Mixed zoa ZZZZzzzzzzz

[Saltyanimals]

Here's a puzzling situation. I've never been super successful at zoas because I'm a SPS heavy mixed tank. i.e low nutrient.

I had however had good success with some of the larger poly ones like the Armor Gods which thrived over many of smaller polps. Reasons unknown, but they did so well that I (assumed) that I just had better luck with the larger polps. So I decided to give zoas another round and sought out the Utter Chaos. The Chaos took off however now ALL of my armor and other zoas are now semi-closed. Can't figure this out. Look at the picture below. There's prob 3-4 different ones on this rock and the only thing that is open and happy are the Chaos. Can't figure it out.

What once was thriving now decided to sleep without any major changes in tank. Light, flow etc..all have been static for months. I do coral feed the tank and even target feed often enough for the softies that are surrounding them to make up for any low nutrient issues. They all decided to just Zzzzz.

Water is SPS quality .. 8ish alk, 400s Ca, Nit undetectable,


Thoughts?

 

[Leadfooted]

Any peppermints in your DT?

And you can rule out lighting for this one

 

[Saltyanimals]

Nope. Cleaner shrimp only.

 

[Saltyanimals]

Sorry.. incomplete answer on my last on lighting.

I assume I can rule it out because it has not changed. I have various frags of the same colony at different places across the tank at different heights and flows. Same semi-closed everywhere except for the new Chaos.

 

[SDK]

Could the Utter Choas colony taking off have used up what little nutrients the smaller zoas were utilizing? Chemical warfare?

Do you have a place to temporarily house the UC Zoas? You could possibly gain some insight by taking them out and seeing if their absence changes anything. It may at least rule out it being a coincidence, which is also a strong possibility...

 

[Saltyanimals]

Interesting there. I've never heard of chem warfare amongst zoas. I was shooting for creating a zoa garden as I've seen many reefers have. I don't have another place to house and they're pretty glued in there to take out easily. Have you seen warfare like this personally?

 

[SDK]

Interesting there. I've never heard of chem warfare amongst zoas. I was shooting for creating a zoa garden as I've seen many reefers have. I don't have another place to house and they're pretty glued in there to take out easily. Have you seen warfare like this personally?

Not anything I can pick out as specifically that. I have had smaller Zaos not do well in proximity to large ones, and separate them by size now as far as placement. That could just be coincidence as well.

It's just odd if, as you say, all other papameters have been stable, and the only change was adding the UC zoas. Temporarily removing them seemed like a good start to whatever methodology you are going to use to try and figure out what is going on...

 

[Saltyanimals]

I just noticed that I have large frags of the AOG sitting across the other end of the tank no where near any other zoas that are about the same semi-closed state. I did a 20% WC a few weeks back and that didn't help. Puzzled....

 

[FREAKINRICAN69]

Any peppermints in your DT?

And you can rule out lighting for this one

Do peppermint shrimps eat zoanthids???;Wideyed

 

[Leadfooted]

Do peppermint shrimps eat zoanthids???;Wideyed

if it has a stomach,,,... yes, sometimes they'll eat just about anything it seems

 

[FREAKINRICAN69]

if it has a stomach,,,... yes, sometimes they'll eat just about anything it seems

That could be the reasoning behind my zoa colony depleting what the heck! Now i'm going to have to take them out of the DT.

 

[FREAKINRICAN69]

Forgot to attach pictures. Let me know if this could be the cause for sure smfh!!!:mad: @Leadfooted

 

[Leadfooted]

Forgot to attach pictures. Let me know if this could be the cause for sure smfh!!!:mad: @Leadfooted

Oh yeah you bet, also bet your peppermint looks fat and happy dancing from side to side.

 

[FREAKINRICAN69]

Oh yeah you bet, also bet your peppermint looks fat and happy dancing from side to side.

Yes he is i actually have 2 of them in the DT...:mad:

 

[FREAKINRICAN69]

Oh yeah you bet, also bet your peppermint looks fat and happy dancing from side to side.

I don't know what i will do with them since they did a great job on the aptasia...

 

[MrObscura]

I'd say up the nutrients, even if that's not the problem this time it'll only benefit the tank and all corals in the end.

I'm not a fan of the low nutrient approach.

 

[Leadfooted]

I don't know what i will do with them since they did a great job on the aptasia...

Take back to LFS, move to sump in case the Aptasia return last resort (and least favored in here) crank up the frier.

 

[FREAKINRICAN69]

Take back to LFS, move to sump in case the Aptasia return last resort (and least favored in here) crank up the frier.

SHOULD I THROW THEM IN THE REFUGIUM OR???

 

[FREAKINRICAN69]

I'd say up the nutrients, even if that's not the problem this time it'll only benefit the tank and all corals in the end.

I'm not a fan of the low nutrient approach.

I feed twice a day & feed the corals every 2 days. If i feed more i believe the algae will be a problem...
What would you recomend???

 

[MrObscura]

You could cut back on nutrient export if you don't want to feed more.