What’s going on here?

[JMM744]

At first I thought my zoas were getting eaten by little star fish but am now thinking they are eating zoas that are already dying. This colony just started shutting down this morning. So far I have lost over half my zoa garden. Been picking little starfish out my tank for days so far. Not helping. This tank is sps dominate and they are growing quite well as are my scollies and other soft corals.
Any thoughts?
Alk 8.2
Calc 420
Phos .03
Nitrates about 10
Salinity is 34
Thanks guys,
Jim

 

[ReefRy]

Aiptasia.

 

[Reefing_addiction]

Aiptasia.

Not sure what that has to do with the zoas.
That may irritate them but not kill them

 

[Reefing_addiction]

But yea I see at least one aiptasia

 

[Rogued_Reefer]

Check it out at night with a flashlight... my buddy had a similar issue and turned out amphipods were having a field day with the zoas...

 

[fishguy242]

hi,freshwater dip some ,look for zoa eating nudi's,spiders? hope not

 

[ReefRy]

Not sure what that has to do with the zoas.
That may irritate them but not kill them

Ime they'll sting/irritate the zoa to the point that the polyp will no longer open. Once they've been deprived of light and nutrients for an extended period I'd safely assume it could cause death, but I've managed to alleviate the problem before that happens.

 

[JMM744]

Yes I have aptasia but that is not what is affecting my big colony right now. As stated the polyps will be irritated by aptasia and I usually go in and try to kill it once it gets to be a problem. I am awaiting my order of filefish to , hopefully, take care of the problem for good.

 

[Reefing_addiction]

Yes I have aptasia but that is not what is affecting my big colony right now. As stated the polyps will be irritated by aptasia and I usually go in and try to kill it once it gets to be a problem. I am awaiting my order of filefish to , hopefully, take care of the problem for good.

I would pull them out and dip them in RO water (temp matched to your tank) for 5 minutes. Use a turkey baster and push water between polyps and see if anything falls off

 

[JMM744]

Will do tonight. Thanks for all the responses.
Jim

 

[littlebigreef]

It might be my eyes but it looks like there's some polpys with pustules (lower left hand side just above the algae on the glass). Might just be sand but a more focused pic might show us a little better.

 

[JMM744]

Got tied up with work. Checked the zoas out Wed. mid afternoon and they were opened up, all of them. Beats me what’s going on. I plan on pulling all my surviving zoas over the weekend if possible and dip them all in fresh water.
Jim