Melting vs. Self-Cleaning?

[MUCHO REEF]

Here's the problem: zoas commonly close up to clean themselves, and they also commonly close up to melt away like the delicate little princesses that they are :spin2:

I was hoping to get a discussion going on how to tell the difference. It seems that getting the melting colony out and dipped right away is one of the major factors governing success. On the other hand, taking colonies out and dipping when they were just closing to clean is unnecessarily stressful.

So what's the difference? So far I notice brown slime on the ones that are melting vs. none on those that are cleaning. Also, the general shape of the zoa is withered if melting and still 'plump' if cleaning.

Any other indications?

It's true, you're polyps will indeed periodically retract as a means of cleaning themselves externally. See # 25 in the link below.

http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/s...ight=25+reasons+why+your+polyps+won+t+expand+

When every single inch of rock in my tank was covered with over a hundred mature colonies, like clockwork, I would have periodic retraction. It occurred every 3 to 4 months. It would last 3, 4 to 7 days. I would say 70% of my polyps would do so throughout the year every year. Some as short as 2 or 3 days. I never worried because I knew my system and never lost a single colony which experienced retraction. I take that back, I did lose one or two which were sick when I purchased them.


So how can you differentiate common polyp retraction from polyp declining/melting etc ? There are several ways.

1. Polyp retraction is just that, retraction. There will be no physical changes other than retraction. It's common and it happens. I am a firm believer in keeping a daily log. I know how, when and where to expect certain colonies which will retract. Like someone said above, just listen to your reef and document what your reef tells you. See link below.

http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=785651&highlight=mucho+log




2. Polyp degredation/melting/decline will exhibit several charactoristics.

a. The polyp will begin to shrink in size.
b. It will begin to disintergrate.
c. It wil begin to bleach even while retracted.
d. Cuticle will begin to flake off.
e. If able to remove it, it will begin developing a very foul odor.
f. They will begin to detach from the rockwork.
g. Erect polyps will collapse and fall on their sides.


The one thing along when keeping a log which greatly helps and isn't discussed often enough is husbandry.

I feel there is far far far too much dipping going on these days. If a single polyp doesn't expand, the conventional wisdom now is to run a prepare a dip.
Why? If that were the case, I would be dipping every single week and that's no fun.


I hope this helps, good luck my friend.


MUCHO REEF
TOTM - August 2003

 

[MUCHO REEF]

"When every single inch of rock in my tank was covered with over a hundred mature colonies, like clockwork, I would have periodic retraction. It occurred every 3 to 4 months. It would last 3, 4 to 7 days. I would say 70% of my polyps would do so throughout the year every year. Some as short as 2 or 3 days. I never worried because I knew my system and never lost a single colony which experienced retraction. I take that back, I did lose one or two which were sick when I purchased them."


I forgot to add that during these periodic and predictable retractions that I experienced over the year due to the very reason I listed above, not once did I resort to dipping. I did however perform a dip with new arrivals, on a couple of occasions when I acquired nudis and a couple of times when I indeed had a few sick colonies. But I never dipped just because my polyps didn't open today.

I personally am not against dips, just the misuse of them just because polyps didn't expand today.


MUCHO REEF
TOTM - August 2003

 

[A. Grandis]

It's true, you're polyps will indeed periodically retract as a means of cleaning themselves externally. See # 25 in the link below.

http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/s...ight=25+reasons+why+your+polyps+won+t+expand+

When every single inch of rock in my tank was covered with over a hundred mature colonies, like clockwork, I would have periodic retraction. It occurred every 3 to 4 months. It would last 3, 4 to 7 days. I would say 70% of my polyps would do so throughout the year every year. Some as short as 2 or 3 days. I never worried because I knew my system and never lost a single colony which experienced retraction. I take that back, I did lose one or two which were sick when I purchased them.


So how can you differentiate common polyp retraction from polyp declining/melting etc ? There are several ways.

1. Polyp retraction is just that, retraction. There will be no physical changes other than retraction. It's common and it happens. I am a firm believer in keeping a daily log. I know how, when and where to expect certain colonies which will retract. Like someone said above, just listen to your reef and document what your reef tells you. See link below.

http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=785651&highlight=mucho+log




2. Polyp degredation/melting/decline will exhibit several charactoristics.

a. The polyp will begin to shrink in size.
b. It will begin to disintergrate.
c. It wil begin to bleach even while retracted.
d. Cuticle will begin to flake off.
e. If able to remove it, it will begin developing a very foul odor.
f. They will begin to detach from the rockwork.
g. Erect polyps will collapse and fall on their sides.


The one thing along when keeping a log which greatly helps and isn't discussed often enough is husbandry.

I feel there is far far far too much dipping going on these days. If a single polyp doesn't expand, the conventional wisdom now is to run a prepare a dip.
Why? If that were the case, I would be dipping every single week and that's no fun.


I hope this helps, good luck my friend.


MUCHO REEF
TOTM - August 2003

Hi MUCHO!!
How're you doing?

I saw the list. Thanks for link!!!
I just need to ask you... why do the zoas clean themselves externally?
What do they clean themselves of?
Is that part of their normal metabolism?
Do you see anything coming from them, like old skin or films?
I just want to understand, 'cause I never see anything myself.
I thought the people were just trying to put a name on the event or something.

Thanks very much in advance.

Grandis.

 

[A. Grandis]

"When every single inch of rock in my tank was covered with over a hundred mature colonies, like clockwork, I would have periodic retraction. It occurred every 3 to 4 months. It would last 3, 4 to 7 days. I would say 70% of my polyps would do so throughout the year every year. Some as short as 2 or 3 days. I never worried because I knew my system and never lost a single colony which experienced retraction. I take that back, I did lose one or two which were sick when I purchased them."


I forgot to add that during these periodic and predictable retractions that I experienced over the year due to the very reason I listed above, not once did I resort to dipping. I did however perform a dip with new arrivals, on a couple of occasions when I acquired nudis and a couple of times when I indeed had a few sick colonies. But I never dipped just because my polyps didn't open today.

I personally am not against dips, just the misuse of them just because polyps didn't expand today.


MUCHO REEF
TOTM - August 2003

Hi again,
I understood what you've meant about the dipping and I would hope others would understand as well.

My question again would in regards to the self cleaning...
Do the polyps do that only when they are very tight like clockwork, as you've mentioned? Or they could do the self cleaning while still on plugs? Sometimes they look like clockwork even on plugs too, so...

Sorry for some many questions.
Very good subject!!!
Thanks very much for the info and for the posts!!
:thumbsup:

Grandis.