Need help with my zoas

[KonaReef]

I quarantine all of my coral in a fluval spec 3 gallons right now and don't know if they're dead. The zoas are on the left side next to the favia. I use hipargero aqua knight a029 light.

Tank parameter:
pH 8.3
Temp. 78.5
Salinity 1.024
Calcium 450
Phosphate 0.01
Nitrite 0
Nitrate 10
Ammonia 0
Magnesium 1400
Alkilinity 9 dKH

 

[Rlreefing]

Mate, it does not look like they are dead, but everything looks a little unhappy. 3 gal quarantine might be a little small, parameters change so fast and any kind of contaminates that are placed in the tank like those from our hands can have severe effects on the tank as a whole. What is the lighting schedule? how long have you had the other specimens in the tank?

Anecodte- I had green bay packers zoas and reds that for all I knew had died off in the tank( could not see the polyp heads any more), but once that systems parameters were stabilized and remained they came back. May be a fluke but they are resilient.

 

[KonaReef]

Mate, it does not look like they are dead, but everything looks a little unhappy. 3 gal quarantine might be a little small, parameters change so fast and any kind of contaminates that are placed in the tank like those from our hands can have severe effects on the tank as a whole. What is the lighting schedule? how long have you had the other specimens in the tank?

Anecodte- I had green bay packers zoas and reds that for all I knew had died off in the tank( could not see the polyp heads any more), but once that systems parameters were stabilized and remained they came back. May be a fluke but they are resilient.

The light is on a 10 hours cycle. The clam and hammer are added yesterday. The other specimens are in there for 1.5 weeks

 

[Euphyllia97]

Definitely not dead, but unhappy. Could have a lot of different reasons. Parameters are looking good to me... Have you tried moving them to another area? (Less flow, less direct light,...) Is your temperature steady or fluctuating throughout the day/night?

Edit: Two other important params for zoas are iodine and potassium. Did you check on these?

 

[KonaReef]

The light is on a 10 hours cycle. The clam and hammer are added yesterday. The other specimens are in there for 1.5 weeks.

Definitely not dead, but unhappy. Could have a lot of different reasons. Parameters are looking good to me... Have you tried moving them to another area? (Less flow, less direct light,...) Is your temperature steady or fluctuating throughout the day/night?

The current position of the zoas is the best place I could find that have the perfect flow and lighting for them. I saw them open last Friday. Should I go to petco and buy a 10 gallons? They got $1 per gallon deal right now.

 

[Euphyllia97]

The current position of the zoas is the best place I could find that have the perfect flow and lighting for them. I saw them open last Friday. Should I go to petco and buy a 10 gallons? They got $1 per gallon deal right now.

Getting a bigger QT is definitely going to benefit you with your livestock in the future. Not sure if it will help you with these zoas, but definitely worth a try!

I would still try and move them even if you have the feeling that flow and light are “perfect”. Corals can be real ***** when it comes to tank position... I have had some zoas thrive in almost no light and flow, while the other colonies in “perfect” conditions, were just doing normal. Now they are closed anyway and will die if they remain like this...

 

[rkpetersen]

I'd give them less light, and add a bit of iodine if you aren't currently dosing it.
Also they might be happier if your phosphate were just a bit higher.

 

[KonaReef]

Thank you. Will try and move them around and also go buy the 10 gallon tank.

 

[UCF Alum]

Agree with @rkpetersen
less light and iodine was my going to be my comment when I saw the pic

 

[ahiggins]

Does anyone see the white spec in the right zoa? OP is that a paly on the right?
Can’t tell if it’s new heads sprouting from it or if it’s zoa pox.

 

[KonaReef]

Does anyone see the white spec in the right zoa? OP is that a paly on the right?
Can’t tell if it’s new heads sprouting from it or if it’s zoa pox.

Apparently the two zoas and green star polyp didnt make it. The rest are better.

 

[KonaReef]

I just need to increase the blue light to max setting.

The specimens in the QT tank now are:
Clownfish
Dragon soul favia
Rainbow acan
Green with gold stem torch
Hammer coral
Crocea clam

 

[ahiggins]

Sorry to hear that how long are you planning to qt? Would it be worth going to buy a 10 gallon? Save some headaches?

 

[KonaReef]

Sorry to hear that how long are you planning to qt? Would it be worth going to buy a 10 gallon? Save some headaches?

The 10 gallons water parameters aren't stable. I found aiptasia behind my favia. Which fish eat aiptasia? I'll QT them for another 3 days then put them in the main tank.

 

[Euphyllia97]

The 10 gallons water parameters aren't stable. I found aiptasia behind my favia. Which fish eat aiptasia? I'll QT them for another 3 days then put them in the main tank.

Filefish will normally eat aptasia, but not completely reef safe... other option is peppermint shrimp (from whichI have heard contradicting stories). Safest way if you ask me is using a chemical like Aptasia x to kill it.

 

[KonaReef]

Filefish will normally eat aptasia, but not completely reef safe... other option is peppermint shrimp (from whichI have heard contradicting stories). Safest way if you ask me is using a chemical like Aptasia x to kill it.

Is aptasia x harmful to the clam when I use it to kill aptasia?

 

[Euphyllia97]

Is aptasia x harmful to the clam when I use it to kill aptasia?

Should not affect your clam as long as you don’t inject it directly towards it. You could use something to create some flow away from the clam or block it whilst you are injecting the stuff. Even of a little bit would get onto your clam, it shouldn’t harm the clam.

 

[KonaReef]

Thank you all for the help