zoas rare form...help!

[michelo]

Hello guys!...my zoas turn.....



they want more light?..flow?..any critter?...i have a boom of tube worms..they are bad for zoas?

All parameters are correct..

 

[michelo]

Tube worms are Spirobis..

 

[joshky]

Not that uncommon, they are indeed stretching for light.

 

[michelo]

Need more light?..or less?

 

[dbenyo]

looks like they want more light to me. sometimes i move mine, other times I just let them stretch

 

[joshky]

Stretching for light means they need more light, zoas that are being blasted with too much light will generally stay closed.

 

[MUCHO REEF]

In my opinion, polyp stretching, or as I refer to it as polyp elogation, isn't always due to their need for more light or the lack there of. In fact, more often then not, it is quite the opposite.

1. Some polyps characteristically have longer stems. In optimal conditions and an optimal internal flow ( water movement ) they will stretch and sway in the current like a tall crop in the field. I have witnessed it dozens of times.

2. Polyps will stretch to feed if they sense an abundance of food in current.

3. If the need to stretch was always due to a lack of light, then when a little sunlight hits the tank, your polyps would stretch. If you ran your actinics only for a complete photo period, your polyps would stretch. I have seen polyps under dual 400 MH and in my own tank with polyps under dual 250 MH DE, and several colonies were stretching like corn stalks in a field.

4. A friend of mine Acerhigh, had a 40 gallon cube under MH with return nozzles at the top for corners of his tank with the most unbelievable internal water movement I have ever seen and the skirts on every single colony in his tank were incredibly long and most of the polyps were elogated.

5. If I run my actinics only for a full photo period or a complete black out for 48 hrs......then turn on my actinics and add some Coral Frenzy, my polyps will go crazy with expansion and many will elongate.

Just my opinion is all.

MUCHO REEF


PS. Do a search in the forum on polyp stretching and polyp eligation. There's some great info in those threads.

 

[joshky]

In my opinion, polyp stretching, or as I refer to it as polyp elogation, isn't always due to their need for more light or the lack there of. In fact, more often then not, it is quite the opposite.

1. Some polyps characteristically have longer stems. In optimal conditions and an optimal internal flow ( water movement ) they will stretch and sway in the current like a tall crop in the field. I have witnessed it dozens of times.

2. Polyps will stretch to feed if they sense an abundance of food in current.

3. If the need to stretch was always due to a lack of light, then when a little sunlight hits the tank, your polyps would stretch. If you ran your actinics only for a complete photo period, your polyps would stretch. I have seen polyps under dual 400 MH and in my own tank with polyps under dual 250 MH DE, and several colonies were stretching like corn stalks in a field.

4. A friend of mine Acerhigh, had a 40 gallon cube under MH with return nozzles at the top for corners of his tank with the most unbelievable internal water movement I have ever seen and the skirts on every single colony in his tank were incredibly long and most of the polyps were elogated.

5. If I run my actinics only for a full photo period or a complete black out for 48 hrs......then turn on my actinics and add some Coral Frenzy, my polyps will go crazy with expansion and many will elongate.

Just my opinion is all.

MUCHO REEF


PS. Do a search in the forum on polyp stretching and polyp eligation. There's some great info in those threads.

I've seen zoas stretching in MH tanks as well, and it was from old bulbs, they shrank when the bulbs were replaced. Just my experience that it is from the lack of adequate PAR/PUR.

 

[MUCHO REEF]

I have even seen them stretch with brand new MH bulbs. Crazy I know.....and they were Phoenix 14k DE.

When we were testing theories.....we did just that by swapping out new for old bulbs and back. Those polyps stretched for weeks with new bulbs, but they were beauts to look at.

They all never stopped stretching in Acerhigh's tank. Man they were stunning to look at also....the whole tank.

Mooch

 

[michelo]

Thank all!....if i turn off water movement looks better
I run kessil 360w.deep blue(20%color 30%intensity)
Kh stable at 9..salinity 1024
Zoo frags space:

Eagle eyes grow good but now they stretching much

 

[kichimark]

As Mucho mentioned it can be due to a bunch of things but in my experience it can be due to light. I had a colony of blue hornets I moved to a more shaded area in my tank and they ALL started to stretch after a week or so. Once I moved them back to their original spot they went back to their normal height. Try replacing the bulbs and see if it makes a difference.

 

[michelo]

I dont know..im very confused..parameters are good and stable:
Ph 8,1
Kh 9
Salinity 1024
Mg 1300
Ca 420
Nitrates 5
I have good flow and no signs of critters at night.

I go to put a bit of Matrix carbon and waiting

 

[m0nkie]

Thank all!....if i turn off water movement looks better
I run kessil 360w.deep blue(20%color 30%intensity)

I run my 360WE at 95% intensity for 4 hours and ramps down. LED is 8" from water surface. Zoas at ~16" depth.. some zoas are still stretching for lights.

your zoas can take much more lights

from my experience

long stalk = need more light
small shriveled polyp forming embrella shapes = too much light

 

[michelo]

My zoas still are unhappy...start grow in sand a brown algae(ciano i think,)..i buy a phosphate(salifert),i do test in hight range and i have 0,40!...can be this zoa's problem?...

 

[genetao]

Can you trying moving the zoas higher? Try moving them gradually either higher or under more direct lighting, and then watch how they respond. Move them, wait a few days and continue to watch what they do. Hopefully at some point, they'll stop stretching.