Zoas not opening fully

[JW65]

Not sure if this is the right forum but I need some help. My zoas don't seem to be opening up like they used too. All of my frogspawns and hammers and mushroom are all open fully. I do have a high nitrate problem atm that I am working on. Could that be the only problem or could there be something else? I did just notice that with the crazy heat today the temp in the tank hit 85 I put fans and stuff on it and turned off the lights to cool it down.

Nitrates ~ 160
Nitrites ~ 0
pH ~ 8.1
Alk ~ 240
phosphate was good last time it was checked

 

[MikeandNicole]

High temps and high nitrates are not going to help. Is there any algae problems in the tank because of the high nitrates?

 

[kichimark]

how long have you had your zoas? did they just all of a sudden close up? Do anything different during this time?

 

[JW65]

There is some hair algae that I am working on removing. I am still trying to figure out what is causing the nitrates. The temp is down today and they still do not seem to be open fully. They have been in the tank for at least a month most 3+ months.

 

[Llamaslayer]

whats your feeding pattern like? what about livestock and size of the tank as well?

 

[Sinclair81]

JW65, do you have other zoas, if so what do they look like? Do you see anything crawling on 'em?

 

[JW65]

Sorry I have been busy and have not had time to update. Some of my other zoas are fine. The total size is about 100 gallons with my DT fuge and sump. I have a fire fish, lawn mower blenny, maroon clown, six line wrasse, sailfin tang, eibli angel, cleaner shrimp, coral banded shrimp, and various snails and hermits. I don't see anything around them just occasionally something will crawl over them. Lately I have been feeding lightly lately two times a day. I try to make sure it all gets eaten. I have a cheap skimmer that seems to work ok, I get about 1/2-3/4 cup per week.

 

[Sinclair81]

Did you dip 'em before? Have they ever opened all the way?

 

[JW65]

When you say dip them do you mean in a reef dip? Or dip them in freshwater? Either way no I have not tried that yet. I am going to take some tank water to the lfs Sunday and have them test everything.