawn or torch upper right of center. Make sure they're where something can't sting them. My guess on the hermit is it's trying to clean up the dying zoas. My hermits all live among my zoas & they have no interest in them. Crabs are difficult to tell, though. Maybe the zoas want more flow or light. I'm having trouble with some new ones because the snails & my boyfriend keep moving them to less light & flow LOL.

 

[A. Grandis]

Thanks for all of your help!

My tank is so small that I don't think a wrasse or a dragonet would be appropriate. It seems to only be zoas in that specific area that are affected...

I don't believe they're red bugs since they're kind of a skinny long shape. They're brown. That's the best I can describe it since I can barely see them (they're smaller than a tiny grain of sand).

I can see the scratch marks from the hermit on my zoa with a little bit of the zoa's color coming through the scars... should I dip it in Revive Coral Cleaner? That's what the fish store told me to do.

I have about 6 small colonies of zoas and all of them are doing fine except for the two I had mentioned. I took out the Sunny D's and put them in Revive yesterday and glued it to a different location. It has yet to open up. Do you think I can get away with removing just the hermit crab that I know is doing the damage?

Thanks again Grandis!

I would just let them rest and keep an eye on them! I wouldn't dip at all and just watch without moving them around at all.
As I've said before, if you notice any more open wounds or films on them you should dip ASAP in Lugol's again. Most times it's not necessary.
I assume the open wounds they've got now are from the hermits, by what you've said.
Please just keep hermit crabs out of your system. The less disturbances for the zoas the better and easier to keep them in a good shape.

Grandis.

 

[A. Grandis]

Ok. I thought maybe they were under that frogspawn or torch upper right of center. Make sure they're where something can't sting them. My guess on the hermit is it's trying to clean up the dying zoas. My hermits all live among my zoas & they have no interest in them. Crabs are difficult to tell, though. Maybe the zoas want more flow or light. I'm having trouble with some new ones because the snails & my boyfriend keep moving them to less light & flow LOL.

Wouldn't be a bad idea to move the affected polyps to the sand for a while too.

SushiGirl: I recently removed my Turbos from the tank because they were knocking off some of the newer introduced zoas. They act like a bulldozer, with their great size, to do their job on the algae. Choosing smaller snail species would cut the problem in half.
You'll need to talk to your boyfriend as well. LOL!:thumbsup:

Grandis.

 

[SushiGirl]

I don't have turbos, just trochus. One is huge though. Neither the snails nor my boyfriend listen to me! :lol:

I think the biggest problem is flow. It's a 20L & the powerheads are weak.

 

[A. Grandis]

I don't have turbos, just trochus. One is huge though. Neither the snails nor my boyfriend listen to me! :lol:

I think the biggest problem is flow. It's a 20L & the powerheads are weak.

Yeah, well, I saw your tank pictures in another thread and left a message there a while ago in regards to your flow.

http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2223468

I think it could be a little stronger just by looking at the polyps' images.
I do agree with you about the flow blowing them around and the possibility of getting them off the rocks sometimes, yes, but it also makes most zoas to grow a little faster then when you have slow flow somehow.
Turbos really punch the new zoas. More than Trochus for sure.
You have a nice combination of zoa colors and beautiful colonies. :thumbsup:

Grandis.

 

[SushiGirl]

All those are in the 55, they're getting pretty good indirect flow, but not direct strong flow. I'm not at all disappointed in their growth, though I miss the long skirts that would probably result.

The 20L is where we're having the trouble, the powerheads we bought are super weak. Hard to find decent force without some giant powerhead in there or spending a fortune.

 

[A. Grandis]

I would try to give'm some slow direct flow.
Both for the 55 and the 20 gal.
They probably need more than they are having.
You won't regret!

Grandis.