What a bleached Zoanthid looks like

[mollymonticello]

I bought this frag over the summer. I left for 2 weeks in August to visit another state. My mother in law was watching my tank while I was gone. When I came home, my pink zoanthid colony looked totally bleached and just showing a tiny bit of pink in the centers. There has also been some slime or like a web on it since then. Thank goodness it was the only thing amiss when I returned.

Now, 6 months later, it still looks like this (and is the only place where bubble algae grows):



It looked like this when I bought it:

I am shocked that these polyps have not completely melted away yet.

There is still a very small amount of pink at the centers. Here are a few of my other zoas:



params:

pH 8.3
alk: 11DKH
Ca 450
nitrate: 10

Do you guys think there is any chance of this thing coming back? It has looked this bad for months. I'm almost inclined to think it's dead. But it hasn't "melted away."

 

[kindafun]

How old are your lights?

I have been reading about dosing with Vitamin C, might be worth the try as people are saying it makes a big difference.

 

[Pufferpunk]

Here are my RPEs, a week after movig them to T5s from PC. I shaded the bulbs for 2 week but I guess that wasn't long enough.

Another colony of RPEs:

 

[jabis96]

ttt

 

[mollymonticello]

I just replaced my bulbs, I do have T5s. And I use Marine C. I must have had these too close to the light before I left for vacation. I've been waiting over 6 months for these polyps to "perk up." They are not getting any better or any worse.

 

[Jazmine18]

So are PC'sr T5's to strong for zoos?

 

[mollymonticello]

If you don't acclimate them to the light they can bleach