HELP! Zoas melting?

[ziggy]

I just bought a few colonies of zoas.. they were fine after aclimation for the first two days. Today I came home, turned on my lights and this is what they look like. They look to be just melting away.. I am very new to zoas. Is there anything I can do?

 

[roshi719]

Did you do any dips or QT when you got them? Have you inspected them for Pox, spiders, nudi's... or any other types of pests?

 

[aquascapesofla]

Were these wild colonies?

 

[Sikryd]

Were these wild colonies?

I'm pretty sure those are wild.


I'd dip them in revive and lugols after I cut off all the white stuff - about an inch in to the good looking zoa's. You may loose a few good polyps, but you'll probably loose them all if you don't.

 

[ziggy]

They were wild colonies. We did an iodine dip and used coral cleaner.

 

[roshi719]

Definitely do a revive dip, and like sik said cut off the bad parts and a strip of the good too, before you dip.

 

[ziggy]

that is what i was thinking. thanks. i will get to cutting and dipping right away.

 

[Sikryd]

I'd do a 2x recommended solution for 15min on the revive, even 3x. I have yet to have a zoo die from Revive even at 5x strength for 10min.

 

[ziggy]

so does this look like some kind of bacterial infection? or why would this occur in the first place? are they going to be safe to put back in the same tank after they are cut and dipped? I just did a large water change two days ago. its just very frustrating!

 

[roshi719]

Prolly bacterial or fungal. This is a common occurrence on wild zoo colonies unfortunately. This is why most everyone QT's and dips all new arrivals. Once you dip them they should be fine to go back in, but def rinse them in some tank water after the dip, and then toss that down the drain. Also keep an eye on them for a few days and re-dip if they don't look like they are improving.

 

[Reef Pets]

This is known as white death in the reef community. I have done countless hours of research on what causes the fungus and how to cure it. This fungus typically starts in the live rock under the zoas and is known to be black band disease. If you took cutters and cut into the rock under the polyps you would see that the rock is black and decayed.
Anyhow, take some big cutters and cut into the rock under the zoas making sure that you are cutting off the rock and the infected zoas.
After you have done this, take 100 percent peroxide and pour (not dip) it over the infected area and the remaining colony. Leave the peroxide on the zoas for about 30 second, no longer than a minute.
Take the colony to your sink and run tap water (about the same temp as your tank or cooler) over the colony rinsing it and lightly scrubbing it with a soft tooth brush. Scrub it and run it under the water for about 1 -2 minutes.
Then place it back into your reef or sump in a high flow area with low to medium light. High flow is very important.
I have worked with this disease for years and this is the best method I have found to cure it. Otherwise the colony will be dead in no time.
It does take time to do this process but for me it cures the disease 9 times out of 10.

Make sure that you wear gloves during the process and the most important step is to get the decayed rock and zoas off of the colony.
Gary

 

[ziggy]

thank you very much! sounds like you have really done your research. that is the method that we will do then. we are cutting the bad part off now..and will continue from there. Eventually I'll have to post some pictures of my hopefully surviving zoas! Thanks again to everyone for the quick responses.

 

[Reef Pets]

Good luck with it. Make sure that you cut into the rock deep or just cut out the entire section of disease. Yes, you will lose many polyps but there is a very good chance in saving the polyps that are health now.
High flow and low light when you are done.

 

[ziggy]

one more question... where do you get 100% peroxide? I was thinking you meant hydrogen peroxide.. but i was reading the label and that is 3% hydrogen peroxide...just wanted to clarify that this is what you meant..

 

[Sikryd]

They don't make 100% peroxide that I know of.

I think he is saying to pour it straight on the zoa's, in other words, don't dilute it anymore - just straight out of the bottle.

 

[sciknen]

If i see any of mine dieing out. i take a little syringe and squite some iodine into the mouth.. saved my darth maul frag after i fragged it

 

[Reef Pets]

That is correct. By 100 percent I am meaning straight from the bottle, do not dilute.

They don't make 100% peroxide that I know of.

I think he is saying to pour it straight on the zoa's, in other words, don't dilute it anymore - just straight out of the bottle.