Paly possibly dying

[Colin_1122]

Hey guys, a few days ago I put a Paly into my tank. The tank has only been up for about a month but I have a torch and gsp frag and small clean up crew that are all doing great so far. The Paly only had two heads, both extended soon after they went in. But the next day the larger head was completely closed and it’s stayed that way for about 4 days now. The base has turned red and the head is almost clear, I can see the orange color through the clear covering. Sorry for the bad pics but can anybody help me figure out what’s going on

 

[vetteguy53081]

Dip in hydrogen peroxide for about 1-2 minutes and see how it looks in the morning

 

[Cristy17]

Tank parameters?

 

[Colin_1122]

Parameters seem ok.
ammonia 0
Nitrites 0
Nitrates 0-5 ppm
pH 8.1
Salinity 1.025

 

[Cristy17]

Two things I found out after having a hard time getting them to thrive, they like med to high light and med flow. I also I think your nitrates are low, paly/zoas like dirtier water. Do you have any fish in the tank?

 

[Colin_1122]

Two things I found out after having a hard time getting them to thrive, they like med to high light and med flow. I also I think your nitrates are low, paly/zoas like dirtier water. Do you have any fish in the tank?

No not yet, just two other small corals, 2 hermits and 2 trochus snails. Somebody else told me it looked bleached from the light but the guy at the store told me they usually like more light than zoas. I’ve got an ai prime 16hd on acclimation mode at 40% and the tank is about 16” deep with the light 8” above the water. I’ve got the return pumps and a jebao sow4 for flow

 

[Cristy17]

No not yet, just two other small corals, 2 hermits and 2 trochus snails. Somebody else told me it looked bleached from the light but the guy at the store told me they usually like more light than zoas. I’ve got an ai prime 16hd on acclimation mode at 40% and the tank is about 16” deep with the light 8” above the water. I’ve got the return pumps and a jebao sow4 for flow

I have never seen a paly or zoa bleach. Usually they stay closed and then melts. Has it only been on the sand bed since you put in in your tank? If so, I would suggest to put it higher or take it off acclimation mode and see how it does. Also make sure it gets med flow. Also the reason I asked about fish is file fish will nip at any coral with small tentacles once aptasia is gone.

 

[Colin_1122]

I have never seen a paly or zoa bleach. Usually they stay closed and then melts. Has it only been on the sand bed since you put in in your tank? If so, I would suggest to put it higher or take it off acclimation mode and see how it does. Also make sure it gets med flow. Also the reason I asked about fish is file fish will nip at any coral with small tentacles once aptasia is gone.

Sorry he said it looked like it was melting, not bleaching. And yes it’s only been on the sand bed, the other guy told me to move it to a more shaded spot so now it’s in a far corner in the tank

 

[Cristy17]

So when you moved it, it was melting and now it looks like its just not opening, correct?

 

[Colin_1122]

So when you moved it, it was melting and now it looks like its just not opening, correct?

No it hasn’t changed. That pic is from right before I moved it and it still looks the same

 

[Colin_1122]

Somebody else on this form had said it looked like it was melting. This is my first reef so I have no idea what that even looks like but I don’t know if he was right because he told me it was getting too much light and I’m thinking maybe it’s not getting enough

 

[Cristy17]

No it hasn’t changed. That pic is from right before I moved it and it still looks the same

I personally don’t see that its melting...they get really flat and then they are gone. As Vetteguy 53081 suggested, which I have never done, dip it in hydrogen peroxide, maybe it has a parasite. What is the small white thing in the middle?

 

[Colin_1122]

I personally don’t see that its melting...they get really flat and then they are gone. As Vetteguy 53081 suggested, which I have never done, dip it in hydrogen peroxide, maybe it has a parasite. What is the small white thing in the middle?

I have no idea, here’s another pic if it helps

 

[Cell]

Have you tried different light and flow combinations? Move it around a bit and see if anything changes.

 

[ScottR]

FYI, if you take them out of the tank, even a healthy zoa or play will close up.

 

[Colin_1122]

Have you tried different light and flow combinations? Move it around a bit and see if anything changes.

I moved it up a little bit and I’ll see if anything changes, i just have no idea why the base turned a reddish color and there’s that weird white thing in the middle

 

[Colin_1122]

FYI, if you take them out of the tank, even a healthy zoa or play will close up.

Yeah I know, I just took them out to get a better pic, the one head has been closed for about 5 days now and I’m not sure why

 

[ScottR]

Have you tried dipping it yet? Zoas come with more pests than any coral I’ve ever seen. They are a magnet for them.

 

[Colin_1122]

Have you tried dipping it yet? Zoas come with more pests than any coral I’ve ever seen. They are a magnet for them.

Yeah I dipped in coralRX when I first got it

 

[ScottR]

Sometimes zoas and palys close up. Just give it more time. They can do well in almost any kind of lighting. I’ve seen them grow in next to zero light and next to high lighting with acros.