All my zoas won’t open help!!

[Currierfarms14]

Hello,

I am a pretty experienced Reefer, who’s never had issues raising zoas. For the past couple weeks, all of my zoas have closed up. The rest of the corals in my tank have been super happy. I recently bought new zoas from the WWC sale, and they were open the first day I got them, and will not open up after that. I don’t believe it’s a flow or light issue, as I have them at the bottom of my tank. I run a 6 bulb T5 fixture.
Levels:
Salinity: 1.023
Nitrate :0 (however have a little bit of green algae)
Phosphate: 7.8 (yes this is a little low, but my tank has always had low phosphates)
Phosphate:0
calxium:400
Alk:8

I just added a bunch of new fish and am trying to increase nitrates as I believe that could be my issue. Any other suggestions?

 

[SchrutesReefs]

I would agree on the nitrates, I try to stay around 10ppm. Not sure if that would make them all close up, unless of course they were all just acclimated and they came from a system that was significantly different than yours. Those pesky beauts might take a few days to show their colors.

 

[Currierfarms14]

I would agree on the nitrates, I try to stay around 10ppm. Not sure if that would make them all close up, unless of course they were all just acclimated and they came from a system that was significantly different than yours. Those pesky beauts might take a few days to show their colors.

That’s my thought. I know they could
Be irritated by it, but am surprised they would completely close up on it. The other weird thing is I’ve had 0 nitrates in the past with no problems. There’s a little starfish next to the one in the picture. Idk if that could have something to do with it?

 

[Tired]

Crank the nutrients up and see if that helps. A minimum of 0.03ppm phosphates and 5ppm nitrates is probably good.

Some asterina starfish will eat zoas, but if you had enough of those species to eat all your zoas, you'd notice them actively doing it. Probably unrelated.

Pull out and coral dip a couple of colonies, see if anything falls off.

 

[Screwgunner]

Ph 7.8 is fine 0 phosphates are not. you need .03 to .1 phosphates and your corals will grow like Krazy. If you have sps .03 to .05

 

[Currierfarms14]

Crank the nutrients up and see if that helps. A minimum of 0.03ppm phosphates and 5ppm nitrates is probably good.

Some asterina starfish will eat zoas, but if you had enough of those species to eat all your zoas, you'd notice them actively doing it. Probably unrelated.

Pull out and coral dip a couple of colonies, see if anything falls off.

Getting nitrates up in my tank is incredibly hard (never had this issue on any other tank). Increased fish load and supplementing . Would a couple minute freshwater dip do the trick? Since I’ve been working on changing levels, I’m gonna give them a couple days to see if they open, then I’ll definitely go this route . Also Been using reef roids every 3 days to increase phosphate

 

[Screwgunner]

What is your nutrient export ?

 

[Currierfarms14]

What is your nutrient export ?

Canister filter and protein skimmer. I hVe the cup way up. I tried turning it off a week ago, and fox face immediate came to surface trying to breath, so there’s something that it’s doing as far as oxygen flow.

 

[Screwgunner]

Water changes. Ats. Refugium

 

[Screwgunner]

They are more than likely getting used to your tank give them a little while.

 

[Currierfarms14]

They are more than likely getting used to your tank give them a little while.

I agree with that, but some of the zoas that have been in for a year are all closed as well.

 

[LagoonParadise22]

Hello,

I am a pretty experienced Reefer, who’s never had issues raising zoas. For the past couple weeks, all of my zoas have closed up. The rest of the corals in my tank have been super happy. I recently bought new zoas from the WWC sale, and they were open the first day I got them, and will not open up after that. I don’t believe it’s a flow or light issue, as I have them at the bottom of my tank. I run a 6 bulb T5 fixture.
Levels:
Salinity: 1.023
Nitrate :0 (however have a little bit of green algae)
Phosphate: 7.8 (yes this is a little low, but my tank has always had low phosphates)
Phosphate:0
calxium:400
Alk:8

I just added a bunch of new fish and am trying to increase nitrates as I believe that could be my issue. Any other suggestions?

I personally wouldn't keep salt at 1.023 with corals . My tank is always at 1.026 (not telling you rise to my levels ) but I notice corals do amazing at lest 1.025. You seem to have low Nutrients I'd recommend liquid and powdered food for corals . Can help boost them and give them extra energy to wanna open .

 

[Screwgunner]

Me too. 1.026 for me. Do you test your water you top of with?

 

[Screwgunner]

Me too. 1.026 for me. Do you test your water you top of with

 

[Currierfarms14]

Top off water is at 0.. lol

 

[Fredrxn]

Hello,

I am a pretty experienced Reefer, who’s never had issues raising zoas. For the past couple weeks, all of my zoas have closed up. The rest of the corals in my tank have been super happy. I recently bought new zoas from the WWC sale, and they were open the first day I got them, and will not open up after that. I don’t believe it’s a flow or light issue, as I have them at the bottom of my tank. I run a 6 bulb T5 fixture.
Levels:
Salinity: 1.023
Nitrate :0 (however have a little bit of green algae)
Phosphate: 7.8 (yes this is a little low, but my tank has always had low phosphates)
Phosphate:0
calxium:400
Alk:8

I just added a bunch of new fish and am trying to increase nitrates as I believe that could be my issue. Any other suggestions?

There starving

 

[Screwgunner]

How old are your bulbs?

 

[Currierfarms14]

less than a month old

 

[Screwgunner]

If you had no problem before I would run some activated carbon just in case of toxins.

 

[Currierfarms14]

We’ll got my phosphate up… All the way to .37
There is algae growth, which explains the high phosphate. I’m gonna be doing a 10% water change this weekend to try and lower them. Haven’t re tested nitrate, but will be doing that in the morning. Some zoas have slowly opened back up, but still hVe a ways to go!