Shriveled zoanthids?

[instantaquatics]

My zoanthid frag is very shriveled. What does this mean? My zoanthid rock is doing ok, but this frag is completely shut.

Parameters are all spot-on. Could my light be too powerful? I put it in a shaded spot and it didn't bounce back.

Ill be doing a 1 day blackout.

 

[Muttley000]

What is "spot on" particularly nitrate and phosphate?

 

[instantaquatics]

What is "spot on" particularly nitrate and phosphate?

Nitrate is 0 and phosphate is 0. I do have algae, though.

 

[Michael Naegeli]

Zoa’s like a little bit o dirty water. Zero nitrate is not a good thing for them. Looks to be melting out on you unfortunately

 

[instantaquatics]

How can I achieve dirtier water? I have been pounding my filter with flakes lately, and my nitrates have not been rising at all.

 

[Michael Naegeli]

How long has tank been up and running first off? When you say “parameters spot on” I’m curious to what you mean by that. Most Zoa are pretty easy to keep. Some can be incredibly tough. Always start w your cheaper typically hardier and more forgiving. Zoa’s can be very sensitive to Alk swings as well as salt levels. Lighting varies. Always start lower and move up if need be. Flow, they are pretty flexible to most all flow. May like lower flow. Again start low and move to more if needed or preferred. They tolerate higher nitrates very well in most cases... phosphates they like on lower side. You do not want any algae or detritus to build up on polyps. Use a baster to blow of any dead tissue (as I see on ur polyps) or any other debri’s. Keep em clean. If they are growing algae move to higher flow. Keep lighting moderate, not too much white. I would start monitoring ur Alk more regularly to check for swings. Very common issue. Good luck, keep posted

 

[Michael Naegeli]

How can I achieve dirtier water? I have been pounding my filter with flakes lately, and my nitrates have not been rising at all.

I wouldn’t suggest “pounding filter w flake food”. May overdue and end up w some more serious issues. Feed ur fish xtra good many times a day w a High quality nutient food. Their poop will do the rest

 

[instantaquatics]

Thanks Michael.

I will indeed feed my fish some more mysis shrimp throughout the day. The tank has been running for 6 months. The tank size is 29 US gallons and it has 1 banggai cardinalfish and 2 ocellaris clownfish. Is there another way to add nitrates to the water?

 

[Muttley000]

Thanks Michael.

I will indeed feed my fish some more mysis shrimp throughout the day. The tank has been running for 6 months. The tank size is 29 US gallons and it has 1 banggai cardinalfish and 2 ocellaris clownfish. Is there another way to add nitrates to the water?

You can dose sodium nitrate. I just started doing this a week ago. Search in the chemistry forum, there are a few threads about it.

 

[Michael Naegeli]

You can dose sodium nitrate. I just started doing this a week ago. Search in the chemistry forum, there are a few threads about it.

I dose Nitrates as well. I never had to w just a Zoa tank but ironically I needed more for my SPS. I don’t know if you should be dosing at this point though. I run a refugium as well as a big ole skimmer. I overfeed the crap out of my tank too. The fuge and slim I use keep phos down but consequently it steals all my nitrates. If you don’t have a solid export solution dosing Nitrates may not be for you. Plus, I probably have a few thousand Zoa’s and Paly’s and hundreds of Lps and Sps in my 180. So I have an Enormous amount of Corals to provide for. I don’t think you do, so you could be starting a chain reaction to disaster. I would be looking at other probable causes to them shriveling. Like I said before I never worried about keepin my Nitrates high with just an absolutely absurd amount of Zoa’s.