Sick zoas

[HelenofTroy]

Hey all, got some sick zoas and need some help. Most of my other zoas and corals are fine but a few are not doing so hot.

As you can see in the photo, a few colonies are half shriveled and have been for a few months now--not melting, but not seeming to grow either.

Some others get this brown color near their base and then melt away.

Parameters:

Salinity: 1.026
Nitrate: ~2
Phosphate: .01
Alk: 8
Ca: 450
pH: 8.2

25g lagoon, 2.5 years old, Kessil AP700 ran at 50% around 2 feet above the tank, MP10 at half power most of the time.

Any advice would be appreciated. Furan/chemiclean dip?

View attachment 20190124_223826.jpg

 

[Ron Reefman]

Not all zoas are the same. Some like more some like less (light, flow, alk, whatever). They aren't sick, they are just unhappy. Try moving them for different lighting or different flow (try for just one change of conditions at a time).

 

[HelenofTroy]

You dont think any dip will help them? I'll try moving them around.

 

[dmolvig]

You dont think any dip will help them? I'll try moving them around.

They don't appear to be sick, they just seem to be upset about the light. I blast mine with light, and the older polyps will look like this, but new polyps will fully open, though they do tend to be much smaller, for me anyways. As long as the polyps are always at least partially open, and you are set on having them right there, just leave them, they will adjust. You could try moving them around the tank if you want, until you find the flow/light combo that makes them happy, but personally, i usually just pick the spot i want them, and stick them there.

 

[HelenofTroy]

Thanks. They've been like that for several months now... I have two different colonies of the same zoa that I put in different parts of the tank, and both are looking like that.

 

[wattson]

zoas/palys like No3 into the 20's and dose Iodide and med/hig flow ..
dont know what other corals you have..

 

[HelenofTroy]

Got mostly zoas and lps. Most things are doing well. My acans recently are also not doing so hot.

I am feeding more now to try and bring nitrates up. I also just started dosing .5 mL acro power every day for the past few days.

 

[RELLIK-REEF]

Got mostly zoas and lps. Most things are doing well. My acans recently are also not doing so hot.

I am feeding more now to try and bring nitrates up. I also just started dosing .5 mL acro power every day for the past few days.

I'm no professional by any means but I took a few bigger colonies of zoas from someone that was shutting down their tank and was neglecting it as well. They looked very similar to yours. When placed under our t5 they perked right up after 2days and very nice polyp extension.

 

[Triggreef]

They don't appear to be sick, they just seem to be upset about the light. I blast mine with light, and the older polyps will look like this, but new polyps will fully open, though they do tend to be much smaller, for me anyways. As long as the polyps are always at least partially open, and you are set on having them right there, just leave them, they will adjust. You could try moving them around the tank if you want, until you find the flow/light combo that makes them happy, but personally, i usually just pick the spot i want them, and stick them there.

I agree on it pointing to a lighting issue. Maybe too white? I'm going to say either your really good at pictures, or your keeping those kessils fairly on white side.

I bet if you turn the kessils close or all the way to the blue, they will all improve.

 

[Triggreef]

I sure don't see anything pointing to pests or disease. Can still tell you have latin lover there, and speckled kraks so thats promising that they are still identifiable.

 

[HelenofTroy]

Haha good eye. Thanks for suggestions everyone.

I do more white for 4 hours per day, then more blue heavy the rest. I'll try more blue heavy and less whites.

 

[HelenofTroy]

Speckled kraks slowly melting..

I turned the lights more blue. I ordered some revive but that's not coming for 5 days. Is it hopeless at this point?

Parameters from two days ago:

Alk: 7.6
Calc: 440
Mg: 1300
Nitrates: 3
Phosphate: .028

 

[wattson]

increase mag to 1400 at least.
Are you dosing Iodide or Iodate ?
water changes or skimming too much ?
for some reason in my tank,some zoas/palys get cranky if No3 goes below 20,I dose to mid to high 20s and they get happy again,, plus high flow in the tank.
Salinity in my tank is 1.024,,seems they like a little lower salinity but if go this route to lower it,,do it SLOWLY..

 

[HelenofTroy]

increase mag to 1400 at least.
Are you dosing Iodide or Iodate ? No.
water changes or skimming too much ? 5g once a week. I have a small skimmer, GFO, and chaeto reactor. Too much?
for some reason in my tank,some zoas/palys get cranky if No3 goes below 20,I dose to mid to high 20s and they get happy again,, plus high flow in the tank. I am feeding more to try and bring nitrates up.
Salinity in my tank is 1.024,,seems they like a little lower salinity but if go this route to lower it,,do it SLOWLY.. Interesting on salinity.

 

[eamike261]

Any idea how much PAR those zoas are getting?

 

[HelenofTroy]

Not sure of PAR. I am running the AP700 53% heavy blue about 2 feet above the tank.

Speckled kraks melted away. Other ones are still in same condition.

My nitrates are up to around 20 now.