Zoa color

[Jman76]

Hello!

I know there are many threads on this subject but so many different possible solutions. I noticed one of my fire and ice colonies is losing color, especially in the lashes. Red is almost faded. Theyve done well for awhile, this is fairly sudden. It is limited to this and one other fire and ice colony. All other zoas, and corals look fine. I have a digitate hydroid infestation Im working on. Theres some in the LED photo lol. Would anyone agree with this being exclusive to 2 colonies that it is not an issue with light or nutrition etc? Pest more likely? There are some white scuffs on the zoa stalks...Thanks for any help!
13 gal LPS nano
1.025
79 deg
ph 8.2
trates 20
phos .15
cal 450
mg 1300
alk 8.7

 

[Hemmdog]

Any angels or things that could pick at zoas ?

 

[Jman76]

Hemm, nada...just 2 clowns. Maybe fire shrimp?, but he stays plenty occupied. Could be I'm just paranoid lol. Really the zoa looks healthy other than red color disappearing. Thanks!

 

[Hemmdog]

Hemm, nada...just 2 clowns. Maybe fire shrimp?, but he stays plenty occupied. Could be I'm just paranoid lol. Really the zoa looks healthy other than red color disappearing. Thanks!

Maybe, I haven’t had one I’m not familiar with their temperament. If your other zoas are doing good I wouldn’t sweat it. If you don’t do water changes often, not sure if you do, look into an iodine supplement, zoas love it. I use Red Sea trace elements myself.

 

[Double monti 61]

Try adding some amino acids

 

[Hemmdog]

Try adding some amino acids

+1 Red Sea reef nutrition a&b is great. My zoas love that stuff.

 

[Jman76]

I actually switched from Fuel to Red Sea A+B about a month ago. Agreed, everything responds well to it. Plus Roids twice a week, and reef frenzy for the fish.

 

[Hemmdog]

I actually switched from Fuel to Red Sea A+B about a month ago. Agreed, everything responds well to it. Plus Roids twice a week, and reef frenzy for the fish.

Nice! I use all the same stuff!

 

[Jman76]

Maybe, I haven’t had one I’m not familiar with their temperament. If your other zoas are doing good I wouldn’t sweat it. If you don’t do water changes often, not sure if you do, look into an iodine supplement, zoas love it. I use Red Sea trace elements myself.

His temperament is cool...like a dog really. Until feed time, then he stomps everything, closes em all up

 

[A. grandis]

If the light isn't the reason, there is no reason.
Could be the position it's in the tank and poor spectrum/intensity for that particular species. Amino acids won't keep those types of reds.

 

[Jman76]

If the light isn't the reason, there is no reason.
Could be the position it's in the tank and poor spectrum/intensity for that particular species. Amino acids won't keep those types of reds.

I wonder about that. Have a AI Prime HD with Saxby setting, with reduced white. Do you think this is deficient, as in move it closer to light? They are placed in bottom 25%

 

[Zos4me]

I have a fire and ice colony and as they have grown they have changed color

 

[Paul Worley]

Maybe, I haven’t had one I’m not familiar with their temperament. If your other zoas are doing good I wouldn’t sweat it. If you don’t do water changes often, not sure if you do, look into an iodine supplement, zoas love it. I use Red Sea trace elements myself.

Seachem trace elements are good also

 

[Paul Worley]

 

[A. grandis]

I wonder about that. Have a AI Prime HD with Saxby setting, with reduced white. Do you think this is deficient, as in move it closer to light? They are placed in bottom 25%

Needs more whites, yes.
Zoas love good light. It's so sad how people think they like less light than most SPS.
You find most of the species in very shallow waters around the planet!
I use T5s and halides for my zoas. LEDs will keep them alive but won't give me the healthy polyps as I find in the ocean. Halides/T5s are the very best to keep the vibrant pigments "alive" in the long run. Nothing else will do.
Try to offer more "whites" VERY SLOWLY!!!!! LEDs can damage the polys and anything else really fast, so the changes have to happen slow!!!! I would say increments of 5% per week or 2 weeks at a time. let them heal and adapt... Common sense with the photoperiod too. You don't want to damage them. Watch them and see how they do.
It takes long time to return to what they were. Relax...
Good luck!

 

[Zos4me]

I have t5s and a hydra 26 over mine

 

[A. grandis]

Typical growth under LED light.

 

[Paul Worley]

 

[Hemmdog]

Same thing under t5 led hybrid. Do you know the name of these by the way?

 

[A. grandis]

I have t5s and a hydra 26 over mine

They say hydra is "one of the 3 best LEDs in America".
Anyway... The T5s, if enough, will give you some good coverage and will help the polyps to be healthier. The growth will still have some difficulties, showing "reaching up for light" effect. Specially if you put them on the bottom of the tank.
It is hard to have an amazing growth/ colony structure, like in the ocean, with LEDs in the light combo. That is what I have noticed.
And if you aren't careful with the LEDs you will burn the corals and zoas... so... gotta go slow... very slow.
A very good T5 fixture like the ATI Sunpower will help a lot to reach a very nice growth rate and will keep nice pigments with a good structure in most areas of the tank. That will also depend on the number of bulbs and the types of bulbs for that system. Of course that we are assuming everything else, like water chemistry, stability, etc..., checked out.