Won’t open

Greg17 · Jul 5, 2018

I have tried placing my zoas in several spots but have been unable to get them to open fully.

Ammonia 0
Nitrites 0
Nitrates 3
Alk 10.1
Calcium 400

I’ve placed mid, high and now on sandy bottom. Any help would be appreciated.

sbash · Jul 5, 2018

Put them in medium flow and medium light, wait until they open. I have had polyps not open for over a month after adding them. If they continue 'reaching' like they are in the picture, increase the light.

How long have they been in the tank?
How long have you been waiting before moving them?

Greg17 · Jul 5, 2018

Guess I’m a little impatient with that. I move and then move again a few hours later. I was thinking light was the issue but it seems like everyone has theirs on the bottom and I’m running hydra 26s so I thought it was powerful enough with my settings. Of course I don’t have a par meter. I’ll try moving them up and letting them stay there for a few days.

hockeyhead019 · Jul 5, 2018

@Greg17 they look like they're starting to open... I've had zoas not open all the way up for up to three weeks. Make sure you aren't moving them too frequently or they'll get stressed out and the process will take longer

Dom · Jul 5, 2018

You have to move frags around your tank until you find the sweet spot for the frag. Unlike anemones, coral frags can not move themselves to an area they like and settle in to. Think of your self as a real estate agent. You have to keep showing them different locations until they find something they like.

But you HAVE to be patient. When I relocate a frag, I'll monitor it 4-7 days before moving them again.

I have Zoas growing all over my tank; some are in the sand, others are on rock deep in the tank, and others close to the water surface. Zoas are very forgiving when it comes to the amount of light they receive. I find Zoas can be a bit fussy is where FLOW is concerned. My experience is that Zoas find high flow locations irritating. I'd move them to low flow areas and wait a week.

How old is the tank?

Greg17 · Jul 5, 2018

Thanks. I just saw them extending so I didn’t know if I should try and move one more time or wait and see because half are opened.

DSC reef · Jul 5, 2018

You've got good advice. Try leaving them be for a week and go from there.

Greg17 · Jul 5, 2018

Thank you all. I’m gonna leave it there for several days and see what happens. I’ll give you an update. I really appreciate it.

legionofdoon · Jul 6, 2018

I'm no expert but I do have some experience. I think your alk is too high.

legionofdoon · Jul 6, 2018

Dom said:
You have to move frags around your tank until you find the sweet spot for the frag. Unlike anemones, coral frags can not move themselves to an area they like and settle in to. Think of your self as a real estate agent. You have to keep showing them different locations until they find something they like.

But you HAVE to be patient. When I relocate a frag, I'll monitor it 4-7 days before moving them again.

I have Zoas growing all over my tank; some are in the sand, others are on rock deep in the tank, and others close to the water surface. Zoas are very forgiving when it comes to the amount of light they receive. I find Zoas can be a bit fussy is where FLOW is concerned. My experience is that Zoas find high flow locations irritating. I'd move them to low flow areas and wait a week.

How old is the tank?

I live where Zoas grow natively and I can guarantee that the ones we have in Florida do not care at all about laminar flow, nor lighting, or nutrients. I've seen them grow on exposed rocks and in pretty much swamp water and in tanks the only thing I've ever seen them not open up was high ALK. Just my experience. Zenia are the same way they are almost like a canary for ALK if they stop pumping stop dosing.