Zoa Bleaching?

[Lynchcon]

Hi Folks,

Got this Zoa colony about 3 weeks ago from LFS.

At first when I bought it, there were 4 polyps that had this white/ skeletal effect. Now there are 6 or 7.

Parameters are all normal. Calc a little low at 390 but working on that and Lights are LEDs at about 40% intensity.

Ant ideas what's happening? See pic.

Thanks

 

[Tahoe61]

A mix of Palythoa and Zoanthids I believe. The larger lighter ones being Palys.

 

[Lynchcon]

Really? So they're meant to be like that? They dont look very good or well.

 

[blasterman]

The palys kinda look like purple deaths..and they aren't doing good. Not sure what the orange scrub zoas are, but they look pretty weak as well. PD's will likey not spread with those other zoas around them because they aren't competitive.

I'm also seeing either cyano or diatoms on your crushed coral bed, which indicates a nutrient problem, which is likely why there's a problem with the palys.

PD either like your tank or hate it. They are one of the slowest acclimating palys around and this is why reef shops don't carry them as much. The good news is they are voracious meat eaters and will eat brine shrimp dropped on top of them, and this is one way to improve their health quickly. If they don't eat the food they aren't PDs.

Here's a pic I just look of a colony in my tank showing you what they are supposed to look like, and mine are just a bit bleached out due to high lighting.