Zooa problems?

[Reefer07]

Well today I came back to my college where my tank is and my two old patches of zoos weren't open like they usually are.
One patch is barely open and the others are like a little more than half open. However, the patch that is barely open it looks like there is a new polyp coming up. Right next to one of the polyps that are already there is a bump on the base where the polyp starts right next to it. Is it forming a new polyp?
The only thing I have been having trouble with lately is the temperature. I put the back part of my glass top on, the plastic part you cut out, and now I think my tank is having a hard time letting heat out. My temperature has been at about 82 degrees....do you think this is the problem why my zoos aren't fully open because it is too hot?
What is weird though is today I just bought 2 patches of zoos (different colors) and they are all completely out and seem to be doing good.

 

[killingseed]

they sound stressed do you have any pictures?

 

[Reefer07]

No, sorry I don't have my camera here at school.
Can someone explain to me what are some causes for them to be stressed and how I can save them.
Also, is it good to run lunar lights?

 

[650-IS350]

anything over 83 is not desirable or good for reeftank inhabitants

how is your pH, Alkalinity and Salinity.. this greatly affects zoos.

 

[Reefer07]

PH 8.0 Salinity right in betweern .024 and .025
I know the PH is a little low, I need to get it up but I don't want to buy a 15 lb. bag of crushed coral when I only need probably a pound.
I also haven't really had good luck with buffer.

 

[650-IS350]

Crushed coral, for what your sand bed?

 

[aquarius77]

Hes most likely been told the crushed coral will buffer his pH.

 

[Reefer07]

Ya, it was my understanding that crushed coral raises the PH but now I understand about the alkalinity and all.
Anyways, getting back to my zoos, it seems as they open halfway up then they close and then slightly open, they are all on and off, open, shut, open, shut, open, shut.
I have been sitting here working on an essay glancing at my tank every 5 minutes or so and I can see this going on.

 

[650-IS350]

Crushed coral in the sand bed also is bad as it has so much crevices which get detrius stuck between them, animals cant get to it... raises nutrient levels.. bad for corals and rest of the animals..

 

[aquarius77]

The open close open close you describe sounds like the zoos are under attack. Open when not being botherd and closed when something (unseen to you as of yet) is chewing on them.

Just a guess though, might be worth a closer inspection, maybe a dip.

 

[650-IS350]

coral dip or at night when the lights are off, use a flashlight with red light to view any culprits....

 

[Reefer07]

Ya because now all of the zoos are opening and closing and even my mushrooms I just got yesturday aren't completely open. What am I looking for? and how should I go about dipping them?
Another thing I noticed, in my tank there is really long strands of hair like stuff and some of it is hanging from the zoo mouths. It is not hair algae, it is longer and finer.

 

[650-IS350]

ZOO poop,

badies
http://www.zoaid.com/index.php?module=Gallery2&g2_itemId=384

 

[Reefer07]

What?
Anyways, I dipped them today...2 of my colonies are looking better....one is actually looking real good, they have been open all day with just the actinics on.
I used Seachem Reef Dip.

 

[Reefer07]

What is the damn problem now....I'm getting so frustrated.
This morning I turn on my actinics an hour or so before my daylights go on. I see that the polyps were almost all the way open so I think it is going to be a good day and my problems are finally over.
I put my daylights on, go to class, come back and the same stuff is happening. There is red, hairlike stuff hanging off the polyps and they are half open at most, opening and closing.
I want to say one of my colonies has zoo pox like the link you gave me states but I am not sure.
Another question is if I did have nudis or anything and I killed them yesturday by dipping....do they stay in the water column and such which means they are already back on my polyps?
Any other ideas or suggestions would be greatly appreciated, I am getting very irritated. The main concern like I said is the reddish strandy, hairlike stuff all over my polyps and even my mushrooms.
While I was reading about the pox was that temp. fluctuations can have an effect on zoos. My temp goes from 78 in the morning to 82ish during the day then back to 78 at night. I am getting a fan this weekend to stop that problem but do any of you think the temp. fluctuation is damaging them too?
Also, does anyone know if there is a way I can get pictures off my phone to my e-mail or on-line so I can show you guys. I got a new cell phone and it takes pretty good pics.

 

[650-IS350]

pics would help a lot especial really good ones..