Skinny Zoa’s

[Leadfooted]

I have some issues with a few colonies that seem to be thinning out, not necessarily stretching for light, just getting skinny and possibly loosing a few polyps. All other corals are happy and growing. What are some issues possibly related to Zoa’s getting skinny? Again, ruling out light.

 

[James M]

any pics ?

 

[Cary]

Some zoas need more light to be happy. I have moved my purple monsters up twice

 

[James M]

+1 on they need more light

 

[Leadfooted]

This is the frag colony getting skinny.

Same Zoa’s I bought at the same time but placed and I rock near the Sand bed. Definitely not stretching or skinny looking.

Red circles show placement. Top frag is the one that’s skinny which leads me to believe it’s light is not the factor if the same coral from the same frag seems happy on the bottom but stretching above? But I’m not ruling light completely out.... yet.

 

[ZachH455]

looks like they're reaching for light.

 

[James M]

+1 on stretching for light

 

[Capitol Reef Corals]

They need more light for sure. I put a new frag rack in my tank and it blocked half of the light from a small colony of zoas on my rocks. It started to get skinny and more webby like yours, and then eventually melted away.

 

[Leadfooted]

OK I’m going to go with your suggestions here and replace two of my t-5 bulbs over the next two months starting with one today. I’ll update with results

 

[BillyReefer]

They need more light for sure. I put a new frag rack in my tank and it blocked half of the light from a small colony of zoas on my rocks. It started to get skinny and more webby like yours, and then eventually melted away.

By getting skinny, do you refer to getting smaller in general? Or do you mean the stalks were stretching and getting thinner and longer? I have some zoa's, that get smaller and smaller over time, so maybe they don't get enough light. Or the proper lighting, as i see many people lighting heavy blue here, mines are half white, half blue ish.

 

[Capitol Reef Corals]

By getting skinny, do you refer to getting smaller in general? Or do you mean the stalks were stretching and getting thinner and longer? I have some zoa's, that get smaller and smaller over time, so maybe they don't get enough light. Or the proper lighting, as i see many people lighting heavy blue here, mines are half white, half blue ish.

In this case I was referring to the stalks getting skinnier and the connection between polyps getting skinnier or deteriorating away as shown in the first picture. I have found that when the polyps get smaller or lose color, they have too much light. When the polyps seems to stretch for light, they need more light. Also, zoas love blue light and will have the best coloration and polyp size with a bluer spectrum than a white spectrum.

 

[BillyReefer]

In this case I was referring to the stalks getting skinnier and the connection between polyps getting skinnier or deteriorating away as shown in the first picture. I have found that when the polyps get smaller or lose color, they have too much light. When the polyps seems to stretch for light, they need more light. Also, zoas love blue light and will have the best coloration and polyp size with a bluer spectrum than a white spectrum.

But with the seneye reef meter, i get around 75 PAR. That's the part that stuns me, you would think it's too much light but the light intensity is really low.

 

[Leadfooted]

Thank you for the added light suggestion. Two of my T-5's were going on 10 months(I have 4 total), I replaced one and already seeing a difference. The other 3 were recently replaced so I thought there was enough light but apparently not. You can see there not extending and as skinny anymore. I'll replace the last and T-5 next week.

 

[Capitol Reef Corals]

Thank you for the added light suggestion. Two of my T-5's were going on 10 months(I have 4 total), I replaced one and already seeing a difference. The other 3 were recently replaced so I thought there was enough light but apparently not. You can see there not extending and as skinny anymore. I'll replace the last and T-5 next week.

Good to hear that!