Depressed zoas

[Cole nelson]

hello. Recently I have noticed a significant drop in my zoa Head count and overall happiness. As seen in my profile pic my zoas used to be very happy. In that pic there is a muscle(but you can’t see it because they where all over it) now only 9 zoas, very tiny zoas are on that spot plus 3 are closed up. This is consistent over the whole rock. About half my colony that’s not dead is closed. My water peramiters seem fine but I’m using a cheep kit. I do use Red Sea vitamins drops regularly. Help. I love them to bits

 

[Crabs McJones]

We would need more information. Do you have any pictures of the zoas other than your profile picture? Preferably one of them in the condition you're describing? Can you give us your exact parameter numbers? and what lighting do you have them under?

 

[Cole nelson]

We would need more information. Do you have any pictures of the zoas other than your profile picture? Preferably one of them in the condition you're describing? Can you give us your exact parameter numbers? and what lighting do you have them under?

The following pics are before..when they where happy

 

[Cole nelson]

We would need more information. Do you have any pictures of the zoas other than your profile picture? Preferably one of them in the condition you're describing? Can you give us your exact parameter numbers? and what lighting do you have them under?

This is current health

 

[Cole nelson]

This is current health

Oops. Wrong pic.

 

[Cole nelson]

We would need more information. Do you have any pictures of the zoas other than your profile picture? Preferably one of them in the condition you're describing? Can you give us your exact parameter numbers? and what lighting do you have them under?

Nitrate-0
Nitrite-0
Kh-80
Gh-180

 

[Crabs McJones]

What are your parameters and are you using rodi water for your water changes and top off? Quite a bit of algae going on there.

 

[Cole nelson]

What are your parameters and are you using rodi water for your water changes and top off? Quite a bit of algae going on there.

My cheap set only covers those 4. And yes, algae. But I use RODI

 

[Cole nelson]

What are your parameters and are you using rodi water for your water changes and top off? Quite a bit of algae going on there.

I don’t know if this will help any. But I am running without a Refugium. So I am looking for a cheap and tiny Refugium set up to at least help

 

[Gareth elliott]

The nitrate reading might be the problem. Zoas and platys need some to be happy(why my sticks grow but not them lol)

Likely the algae is outcompeting the zoas for nutrients.

My guess anyway with current info.

Edit:

Wait 80 kh? What metric is this reading

Also you can stop testing general hardness, useful in freshwater not so much in salt water

 

[Cole nelson]

The nitrate reading might be the problem. Zoas and platys need some to be happy(why my sticks grow but not them lol)

Likely the algae is outcompeting the zoas for nutrients.

My guess anyway with current info.

Edit:

Wait 80 kh? What metric is this reading

Also you can stop testing general hardness, useful in freshwater not so much in salt water

I know it’s bad, but i don’t know what metric it is. I will be investing in a better reader very soon. As I just looked I remember I had a big nitrate problem back when I had a powder brown tang, as a result I had nitrate reducing sponge matter in my flitters. So hopefully this will help and this new reader will come in soon

 

[Gareth elliott]

If the 80 is ppm that translates to 4.48 dkh this is very far off from nsw. That would cause the zoas to contract over night.

Do you have a salinity measurement?

 

[OriginalUserName]

Zoas don't like it that clean, but based on your algae growth I assume you aren't at zero. What kind of lighting are you running? How long were they doing well?

 

[dwolson]

Zoa eating nudibranchs could be bugging them. Did you try a dip?

 

[BestMomEver]

hello. Recently I have noticed a significant drop in my zoa Head count and overall happiness. As seen in my profile pic my zoas used to be very happy. In that pic there is a muscle(but you can’t see it because they where all over it) now only 9 zoas, very tiny zoas are on that spot plus 3 are closed up. This is consistent over the whole rock. About half my colony that’s not dead is closed. My water peramiters seem fine but I’m using a cheep kit. I do use Red Sea vitamins drops regularly. Help. I love them to bits

I had the same problem.... a guy I know suggested that it was a .... wait... not flatworm.... the other one (omg, what is wrong with my brain?!). Anyway, he suggested I dip them. He said that was likely the problem when they start disappearing one by one. I did it and found lots of the little devils. Try it...

 

[tankstudy]

If the 80 is ppm that translates to 4.48 dkh this is very far off from nsw.

If it is 4.48 dkh, that would explain the shrinking of the zoas.

I would recommend coming back to 7-9 dkh and maintaining it there. It will take about 2-3 months before any visible recovery will be seen though based on what the current colony looks like.

 

[BestMomEver]

NUDIBRANCHS.... that’s it! Thanks!!

 

[Cole nelson]

To anyone that is still on this thread. I have gotten a better test. I have brought my salinity to a 1.023 and found that I have near 80ppm in nitrates. Sooooo. Now I have to work on removing this. I just got a brand new RO system with new filters and 6 filter stages. I have done a 50% water change and will continue water changes...hopefully water changes will do the trick

 

[Cole nelson]

Which also explains why I have algae problems out competing my corals