Where to place Zoo's

[timr]

I have some Green Zoo's that are under a 175 watt AB 13k bulb. The bulb is about 10 inches above the water and the zoo's are about 20 inches from the bulb or 8 inches from the bottom of the tank. They don't seem to be opening up or growing very well. I have been doing 5 gallon water changes with Reef Crystals.

I also have a colt that is completely shrivled up. It is about 8 inches from the top.

Any thoughts?

 

[sambo123]

check your water parameters, what is your ph, temp(how much does it change throughout the day), nitrate, nitrite, ammonia, what kind of water are you using, additives?, protein skimmer?, filtration?, water flow(GPH) answer some of these ?'s and you will probably find the answer, many reasons why other than the light.

 

[timr]

This is a 29 gallon tank that has been established for 3 years. The zoo's have been in there for about 1.5 years.

PH is 8.3, Temp is running around 78 degree's with no noticable fluctuations. I am using RO/DI water with Reef Crystals. Salinity is at 1.23 right now. Water flow is from a Maxijet 1000 (250 gph) and a Rio 600 (200 GPH). I have the two head at the top of the tank pointing towards the middle giving me 15x's flowrate.



One thing important I forgot to mention is about 2 months ago my heater went bad and shot the temperature up to 95 degree's for a few days. Since then my encrusting gorgonia has completely come back but is white instead of brown (bleaching???). My GSP's are now starting to come back. I have a 5 head Frogspawn that is barely opening up but has not shown any signs of receding at the edges. Hopefully it will return.

The only additive I put in is a once a week dose of Kent's Iodine.

Any feedback to help get things straightened out is appreciated.

 

[sambo123]

They probably are still recovering from the heater problem, I would place all the corals low in the tank and slowly raise them up in the next few weeks, you could also try adding trace elements and calcium. Also answer these and you might find the problem:

Do you have any noticible nitrate/ nitrite/ ammonia levels, if so do a big water change.
Do you run a skimmer?
How long do you run the light?
Do you have any nuisence algae ( phosphate levels)
Chemical Filtration?
What other LS is in the tank?

 

[timr]

Sambo123,

Thanks for the reply, here are the answers:

1. I have to assume no ammonia or nitrites since the tank is very stable. I just did a 10 gallon water change and will be doing another 5 gallons this weekend.
2. I run a CCS65 skimmer
3. Lights are on at 2 PM and out at 10 PM
4. Had a very bad outbreak of nuisence algea in December. I was traveling and had not maintained the tank for a few weeks. With the water changes and increase in water circulation the algea seems to be under control. I'm heading to the LFS this weekend for some snails and hermits
5. I have been using carbon for the last week. Don't usually use any but probably will now make it a habit
6. Only 1 fish, a purple/yellow Psuedocromis
7. Corals include mushrooms, a small patch of GSP, 5 head Frogspawn (condition noted above), encrusting gorgonian, 1 colt coral in very bad shape from the heat issue. The colt was doing great but now is just all shriveled up and won't open.

Any other suggestions are appreciated.

 

[sambo123]

I would add some purigen/ chemipure to help with any bit of nitrite/ nitrate just to be sure. I would also try to keep a stable temp between 77-79F, so the corals stay open more. Also get a nice CUC of 1 snail(turbo/astrea/nassarius) per two gallons and 1 hermit(scarlet/ blue leg) per 3 gallons, to prevent algae and detrius. Maybe place the powerhead lower in the tank to get a more direct flow to the corals. Then keep all the corals at the bottom and slowly raise them up to were you want them in a period of a month or so, this will slowly get them used to the light and make them open more. Also try feeding some phytoplankton or marine snow (any brand is ok usually), so they will grow faster,open more, and have a better color, this also will increase the beneficial bacteria in your tank. Also add some trace elements (try reef plus) to mantain tank health ect.

Good Luck