What’s wrong with these zoas?

[bingus]

Got a drag of some zoas from my lfs for a tester coral for my tank and they won’t open even though the ricordia next to them looks happy. Could it be too high of flow or are the lights on too high? They seem all shrunken up. I have a power head right above them.
Water parameters
Salinity 35ppm
Temp 78f
Ph 8.2
Dkh 10.5
Nitrate 2
Nitrite .3
Ammonia 0
Calcium 450

 

[Jekyl]

Parameters look OK. Could bring nitrates up a little. Tank as you said and by the photos looks very new. Coral don't really thrive in new tanks. I would be patient. Maybe bring the nitrate up to around 10 and see how it goes. What lights are you using?

 

[bingus]

Parameters look OK. Could bring nitrates up a little. Tank as you said and by the photos looks very new. Coral don't really thrive in new tanks. I would be patient. Maybe bring the nitrate up to around 10 and see how it goes. What lights are you using?

Vipar spectra 300w tank is about 3 months old cycled. Lights are set at 2 for blue Chanel and 1 for whites. Mounted 16 inches above tank.

 

[Suohhen]

The tank looks very new and having detectable levels of nitrite confirms that. It always helps to start coral in low and slowly acclimate but I would focus mostly on the nitrite.

 

[bingus]

The tank looks very new and having detectable levels of nitrite confirms that. It always helps to start coral in low and slowly acclimate but I would focus mostly on the nitrite.

How do I bring nitrites down? Just wait?

 

[TangGang]

I doubt it would be nitrates because zoas are very forgiving. I’d say it’s either too much light, too much flow, or they are just getting settled in.

 

[bingus]

I doubt it would be nitrates because zoas are very forgiving. I’d say it’s either too much light, too much flow, or they are just getting settled in.

I got them last Sunday so we’ll see

 

[Jekyl]

How high are the lights turned up? Could be an acclimation issue. Those things can put out some serious par.

 

[Suohhen]

There are many products that can be used to bind up nitrites/ammonia but I am not familiar with anything reef safe. I am sure there is something I just haven't had need of it. I use Seachem Prime in my qt, but it also binds nitrate so it may not be advisable. Obviously water changes are always an option, but you kind of want to let the cycle run its course which is why products like prime that bind and allow the waste to still be removed by bacteria are preferable.

 

[bingus]

How high are the lights turned up? Could be an acclimation issue. Those things can put out some serious par.

Blues are at 2 and whites are 1. With blues for 10 hours a day and whites at 8. Mounted 16 inches above tank.

 

[bingus]

There are many products that can be used to bind up nitrites/ammonia but I am not familiar with anything reef safe. I am sure there is something I just haven't had need of it. I use Seachem Prime in my qt, but it also binds nitrate so it may not be advisable. Obviously water changes are always an option, but you kind of want to let the cycle run its course which is why products like prime that bind and allow the waste to still be removed by bacteria are preferable.

I have some prime sitting around so I’ll try that when I go see the tank tomorrow.

 

[Suohhen]

Okay Prime is very potent so you should be able to get away with using just a little bit of it and since it doesn't say anything on the label about whether or not it is reef safe you probably want to be careful. By no means is this guaranteed to be the issue with the zoa, but having detectable levels of nitrite is an issue to be resolved for sure if you have animals in a saltwater tank. 3 months might seem like a long time but reef tanks can take longer especially if dealing with live rock although it seems like dry rock to me. It is possible that you didn't provide enough ammonia to fully cycle but regardless we are where we are. The most common reason for zoas to act like yours imo would be shipping/acclimation stress. Do you happen to know what the salinity of the water was compared to your tank and did you drip acclimate?

 

[bingus]

Update- moved zoas to a half shaded area and they opened right up. Guess my lights are too bright at the lowest setting?...

 

[Suohhen]

Too bright for the newly added coral. The relationship between the coral and zooxanthellae is fickle and when stressed the coral can go as far as expelling the algae, otherwise known as bleaching. This is why it is always best to slowly acclimate coral to any change including salinity and other water chemistry and light. Some coral seems to do fine going straight into bright light but often times this happens.

 

[vetteguy53081]

Leave nitrates and one big question as you dont want to strt chasing numbers ( in which raising one value can raise or lower another) - WHAT TEST KITS ARE YOU USING ??
You may be getting false readings and making changes will further impact your water parameters.

Elevate the zoas for starters off the sand.
Moderate light and water flow.
You may add Iodide- not iodine which zoa will transform into their own iodine needs

Dkh a little high but should have no impact (should be 8-9)

 

[bingus]

Leave nitrates and one big question as you dont want to strt chasing numbers ( in which raising one value can raise or lower another) -

Just tested water and I guess my newly added refugium kicked into high gear. Nitrates are 0 now. Dropped in a bunch of extra food to try to help that.

 

[vetteguy53081]

Just tested water and I guess my newly added refugium kicked into high gear. Nitrates are 0 now. Dropped in a bunch of extra food to try to help that.

Dropping in a bunch of food is one that will haunt you, You will quickly get ammonia spikes, Phos climbing, nitrates climbing and suddenly there is cyano or Dino

Never chase numbers . Stability even is something is high or low is more important than sudden changes. Lift that plug the zoa is on and see if any bugs or even spider looking creatures underneath.

 

[vetteguy53081]

Zero readings- By chance are you using API test kits??

 

[Suohhen]

If you dosed prime it is likely that is why the nitrate number is down, but yeah nitrate is a result of nirtification and biological processes, you don't get it from dumping in food. Overfeeding can be very harmful. As Vette said be patient, just follow the process. Add fish and clean up crew and wait for the algae cycle to run it's course.

 

[bingus]

Zero readings- By chance are you using API test kits??

I’m using read sea