Why won’t my zoas fully open?

[Salamander-Hime]

Hello! As the title says I have some zoas that partially open often but they never fully open and I’m just wondering what could be the cause? Water, light, and flow should be fine and I even moved them to see if the flow or light was too high but no luck… Thanks everyone!

 

[Rmckoy]

When my first system was newer I couldn’t keep zoas alive no matter what I tried .
but at the same time I had no issues keeping acropora or montipora alive .
When you say everything should be fine , have you tested nutrients ?
Sometimes flow and light are ok but lower nutrients or even fluctuating parameters such as what happens in a new system could be causing them to partially close .
Any thing picking at them ?

 

[Salamander-Hime]

When my first system was newer I couldn’t keep zoas alive no matter what I tried .
but at the same time I had no issues keeping acropora or montipora alive .
When you say everything should be fine , have you tested nutrients ?
Sometimes flow and light are ok but lower nutrients or even fluctuating parameters such as what happens in a new system could be causing them to partially close .
Any thing picking at them ?

I will check parameters when I get home from work, these are the corals I’ve had the longest and they never seem to fully open no matter what the levels in the water are

as for the picking, My fish are all in QT right now so it’s not them, but perhaps could be a scarlet hermit or something but I’ve never seen it happen

what parameters should I test for nutrients?

 

[HudsonReefer2.0]

Po4 and no3.

 

[Salamander-Hime]

Okay thank you I’ll have to buy a Po4 test kit

 

[HudsonReefer2.0]

Try to avoid api

 

[Salamander-Hime]

Try to avoid api

Thank you I will! I had an ammonia test from them that was so faulty (read as .5 in brand new saltwater from the LFS)

is the aquaforest test any good?

 

[HudsonReefer2.0]

I used nyos for no3 but have Hanna for both now.

 

[Mr. Mojo Rising]

what is your lighting and flow? I'm thinking its not getting enough light.
Do you have other corals, how are they?

 

[Kasrift]

I'd second a test kit. I'd check salinity. This is a good site for zoa care https://www.saltwateraquariumblog.com/zoanthid-coral-care-guide/

I'd also mention that some evidence shows that iodine is good, but being new id be hesitant to dose.

 

[Salamander-Hime]

what is your lighting and flow? I'm thinking its not getting enough light.
Do you have other corals, how are they?

Stock light and pump on the Fluval Evo 13.5

i had them up in a really bright spot when I first placed them and they didn’t open there either

as for the other corals, they all seem happy including other zoas in the tank

 

[Salamander-Hime]

I'd second a test kit. I'd check salinity. This is a good site for zoa care https://www.saltwateraquariumblog.com/zoanthid-coral-care-guide/

I'd also mention that some evidence shows that iodine is good, but being new id be hesitant to dose.

Too high or low salinity do you think? I’ll check when I get home but I just have one of those crummy plastic hydrometer which I’m pretty sure isn’t even accurate ordering a new one on Amazon this week though

 

[Koh23]

My bet is on low nutrients (po4, no3) based on my problems and how my zoas look virtually the same as yours....

And i already ruled out light or flow as issue...

 

[Salamander-Hime]

My bet is on low nutrients (po4, no3) based on my problems and how my zoas look virtually the same as yours....

And i already ruled out light or flow as issue...

Okay thanks for letting me know! Ill update once I’ve tested, but just out of curiosity if it is low nutrients what is the fix for it?

 

[Koh23]

Well, same old mantra...

Feed more, filter less, get more fish, or simply dose no3 and po4.....

Often combination yields best result, but, i'm not there yet

 

[Rmckoy]

I will check parameters when I get home from work, these are the corals I’ve had the longest and they never seem to fully open no matter what the levels in the water are

as for the picking, My fish are all in QT right now so it’s not them, but perhaps could be a scarlet hermit or something but I’ve never seen it happen

what parameters should I test for nutrients?

I prefer salifert for nitrate and use Hanna for ulr phosphorus
Any fluctuations could irritate them but as mentioned . Perhaps lighting ?
Tou mentioned you recently moved them .
give them time to settle and perhaps move again to a higher and closer to the light .
Is it possible the stock lights are too much and need to be adjusted ?

 

[HudsonReefer2.0]

I'd second a test kit. I'd check salinity. This is a good site for zoa care https://www.saltwateraquariumblog.com/zoanthid-coral-care-guide/

I'd also mention that some evidence shows that iodine is good, but being new id be hesitant to dose.

B careful w iodine. There are no reliable hobby grade tests kits and it can easily b overdosed. If u are going to dose I’d recommend
Seachem iodide. And get icp testing before hand.

 

[Rmckoy]

B careful w iodine. There are no reliable hobby grade tests kits and it can easily b overdosed. If u are going to dose I’d recommend
Seachem iodide. And get icp testing before hand.

I’ve used Red Sea test kit but as you said there isn’t anything hobby grade to be accurate enough .
seachem Aquavitro makes a iodide product