HELP! Is my online coral order DOA

[5Dsofdodgeball]

Help! This is my first time ordering corals online. I received my shipment as it arrived at my door about 10 minutes ago.

When I opened the containers to inspect the corals they were all brown, and not even identifiable as the corals I ordered. I contacted zoanthids.com right away.

Is this normal of corals ordered online? Or do I have a DOA situation.

 

[nden]

They look more like they're just closed up.

 

[azbigjohn]

I agree. I would dip them (if you plan to) and put at the bottom of your tank, in lowest light possible, and see if they begin opening up. Remember, they have been in complete darkness since being shipped, so it is normal for them to shrink down to save energy.

I would certainly save the pictures you've made, just in case you need to file a DOA claim.

 

[Crabs McJones]

Did you put them in the tank? Alot of times corals get upset from being blacked out for 18-24 hours during shipping. Put them on the frag rack or on the sand bed and see if they perk up.

 

[5Dsofdodgeball]

Thanks! I’m in the acclimation/ dipping process now. When finished I’ll be leaving them in the sand bed for a day or two

 

[CindyKz]

Agree with everyone else - they look fine, just closed up. Let us know how it works out.

 

[Jon Fishman]

When I got my first online order, of a dozen frags....... I thought “oh no, what did I do?!!!!”

All but one of those pieces (stupid Urchin) are doing amazing 2 months later.

 

[vetteguy53081]

Remember, they were in transit in the Dark with No water movement and need to adapt to norms. Float the bags as temps are different from your tank and turn off white lights on tank and they can go into shock from sudden bright lights.
place all the frags in a CLEAN/Non soap pail and add a cup of water from your tank every 15 minutes over an hour and 15 mins (5X) and dip or at least agitate the frags and place in tank- DO NOT ALLOW ANY OF THE PAIL WATER INTO YOUR TANK !!

 

[5Dsofdodgeball]

Ok update- the mushroom and Blastomussa look great- they have been moved from the sand bed to their hopefully permanent spots.

The zoanthids however have mostly been closed up. They occasionally have opened, but for the most part have been totally closed. Any thoughts?

Water parameters-
0 ammonia
0 nitrites
5-7 nitrates
8.2 PH

The corals were all dipped before entering the tank.

 

[AngryMike2016]

Zoanthids can be very cranky. I've had some take as long as two or three weeks to open up.

 

[JMM744]

Give them time. Sometimes they just need to adjust. Leave them be and I bet they open , when they are ready.

 

[vetteguy53081]

Give it a couple of days. Assure theyre getting a little flow. If not open in a couple of days, dip in hydrogen peroxide and add some Lugols Iodine to the tank.

 

[5Dsofdodgeball]

2 week update.
All three of my zoanthids.com purchases are doing well. The zoas are better, but not nearly as good as the mushroom and blasto; both have been growing very well. Attached are the before and after pictures- the growth speaks for itself.
I dosed a small amount of iodide and nothing else. For salt mix I’m using instant ocean reef crystals. I just ordered some reef chili to give that a try.

 

[Neoalchemist]

2 week update.
All three of my zoanthids.com purchases are doing well. The zoas are better, but not nearly as good as the mushroom and blasto; both have been growing very well. Attached are the before and after pictures- the growth speaks for itself.
I dosed a small amount of iodide and nothing else. For salt mix I’m using instant ocean reef crystals. I just ordered some reef chili to give that a try.

Don't dose Iodine unless you have a test kit for it. It is extremely poisonous if above acceptable levels

 

[5Dsofdodgeball]

Don't dose Iodine unless you have a test kit for it. It is extremely poisonous if above acceptable levels

I thought iodide was ok in small amounts, and that it was iodine that was poisonous??

 

[motortrendz]

Anything in excess is not good. In a new system there should be plenty of elements that will be replaced with regular water changes alone. It's when you have a nicely stocked statement that the need for supplements are important. But I agree if your not testing for it you shouldn't dose it bc who's to say how much your adding, how much you actually need or if your already good and just wasting money and adding more to the system making it toxic.

With that said your frags look like they're doing great!