Zoa health question

[Snookster]

Anyone every seen anything like the pic and know the cause? Colors are kind of faded, and of naturally all the nutrient tests are in line, so they're not helping me. I've recently added (month ago) a red LED to my sump and the chaeto is growing like crazy. I've noticed the duncans aren't as happy as they've been, and my GSP isn't even opening. SPS seems okay.

Just based on observation, I'm leaning towards low nutrients, but anyone who's observed anything like this, I'd like your 2 cents.

 

[BryanS4]

I'm not much of a zoa guy, but to me it looks like they are reaching for light.

 

[Snookster]

I can see that thought, just replaced bulbs about 3 months ago

 

[reefcrazy0821]

def stretching for the light, what type of lighting are you using and how deep is the tank they are in?

 

[BryanS4]

T5s?

I'm sure others who know zoas better will chime in, was just taking a stab. The ones I do have just seem more seated, or you can't see the stalk of them if that makes sense.

 

[Snookster]

4 t5s, 24 3w LEDS (rapidled kit) running at 50%. It's the same light setup I've run for 7 years (except for bulbs).

12 blue leds from 8:30am-10pm
6/6 blue/white leds from 9-9
2 t5s from 9:30-8
2 t5s from 10:30-6

Lighting doesn't explain the duncans and GSP though.

 

[Webmanny]

I'm with you on low nutrients. I went through the same thing after I started dosing vodka. I have no algae, but I now have to suffer nitrates weekly.

Test your phosphates and nitrates with a low range test kit to see where you really are.

You may need to dose one of the two.

 

[FloMotion]

Not sure if it's the picture quality, but it looks like white spots on the stalks in the bottom right of the pic... zoapox???

 

[Nwest]

I have noticed recently with my low nutrients that some of my zoas have closed up. I have since stopped dosing nopox to hopefully raise them back up a little bit. My NO3 are running .75 and phosphates are undetectable.

 

[Specfishin]

I agree with nutrients low. Possible light too. I have some though that have long stalks and some stay flat/flush. I would just compare to how you may have remembered the way the were looming in their prime. Good luck.

 

[rogergolf66]

What do u feed? Frozen? How often do u feed?

 

[Snookster]

What do u feed? Frozen? How often do u feed?

couple pinches of pellets daily, frozen mysis 3x week

 

[Snookster]

Update: I removed a large percentage of the chaeto, reduced the sum plighting period and have been feeding heavier. Starting to see an improvement. Haven't done a wc in 3 weeks (used to do 10g/week religiously).

Now, time to try to find that fine balance between not enough and too much nutrients.

 

[Webmanny]

wait... I think you changed too many things at once. I feel you will now see a change to the bad side. I would keep doing the water changes and maybe leave the light period for the sump the same way it was. Maybe the feeding heavier is a good thing and the reduced Chaeto, but making so many changes at once may carry an negative impact that will take longer to recover from.

I would much rather have extending Zoas than GHA all over the tank.

Just my two cents.

 

[Snookster]

wait... I think you changed too many things at once. I feel you will now see a change to the bad side. I would keep doing the water changes and maybe leave the light period for the sump the same way it was. Maybe the feeding heavier is a good thing and the reduced Chaeto, but making so many changes at once may carry an negative impact that will take longer to recover from.

I would much rather have extending Zoas than GHA all over the tank.

Just my two cents.

I do see what you are getting at. Last water change was before this condition started, and I'll probably do a small one next week. I only reduced the sump lighting period by 3 hours. Other than that, it's just an attempt to slow down the nutrient uptake and rebuild them a bit. I'm not feeding that heavy, I only have 5 small fish and 1 tang. I'm not feeding so much that food is getting not eaten. Just trying to "create" more fish poo. Trying keep those changes to a little at a time, after all, nothing good happens fast in this hobby.

 

[janes_mw]

I would bet on low nutrients. When I run my Zeo system to a target of ultra low nutrients, a Zoa and paly would not be seen. I have since let the nutrients run at low level but not ultra low and my Zoas have done well. Give em something to eat!

 

[mav3rick478]

That's what my zoas look like just before it's time for water change, pretty much when everything has sucked the life out of the water.

Sent from my SM-N915V using Tapatalk

 

[Snookster]

UPDATE: The issue appears to have been cyano. Credit to John @ FAIOS for catching.

I've been doing the daily sand stir, siphoning cyano off the rock and swapping socks almost daily for what seems like forever. I also swapped a 6045 Tunze with a mp40 and moved the rock piles a little further away from the back glass to get better circulation. Also stopped dosing carbon.

My zoas now appear to almost be back to 100% happy. My milli is actually starting to show it's poylps too.

 

[jaylensdad06]

agree with web many. for some reason my zoas that I had when my nutrients where way high haven't really recoverd form lawoering my nutrients to a more acceptable level. but the zoas I added after my perams were consistant and lower r doin great. too much change at once is worse then low nutirents

 

[nomorenames]

spoke to John from FAOIS yesterday and it seems we have the exact same issue so following his advice about how long did it take to clear up I see this post was from 7/22 is that about when you started?