I recently bought 4 frags of some spas for my 55 gal. My lighting is a coral life t-5 the four bulb fixture. Just replaced my atinics and the new 10,000K is on order. It's mid level in my tank, not too much current on them. Salinity is 1.024-1.025. Calcium is 450ish. Temp is 76-78. Ammonia is 0. Phosphates are 0. I have a 29 gal as well and I have brain corals and candy canes in there. Never had kick with zoas please help!
Zoa help!
- Thread starter trevmcc07
- Start date
BeanMachine
Active member
In my experience zoas like some flow. I would move them to a spot with medium flow.
Hard to tell from the pic but you may also have a nutrient issue as that looks like cyanobacteria on your rocks. That could also be the reason your zoas aren't opening.
Hard to tell from the pic but you may also have a nutrient issue as that looks like cyanobacteria on your rocks. That could also be the reason your zoas aren't opening.
BeanMachine
Active member
I meant nutrient issue ie elevated nitrates and phosphates. Although cyano can be difficult to kick as it doesn't take much of either to grow. I would suggest using the Dr. Tim's bacterial products or something similar. Good bacteria to out compete the bad bacteria (cyano). That and sucking it out with a small diameter piece of tubing.
Cyano also accumulates in areas of less flow where more detritus settles, so often times adding a powerhead helps as it keeps the detritus from setting and in the water column to be filtered out.
edinphilly
New member
Do you monitor your Alk? I had a hard time with zoas (lots of LPS thriving) until I got my alkalinity up and relatively stable.
I have two power heads on each end of the 55 that come on every minute, also pointing at my rocks. I'll try the good bacteria I also need more hermits too I know that
I haven't tested that in a very long time, I'll have to take a look at it
edinphilly
New member
I'd suggest doing some reading up on how calcium, magnesium and alkalinity all depend on each other and what range they should be in. Once you get it in check and figure out how much your corals are using it is pretty easy to keep them all stable. Personally I was spending too much time/effort on calcium when alk is where you're better of spending time.
BeanMachine
Active member
I'm running bio pellets so if I let my tank get above 9.5 to 10 alk, a few of the acros will burn on the tips. Been there done that. My zoas are doing well just finding a good balance for your tank is the key.
Now I keep the alk between 8 to 8.5.
Now I keep the alk between 8 to 8.5.
BeanMachine
Active member
You should have someone else test your alk, maybe a friend or your local fish store just to confirm your test kit is somewhat accurate. What are you using?
Test kit im using is API GH/KH test kit. You count the number of drops it takes for the test tube to turn from blue to yellow. It was 14 drops.
edinphilly
New member
+1
I had a Salifert Mg kit go bad and finally a good LFS double checked for me and we were able to figure it out.
Get good tests done of your Mg, Alk and Calcium then post the results. The three are interdependent so knowing one number isn't enough. And you'll want to slowly correct from there to get to where you want to be.
My calcium is 450ish. PH is super high at 8.6. Alk is around 13.
ChimolaFish
New member
API test kits are typically junk, like most people said, get it done by a store using salifert or red sea
ReyR
New member
You mean your KH is 13-14 right? Alk should be much lower... Like 2.5-2.9 meq/L. I'm just now staying to read up alkalinity.
