zoa issues. Please help
- Thread starter Dreamscape4
- Start date
I think it could be as siple as too much flow, or as you suggested, "squinting" from too much light. I gradually moved my zoas around every few weeks and they did that when I had them up mid to high with heavy flow. They seem to prosper in a slightly shaded with medium flow. Situation is different for all different zoas but maybe move them and wait a week or so to gauge the results.
I was at one of my favorite LFS in the area over the weekend and the owner brought me back to the prop tank in the back room.
They had a lot of zoanthids and paly's going on back there and he was showing me signs of how to tell what the polyp needs.
I believe he mentioned when a polyp is stretching like this it is reaching for more light. He then showed me other polyps that were fully recessed and almost flat as could be on the frag, and he said these were getting too much light.
Hope that helps. I have a few Zoa's that reach like this and I placed them higher in the tank they seemed to do better.
-Mark
Joshporksandwic
Premium Member
+1 on what mark said. They need more light.
Dreamscape4
In Memoriam
Thanks for your responses. I have a few different kind that way. I will increasemh Led lighting. I currently have it on the lowest setting. How long before I notice them reacting to the higher intensity?
modernREEF
New member
Don't bump your lights up too fast, search around but I think 5-10% every 1-2 weeks is a good target.
Dreamscape4
In Memoriam
K thx
faceman
New member
IME the stretching doesn't always mean it needs more light. I had 2 palys stretched out and both in mid light. I moved one up and one down in a lightly shaded area. The higher up frag stayed the same and the shaded one went back to normal and looked much better. I would try moving it in dif places before playing with the lights.
Hello Dreamscape. There is a question near the bottom of this page entitled, "Question about zoas", that is relative to your situation (question). I absolutely agree with Faceman in that elongating polyps isn't always a result of a lack of light. There are numerous reasons which I listed in the link below. I have witnessed many tank with ample light yet the majority of said polyps were still reaching. Please read this thread below and the attached links. Good luck my friend and I hope it adds some clarity to your concerns.
http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2279258&highlight=mucho+long+skirts
MUCHO REEF
Dreamscape4
In Memoriam
Grax Mucho for your input. I will go now and read the thread. As an update I moved them closer to the light and they are starting to look a little better. I will post a pic later on to show. Also checked my parameters, update is below:
Nitrates < 5.0ppm
Phos 0
Cal 450
Mag 1350
Alk 12
Ph 7.7
Sal 1.027
My biggest problem has been my alk. Just tested my freshly made saltwater (Reef Crystals) and noticed that the alk was at 10! I would like it to be less than that. So I will be switching to Red Sea Pro. I blame the high Alk on my previous salt mix - Kent's.
Nitrates < 5.0ppm
Phos 0
Cal 450
Mag 1350
Alk 12
Ph 7.7
Sal 1.027
My biggest problem has been my alk. Just tested my freshly made saltwater (Reef Crystals) and noticed that the alk was at 10! I would like it to be less than that. So I will be switching to Red Sea Pro. I blame the high Alk on my previous salt mix - Kent's.
you should experiment with the levels in which you place the zoas in your tank... low med high etc.... if they need more light they will stretch out their necks toward the surface.... if they have too much light they will "squint" and close up.... only way to find the ideal place for a specific zoa is to find its individual preference zone. hope this helps
