Zoa Help?

[wcroft987]

I have read the countless threads about Zoas.

I have had one frag for about 2 weeks (the bigger rock) and the open a little but barely, then closed and have barley reappeared. I dipped them with no change and started Vit C so see if it would help.

Went to my LFS and told them the Zoas weren't opening so they tested my water, said it looked good and gave me another frag to compensate for the first set not opening.

So, the newest addition seems to be doing good, some open all the way, some partially open. Why is this? they are at the same height in the tank, same flow, i just don't understand!

 

[TjwBlake]

before going too much further can you post your actual parameters? and did you test your water as well?

Also what kinds of livestock do you have in there?
Have you noticed anything on the frag? spots, coloration, etc?

 

[reefwars]

compare your lights with the one at the lfs, could be getting use to the new lights


dont forget to check for pests, dips dont kill their eggs

 

[wcroft987]

I haven't seen any pests, the lfs had LEDs, I have some small LEDs and a 75w MH that I only run for 2 hrs but haven't used in a week or two bc of the zoanthids and I know everyone says to acclimate them to the lighting.

As for parameters,
Ph 8
Nitrate ~5
Nitrite 0
Ammonia 0
Calcium 440
KH 10
Specific gravity 1.023 which I am working on bringing up a little

 

[wcroft987]

I haven't seen any pests, the lfs had LEDs, I have some small LEDs and a 75w MH that I only run for 2 hrs but haven't used in a week or two bc of the zoanthids and I know everyone says to acclimate them to the lighting.

As for parameters,
Ph 8
Nitrate ~5
Nitrite 0
Ammonia 0
Calcium 440
KH 10
Specific gravity 1.023 which I am working on bringing up a little

Live stock
2 black onyx clowns
1 antias
1 coral beauty
1 skunk cleaner
1 small bubble coral
1 green star polyp
And the 2 zoas you saw

 

[TjwBlake]

I haven't seen any pests, the lfs had LEDs, I have some small LEDs and a 75w MH that I only run for 2 hrs but haven't used in a week or two bc of the zoanthids and I know everyone says to acclimate them to the lighting.

As for parameters,
Ph 8
Nitrate ~5
Nitrite 0
Ammonia 0
Calcium 440
KH 10
Specific gravity 1.023 which I am working on bringing up a little

Live stock
2 black onyx clowns
1 antias
1 coral beauty
1 skunk cleaner
1 small bubble coral
1 green star polyp
And the 2 zoas you saw

It is possible the coral beauty is nipping the zoas.. have you seenit bothering them?
Everything else looks not bad, SG is low but not horrible.

Are you saying you haven't turned on your MH lights in a couple weeks? If so thats probably part of the issue.. they need light. What you should be doing is keeping your lights on at the regular schedule and putting your zoas on the bottom of the tank and moving them up to the light level they want. IF they arent getting the light they need they may be getting unhappy by now.

 

[wcroft987]

No, the coral beauty has been good, not nipping anything but rock.

And yes, I have left off the MH. So how much should I run it then? Only a few hours a day until they get useto the lighting?

 

[TjwBlake]

No, the coral beauty has been good, not nipping anything but rock.

And yes, I have left off the MH. So how much should I run it then? Only a few hours a day until they get useto the lighting?

How big is the tank?
Just turn them on for your normal photo period.. 7ish hours.. keep them on the bottom of the tank and let them go

 

[BrianN]

Your Nitrate is very high. And remember when you bring Salinity up, the Alk and Ca will be higher too.

 

[reefwars]

Your Nitrate is very high. And remember when you bring Salinity up, the Alk and Ca will be higher too.

disagree there , nitrates at 5ppm isnt bad i target my zoanthid dominated cube at 10ppm and have for years

 

[wcroft987]

ok i will turn the lights on more, it is a 29g

and nitrate is only one color marker from 0 so i didnt think it was too high

 

[reefwars]

How big is the tank?
Just turn them on for your normal photo period.. 7ish hours.. keep them on the bottom of the tank and let them go

+1 if they are under leds at the store then they need more light in your tank if your running your halides off

 

[wcroft987]

Ok. Thanks. I will let you know what happens.

 

[Sith2095]

Agree with the lights. Nitrates however are fine.

I had a similiar issue with one of the first zoa frags I first bought. Got it home and was all excited, put it up high so I could see it better and they did not do well. Moved them further down the tank and they opened up about a day later and were much happier.