Zoas Disappearing

[Dizzle63]

I recently bought 7 frags from a trusted friend. They are nudi, sea spider, and bug free. All were open in his tank under LED lighting. I temp acclimated them to my tank and placed them on the sandbed under a 250 halide. Tank is a 75. The zoas have not opened and they appear to be slowly disappearing. It has now been 10 days since they were put in the tank. Water parameters are:

1.026
KH=10
P04=0.03
Nitrates= <5
No ammonia or nitrite.

Only fish I have are a pair of red sea eightline flasher wrasses. Inverts are only two conchs, one queen and a caribbean fighting. I have 2 tongan nassarius and about 6 astrea snails. I also have a purple pincushion urchin. Live rock is 5 years old and has never had a problem hitchhiker. No crabs, no shrimp, or any other possible problem inverts. All other corals look great as does a maxima clam. Carbon and GFO changed monthly.

Any thoughts as to why they are disappearing and not opening? Is it too much light?

 

[19jeffro83]

This is odd, good luck with them.

 

[rworegon]

Try giving them a dip in an iodine based coral dip. Coral Rx, revive, etc. Make sure there is adequate flow and give it some time. BTW whats your PH?

 

[kevin32]

it could be the lighting is too much for it? Perhaps put it in a light-shaded area on the sand? Make sure it's getting medium flow.

When ever I get new coral I dip it in Coral RX, then in Lugols before putting in tank.

 

[zoafarm]

I'm sure you have probably already checked, buy have you checked your Alkalinity? Low Alk will cause what you are describing.

 

[Dizzle63]

pH is always 8.0-8.1. I dose reef builder in the morning to combat the overnight low. Lights are on for 5 hours and the bulbs are 8 months old. Thinking of switching to new bulbs soon. Scared that 2X250 metal halides is too much on a 75.

 

[Adam_T]

You need to acclimate corals to LEDs.... Same thing happened to me years ago when I upgraded to an aqua illuminations led. Cut back led intensity by 70% and they got better. Orrrrr zoa pox?