New Zoas not opening...

[Coraline2020]

Hey everyone..

Here's the scoop: On Saturday I picked up some nice Zoas from a fish store about two hours from home. I got them home in the cooler I brought for the trip, drip acclimated for 1 hour and put them in my tank. They were open nicely at the store, but have not openned since I brought them home. I have two other zoas already, both of which opened immediately after acclimation, so I'm confused.

Here are the tank params and inhabitants:
Aquapod 24G with 70WHQI
(19 deep with 2" LS & 25lbs LR)
Spec Gravity: 1.025
Temp: 77-79 (night vs. day)
nitrites, ammonia 0
nitrates <15
calcium 420
dkh 9
pH 8.3
I run Carbon and Purigen on regular basis, and do 20% water changes every 4-7 days.

Ocellaris Clown, Yellow Watchman, Longnose Hawk, Springer's Dottyback, Skunk Cleaner Shrimp, Spotted Linckia Starfish, Green Star Polyps, Yellow Leather, Gorgonian, Condy Anemone, Yellow Polyps, Crocea Clam, misc. snails and crabs, Feather Duster and Cocoa Worm.

Initally placed all new Zoas on sand bed in indirect light so not to shock them...this am moved one frag about 1/3 way up rockwork for stronger lighting...still no opening. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks, Liz

 

[pdwife]

I would not worry too much about it. Some are more finicky than others. Just let them be for a while. Did you FW dip them? That can irritate them for a few days. If you havn't I would.
You might want to slow down on the 20% water changes every 4 days though. IMHO
What was the lighting at the LFS?

 

[Coraline2020]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7465453#post7465453 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by pdwife
I would not worry too much about it. Some are more finicky than others. Just let them be for a while. Did you FW dip them? That can irritate them for a few days. If you havn't I would.
You might want to slow down on the 20% water changes every 4 days though. IMHO

Thanks pdwife...

No FW dip...what is the purpose of FW dip?...I did inspect during acclimation for sundial snails, bristle worms etc...Too much on water changes??? I don't have a skimmer, so worried about nitrates etc...trying to get them below 15.

 

[MarvinsReef]

please read up on the sticky up on this forum regarding FW dips..

as for you newly arrived zoas, I would give them couple more days to recover... then if you can post some pics, we would be able to dianose better..

good luck..

Marvin

 

[Coraline2020]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7465597#post7465597 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by MarvinsReef
please read up on the sticky up on this forum regarding FW dips..

as for you newly arrived zoas, I would give them couple more days to recover... then if you can post some pics, we would be able to dianose better..

good luck..

Marvin

Thanks Marvin...

Going to read right now...sorry, didn't see the sticky earlier...

 

[Coraline2020]

OK...dip done per instructions on sticky...now we wait...if not better in a couple of days, I'll post pics...

Thanks everyone...

 

[Coraline2020]

Zoas still closed...I guess I'm learning patience the hard way!!!

 

[ficklefins]

Yeah the wait is hard but ther are a few signs you should watch out for. If you see these then assume that something may be wrong (not including pests like nudis).

1) Zoas not opening and actually shrinking to the point at which they look like nothing. They shrink like the wicked witch and your clean up crew will eat them.

2) Your polyps start to pinch at the base and realse into the water column. I had this happen in the last few weeks and it is hard to keep track of the loose zoas. BTW the frag ended up loosing 80% of the polyps but the remaining polyps are looking strong with no sign of detach.

3) Fuzzy white color over them. This is normally a sign of a fungus which may be a condition of your placement. Try putting your zoas in higher current and light.

The above are just in my experience and I'm sure others will chime in on how their experience has differed. In the end we all wish you the best of luck.

 

[Coraline2020]

Thanks for the advise/warning "ficklefins"...So far none of those symptoms...YEAH

I called the LFS they came from today to confirm original lighting...they where being kept under VHO's...I have 70W HQI and Zoas are on the sandbed ~20" below lighting and off to the side...LFS suggested shielding them further from the light and bringing them out slowly...What do you guys (and gals) think??