Zoas Not Opening

[Rubicon06]

Hi,

So I bought these 2 Zoa Frags Saturday, they were in the same tank with a bunch of others.

In the tank one had 90% Polyps open, the other only had about 60%, but I didn't think about it until I got it home, and the 60% ones still didn't open.

The other thing I noticed was the 90% ones, as soon as I dropped them in the tank, there was a small Nudi with bright orange(like the zoas) spikes on the glass. I have read about the zoa eating Nudis, so I instantly removed, even though that colony of Zoas didn't seem affected.

But the 60% opening zoas still haven't open the rest, and on one there is a discoloration on the top of the closed polyp. Under actinics it glows like a pale highliter yellow, with the day lights on it looks more white. I have only observed this on one polyp, but there are other that still have not opened. (I imagine it could have gotten rubbed on the way home either by the bag or the frag plug that fell off)

I've read the Vit C, but they have only been in my tank 2 days, and they weren't open at the store. (I had a large frag of blues before these new ones, and all of it's polyps have been open for weeks)

Any ideas/help?

Thanks!

 

[geoxman]

Take a deep breath! Did you FW dip the new coral? The C is not a be all end all, although it might help. I would first take care of the problem at hand and dip and look for eggs @@@

You might also want to dip everything in the tank as well-just to make sure

What are your water parims?

Good luck and it only gets better!

 

[Rubicon06]

Luckily I've seen the pic of eggs, now while there is the white spiral it looks like a feather duster, not nudi eggs.

I have heard opposing opinions on FW dips, so I have not done so(read that it can cause more stress).

Also would I FW dip with just RO/DI water? or Tap?

Should it be the same temperature as the tank?

And for how long?

Good news is 2-3 more opened, it's just the one with the spot and the few around it really that don't open. I have also seen small pods running around on top of them. (I read about the large ones eating them, but these are like pencil lead size)

Edit forgot params;

SG 1025
Ph 8.0
Temps 78-80
Calc 500 (dosed previously)
MG 1600 (have not dosed)
Alk (I can't read/understand) came out KH 5.8 / Alk 2.06 but it's supposed to be multiplied by 2.

 

[geoxman]

I do not and would never us RODI on dips. Your tap will have a much higher PH and chlorine never did any nasties any good. You can also blast them under the faucet before the dip. good luck and use the same temp

 

[Rubicon06]

I got some pics (not the best) of the spot;

Another question, last night I did my water change, my blues were open right afterward.

Now all over my zoas are open pretty much (except these ones for this thread) and except for these blues that are half open/half closed, what causes this;

Thanks!

 

[Pufferpunk]

Do they have a brown coating on them? That's exactly how mine looked before treating with vitamin C.

 

[Rubicon06]

Nope no coating that I can see

 

[killingseed]

i see some AIPTASIAs there on the right i would remove them all. some type of GSP mat as well that i would frag and put on another rock as both are good irritating in the second picture and go from there.

 

[Pufferpunk]

I see your Mg is quite high & your Alk is very low. How did you acclimate these?

 

[Rubicon06]

Ya sadly, this pic is what made me catch the aiptasia, it sucks I have been so careful, but I got this frag off a fellow reefer

The Alk should be doubled, making it 12ish.

I dosed B-Ionic for awhile when I had no corals, obviously that raised things a lot haha.

Mg I'm not sure why it is so high.

 

[Rubicon06]

Little update;

On the original orangish ones, after a FW dip with some iodine drops for about 45 secs, now the one with the weird coloration has even opened a little, and some that hadn't opened before did.

However in the same FW/Iodine solution for 30 secs with the blues, it had the opposite effect, less opened.

So what should I do for my blues? (of the 6 zoa frags I have, they are the only ones not opening)

 

[IPT]

There was a post a while back (maybe by MuchoReef?) with a list of reasons that may cause zoo's to close. Anyone have that link?

 

[Rubicon06]

After being closed up for a week after the dip, my blues are now all open except one.

I juiced the aiptasias, and they haven't comeback thankfully.

Although another aip on another frag did come back, and the juice killed a zoa polyp too so much for reef safe...

 

[75pxatr]

I agree with the post that your alk is low. I have some zoas that will not open unless my alk is in proper range.

Go to bulk reef supply/two part solution. You can get all your dosing needs there for half the cost.

I drip kalkwasser and occasionally use baking soda to buffer alk.

I also dose magnesium and it has really helped stabilize alk. I think it is wise to test for magnesium. You may find that you are well below recommended range.

Highly recommend you view their web site.

 

[Rubicon06]

I actually have B-ionic Alk/Calc 2 parts

If I dose Alk, I get "snow" so I'm sure it's not too low (probably high), and calc of 500 is high, and mag 1600 is high as well, both tested with Elos kits.

Edit: I did manage to kill the Aiptasias on the blue zoas, and I broke off the piece of mat (not sure on what coral it is).

All of the blues are open and fine again, all of my other zoas are typically open all day and all night long.

I also dosed some Vit C just to be sure, but I don't think that had anything to do with the blues opening again.

 

[Pufferpunk]

Don't be too sure...