What am I doing wrong

[Docjpath]

New to SW aquarium, but understand many aspects but not all of saltwater tanks. Have a biocube 32 set up for over 3 months with Stevesled upgrade, intank media with Chemipure Blue, filter floss and Tunze 9001 protein skimmer. Use IO Reef salt with RODI water. Sal. 1.025, KH >214, Ca >520, 0 NH3, 0 Nitrite, 0 Nitrate, pH 8.2-8.4. 30 pounds of Liferock started with tank. Weekly 30% water change with ATO top off.

Have 1 clown, 1 royal gramma, 1 firefish all doing well and CUC. Gone through Dyno, cyano and some GHA but under control now. Few small spots of Coraline algae, but not much. My problem is I want to have a Zoa garden, but every Zoa I put in tank has never opened and turns dark brown over time and dies. I used Bayer dip according to recommendations before introducing so no parasites. I put Zoas on bottom of tank with 40% blue and 20% whites on Stevesled, 12 hour with 90 minute ramp up on both ends.

Looking for help from Zoa lovers, as that is what I want to have. Perhaps I should start with something else?

 

[leepink23]

Zoas like "dirty" water, mine grow much faster when I have detectable nitrates and phosphates. Also to much glow on my zoas and they stay closed.

 

[Docjpath]

LOL, so I thought you were supposed to have a clean tank with saltwater. I hate the thought of letting my water parameters get “dirty” but I will try lower light with the next round of Zoas. Thanks for the reply!

 

[leepink23]

Sorry I meant to much flow, not glow, autocorrect got me! You do want a clean tank but need nitrates and phosphates to help coral grow, zoas like more nitrates. Just want balance so that you don't have algae every where.

 

[Docjpath]

Thanks again, Glow Flow, too much of either is bad. I have a power head aimed at back of tank and main pump coming from front to back of tank directed high on the surface. Since past Zoas never opened, I don’t know if flow was too much.

So before I purchase another set of Zoas, should I “feed” the tank with Reef Roids or perhaps remove my ChemBlue to get a bit more phosphates and nitrates? Not being an expert, tweaking this part is intimidating!

 

[leepink23]

I would remove Chem blue first. Then if your levels are low feed a little more. Fish poop is what corals love best!

 

[leepink23]

I had a huge zoa garden and then my foxface devoured it, took me forever to figure out what the problem was. Make sure you dip your corals before putting them in your tank, there are a lot of pest that eat zoas. I ended up selling the fish and restarted the zoas. Luckily they grow fast!

 

[Docjpath]

I used Bayer dip, which was recommended by many reefers. I heard some say don’t use Bayer with Zoas others say it is great for Zoas. Will pull the chemblue and see how things go. I only have clown, gramma and firefish, so don’t think they chomped on Zoas, but who knows. Appreciate the help!

 

[leepink23]

I used Bayer dip, which was recommended by many reefers. I heard some say don’t use Bayer with Zoas others say it is great for Zoas. Will pull the chemblue and see how things go. I only have clown, gramma and firefish, so don’t think they chomped on Zoas, but who knows. Appreciate the help!

Your welcome, I agree that those fish wouldn't mess with the zoas! Good luck with your next try!

 

[A Toadstool Leather]

LOL, so I thought you were supposed to have a clean tank with saltwater. I hate the thought of letting my water parameters get “dirty” but I will try lower light with the next round of Zoas. Thanks for the reply!

Just keep nitrate and phosphate detectable. More wont help

 

[leepink23]

I keep my nitrates 3-5, phosphates .01-.03. Higher than that I get algae problems, lower I see no growth and cyano.

 

[A Toadstool Leather]

I keep my nitrates 3-5, phosphates .01-.03. Higher than that I get algae problems, lower I see no growth and cyano.

I still get 0 phosphate since there are still diatoms in my tank. Its a 3 month old tank.

 

[ReeferMaddness843]

Great advice here. Zoas like it a little “dirtier”. I run my no3 at about 2 to 5. And I agree that cyano will begin to rear its ugly head with undetected nutrients for too long.

 

[A Toadstool Leather]

Great advice here. Zoas like it a little “dirtier”. I run my no3 at about 2 to 5. And I agree that cyano will begin to rear its ugly head with undetected nutrients for too long.

Oddly enough the only pest algae that has caused me issues are gha and bryopsis. Bryopsis is so annoying since its impossible to pull out.

 

[Docjpath]

Been fighting gha for several months, even with low phosphates and nitrates. Trying the spot treatment with h202 and works ok, but stuff always comes back. Still have not added more Zoas, gonna wait for a few weeks then try again. Anyone have good experience with sellers for Zoa? Tried Liveaquaria and was not impressed. I may go back to AustinAqua Farm, but my first ones from them did not make it either.

 

[DeepBlueSomething]

Been fighting gha for several months, even with low phosphates and nitrates. Trying the spot treatment with h202 and works ok, but stuff always comes back. Still have not added more Zoas, gonna wait for a few weeks then try again. Anyone have good experience with sellers for Zoa? Tried Liveaquaria and was not impressed. I may go back to AustinAqua Farm, but my first ones from them did not make it either.

Don't think I saw you mention - how are you acclimating? Just trying to think of another variable that might be at play

 

[Docjpath]

Float for 15-20 minutes, dipped in Bayer, drip acclimation system for about 30 minutes the first time, second time just floated, dipped with Bayer then put in main tank. I now have a Quarantine tank for fish, but have not used for corals. Class of 83 here, like your aTm.

 

[DeepBlueSomething]

Float for 15-20 minutes, dipped in Bayer, drip acclimation system for about 30 minutes the first time, second time just floated, dipped with Bayer then put in main tank. I now have a Quarantine tank for fish, but have not used for corals. Class of 83 here, like your aTm.

Howdy Doc - '96 here. Rough game yesterday and then the Astros lost too.

 

[Docjpath]

That is why I am doing a Reef tank to calm my nerves from sports, lol. Maybe one day I will have a showcase tank and the Ags and Stros will be champs!

 

[leepink23]

Been fighting gha for several months, even with low phosphates and nitrates. Trying the spot treatment with h202 and works ok, but stuff always comes back. Still have not added more Zoas, gonna wait for a few weeks then try again. Anyone have good experience with sellers for Zoa? Tried Liveaquaria and was not impressed. I may go back to AustinAqua Farm, but my first ones from them did not make it either.

I have got zoas and sps from BoomCorals and very happy with mine.