Problem with Zoas

[Jasontkd]

Ok, I have a problem with one of my Zoanthid colonies. All my other corals seem to be doing ok, but I am not sure what could be causing this. This colony has been in my tank for months and has been drowing and spreading really well. It started with 1 polyp.

It is almost like it started dying of from the middle out. Nothing has changed in my tank that I can think of. I did change out some carbon and some purigen a couple weeks ago. I don't see why that would cause this, especially without seeing anything changing in my other corals.

My ammonia and Nitrite are both 0.
I need to test my Nitrate, but it has been pretty consistent around 5
Calcium is 450
Alk is 9.0
Salinity 1.025

I guess I just don't know what else I should look for. I do a 10-15% water change each week. My RODI water is still reading 0, and my salt hasn't changed.
June 15th

Last night

 

[Jasontkd]

Could it be a Nudibranch or something?

 

[tsouth]

Can you please report back with a very accurate reading of your phosphates. Are you running purigen for some reason in particular? What are your tank inhabitants?

 

[Jasontkd]

Phosphate (using Red Sea) it .1-.2

The colors are very difficult to determine which it is

Tank inhabitants: 1 Clown, 1 cleaner shrimp, 1 ruby mithrax crab, misc. CUC

 

[tsouth]

Keep an eye on that mithrax. I advise you to watch the tank from a distance and monitor the frag when the lights are off. They can be opportunistic, but who knows what else may be irritating the zoanthids.

The phosphate levels do seem elevated, even with purigen. You only refreshed it, rather than introduced it, is that correct?

 

[Reef-Tank]

Any change of your lighting intensity? Also your Alkalinity seem high for the this type of coral. I keep my Alk around 8.1 - 8.2 for softy tank hope this can help.

 

[Jasontkd]

Keep an eye on that mithrax. I advise you to watch the tank from a distance and monitor the frag when the lights are off. They can be opportunistic, but who knows what else may be irritating the zoanthids.

The phosphate levels do seem elevated, even with purigen. You only refreshed it, rather than introduced it, is that correct?

I replaced a bag with a new one rather than refreshing it. But no, i didn't just add purigen to the system.

 

[Jasontkd]

Anu change of your lighting intensity?

Lighting has been the same schedule and light for months

 

[Jasontkd]

I could get some GFO if that would help. It is only a 2 gallon tank so I don't want to do anything that would over-correct a problem.

One other thought. Do metals like aluminum have an impact on zoanthids and not SPS/LPS? I do have a marinepure block in my overflow. I put it in there a few months ago to get some bacteria built up to move to a QT set up. I just remembered that they have been known to leach aluminum. Could that be an issue?

 

[Jasontkd]

I have some LPS and SPS also, which is why i try and keep the alk a little higher.

 

[tsouth]

I don't think you should take any actions just yet. Zoa's don't typically melt away this quickly due to water quality. I highly suspect a predator, but time will tell - give it another night and keep your eyes on it

 

[Jasontkd]

Ok, more of my zoo this colonies are being affected. Not all of them, but several. All my other corals are great no issue on LPS or SPS.

I can’t find any bugs or nudibranches. There are pods of some sort crawling all over them. I took one drag out and dipped it, but all I found in the dip were pods.

water levels are right. My magnesium was low at 1240, so I am bringing that back within range, but everything else is fine. I did a 15%water change Saturday. Going to do another tomorrow.

there are some spots in some of the zoos. Could it be Zola pox?. If so, what do I do?

 

[Jvalle]

Do U have a pic? Thx

 

[Jasontkd]

Here is the best picture I can get. I suck at taking pictures

 

[Jvalle]

Have u tried supplementing with iron ? To me this looks like a change in salinity or temp but if you say it’s stable and your parameters are fine then I can only venture to guess they got fungus or pox. I would do a Furan dip or take frag out and uses a qtip on the affected ones and rinse and put back . Thx