I began converting my 55 gallon FOWLR tank into more of a reef tank a couple months ago. My LFS and my own research pushed me to start with a small colony of zoas because they are fairly hardy. Well, I've noticed the zoa colony isn't looking as great lately so I've been monitoring my chemistry.
Sp. gr. 1.024-1.026
NH4 - 0
NO3 - 0
PO4 - 0
Ca2+ - 360-380
dKH - 8-9
I know the Calcium is low. I've been trying to supplement it, but I never see it really move. I'm using a marine salt still and when mixed, there's only 340 mg/L Ca2+ present. I just recently ordered a Mg test ( didn't even think to buy one until last week when I couldn't get my Ca to move ). Hopefully I'll have that Wednesday.
This is titled "Zoa Pox", right? Well, like an idiot, I've been staring at these white spots on my zoas since.... day two in my tank? I didn't think anything of them. I know, I failed in my research. Admittedly, I saw hardy and went, "OK! I'll ask my LFS guy!". The zoas were opening every day and appeared fine. I only saw the white spots in the mornings when the zoas were closed. I assumed it was normal. It wasn't until a couple days ago that I noticed the lesions were raised and looked more like a zit to me than anything.
I've ordered Furan. It won't be here until next week. Zoa pox look like staph plaques to me. Alright, I have access to Cephalexin, I'll do 30 min dips every 12 hours with rinses before putting them back in the tank. I'm using 250mg cehpalexin dissolved in a cup of saltwater. The solution is being floated in my DT with a gallon ziplock bag. As you can see in the before picture, the colony looks pretty rough. I think something, at this point, is better than just watching them melt.
I'm posting this because I thought it might be useful to someone else looking for a Furan alternative. I couldn't find an answer to the causative agent involved in zoa pox, but I did find a thread saying cepha was effective in treatment. I've also read of colonies self eliminating without treatment, so I'm not overly convinced this will work. I'll keep up with progress reports as I continue treatments. I just finished the second treatment and will post a progress report later today once they open back up.
Sp. gr. 1.024-1.026
NH4 - 0
NO3 - 0
PO4 - 0
Ca2+ - 360-380
dKH - 8-9
I know the Calcium is low. I've been trying to supplement it, but I never see it really move. I'm using a marine salt still and when mixed, there's only 340 mg/L Ca2+ present. I just recently ordered a Mg test ( didn't even think to buy one until last week when I couldn't get my Ca to move ). Hopefully I'll have that Wednesday.
This is titled "Zoa Pox", right? Well, like an idiot, I've been staring at these white spots on my zoas since.... day two in my tank? I didn't think anything of them. I know, I failed in my research. Admittedly, I saw hardy and went, "OK! I'll ask my LFS guy!". The zoas were opening every day and appeared fine. I only saw the white spots in the mornings when the zoas were closed. I assumed it was normal. It wasn't until a couple days ago that I noticed the lesions were raised and looked more like a zit to me than anything.
I've ordered Furan. It won't be here until next week. Zoa pox look like staph plaques to me. Alright, I have access to Cephalexin, I'll do 30 min dips every 12 hours with rinses before putting them back in the tank. I'm using 250mg cehpalexin dissolved in a cup of saltwater. The solution is being floated in my DT with a gallon ziplock bag. As you can see in the before picture, the colony looks pretty rough. I think something, at this point, is better than just watching them melt.
I'm posting this because I thought it might be useful to someone else looking for a Furan alternative. I couldn't find an answer to the causative agent involved in zoa pox, but I did find a thread saying cepha was effective in treatment. I've also read of colonies self eliminating without treatment, so I'm not overly convinced this will work. I'll keep up with progress reports as I continue treatments. I just finished the second treatment and will post a progress report later today once they open back up.
