New Zoa Question

[JimBonks]

So I just drip acclimated and dipped my new zoas in Coral Rx. I bought them local and in the process of bringing them home they closed up. About how long should I expect them to be closed? At what point is it a concern if they do not open up? Also he was not sure of the type so are zoas tolerant of flow?

Thanks in advance!

 

[Michael Naegeli]

It varies w Zoa’s. Most of mine have almost always opened within 1 hour if not far sooner. You will occasionally have some stubborn Zoa that could take Sometimes weeks to open. My longest wait was w Awesome Blossom Zoa. Took 4 months in a big Zoa dominant tank that every single polyp out of thousands stays wide open always. I almost forgot I had it. Had just one polyp. By the time it opened 4 grueling months later I had 4 polyps. First glimpse. Crazy but I’ve heard of stranger instances

 

[JimBonks]

Thanks just wanted to make sure it was normal for them to close up. Just a little nervous with my first corals is all. I took the time to cycle the tank for a few months and dosed ammonia until it could handle the 2ppm in a day and things like that. I have also checked alk and calc etc just to be sure I am ready so hopefully they make it.

 

[JimBonks]

It varies w Zoa’s. Most of mine have almost always opened within 1 hour if not far sooner. You will occasionally have some stubborn Zoa that could take Sometimes weeks to open. My longest wait was w Awesome Blossom Zoa. Took 4 months in a big Zoa dominant tank that every single polyp out of thousands stays wide open always. I almost forgot I had it. Had just one polyp. By the time it opened 4 grueling months later I had 4 polyps. First glimpse. Crazy but I’ve heard of stranger instances

Thanks just wanted to make sure it was normal for them to close up. Just a little nervous with my first corals is all. I took the time to cycle the tank for a few months and dosed ammonia until it could handle the 2ppm in a day and things like that. I have also checked alk and calc etc just to be sure I am ready so hopefully they make it.

 

[Michael Naegeli]

Thanks just wanted to make sure it was normal for them to close up. Just a little nervous with my first corals is all. I took the time to cycle the tank for a few months and dosed ammonia until it could handle the 2ppm in a day and things like that. I have also checked alk and calc etc just to be sure I am ready so hopefully they make it.

That’s great to hear your patience! My #1 rule as a reefer is patience. Then it’s to never panic... with Zoa’s or any coral for that matter is consistent stable parameters. Alk Number 1’killer of most. If u can keep ur chems Atleast pretty close to good and that Alk doesn’t swing much you should be golden. Most every loss I’ve ever had came from Alk swings. Start off w the easier Zoa’s and keep them low light and low flow for first week and if all looks well and they stay wide open after the first week then u can start moving up and more flow.

 

[JimBonks]

That’s great to hear your patience! My #1 rule as a reefer is patience. Then it’s to never panic... with Zoa’s or any coral for that matter is consistent stable parameters. Alk Number 1’killer of most. If u can keep ur chems Atleast pretty close to good and that Alk doesn’t swing much you should be golden. Most every loss I’ve ever had came from Alk swings. Start off w the easier Zoa’s and keep them low light and low flow for first week and if all looks well and they stay wide open after the first week then u can start moving up and more flow.

Alk has been stable around 9.5 for about 1.5 months now. I do about a 25 percent water change per week with Coral Pro Salt. I have them down near the sand bed in decent flow for now. I test parameters 3-4 times per week and they have been about the same for quite some time now.

 

[JimBonks]

Just as a quick update. They have been in for about 30 minutes and 2 of the 3 frags are starting to open up now. Not all polyps but a few on each one are slowing opening up. I hope this is a good sign.