Zoo Problems

[fishmonger2]

Ok guys I'm having a problem with my Zoos, and I've run out of reasons why it might be happening, so I thought I'd ask and see if anybody else had some problems.

The Problem

I've had this large Zoo colony for awhile now and it was doing fine but in the last few months I've noticed some things. First of it it was mostly watermelon Zoos with a few greens, and 3 purple centers with white tips.

As I said, lately the Zoo's just don't seem to be doing well. There is only one of the purple centers with white tips left and it's tiny. The Zoo's are hardly growing and don't seem to be multiplying at all. Furthermore it seems that like the purple ones the rock is losing Zoo's. Also, not all of them are opening.

The Situation
The tank is a 37 gallon and the Zoo's are placed at the top of my rock formations. I have a Rio 1700 pump plus a small Maxi Jet, so flow is not an issue. I have 50/50 PC's, and there is ample light.

The P.H. is 8.3
No Ammonia or Nitrite
Only a hint of Nitrate

Calcuim is about 420ppm

Alkalinity is 3

Salintiy is about 1.023-1.024

The water quality seems fine as well. Does anybody have any Ideas?

 

[Skeptic_07]

i think you should up your alk slowly to NSW levels but i'm not sure how much that affects zoos. other than that your params seem fine.

check on them at about 3am with a flashlight and a magnifying glass. look for tiny checkerboard pattern snails, tiny brown spiders or tiny nudibranchs on them.

 

[Lotus99]

Is that alk reading in m/eq? I'll assume it is.

I had a problem with a colony of zoas receding/shrinking/not opening. I did a series of Furan 2 dips, and after a few weeks they seem to have recovered.

Are you seeing any spots or patches of white on any of the polyps?

 

[650-IS350]

Alk seems real low.

My zoa's all close up and look like crap when ALK/pH or salinity is off.

 

[fishmonger2]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=12613381#post12613381 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by delsol650
Alk seems real low.

My zoa's all close up and look like crap when ALK/pH or salinity is off.

You think it's the Alk is low? What do you keep yours at?

 

[Skeptic_07]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=12613299#post12613299 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Lotus99
Is that alk reading in m/eq? I'll assume it is.

ahhh... i had assumed it was in dkh


to answer your question fishmonger alk should be maintained at or above 2.7 meq/L or 7.5 dKH