Zoa died, not sure why, looking for analysis

[TDDredge]

Basically, what the title says. This frag was happy as can be for weeks. Then suddenly it closed up as shown in the tank picture. Just like that for 3 days, then I took it out and gave it a peroxide dip and the result of lighter baster blowing is shown in the other pictures. I'm assuming I don't want this in my tank, so it's still in the rinse bath. Any idea what might have killed it? I keep good parameters, sg1.025, phosphate and ammonia 0, ca 420, mg 1320, alk 8.5

 

[Jmasonreef]

Zero phosphate would kill a Zoa

 

[TDDredge]

Zero phosphate would kill a Zoa

Well, 0.03 I think is what it measured, but so it's close to zero. None of the other frags have an issue, it was only this one. I have a large goblin fire frag that's very happy, and a couple others as well.

 

[Jmasonreef]

Well, 0.03 I think is what it measured, but so it's close to zero. None of the other frags have an issue, it was only this one. I have a large goblin fire frag that's very happy, and a couple others as well.

IME Zoas are like ticking time bombs. One day happy the next going out. And its usually one at a time not all of them. My guess is some sort of virus that triggers in them and kills them.

 

[TDDredge]

IME Zoas are like ticking time bombs. One day happy the next going out. And its usually one at a time not all of them. My guess is some sort of virus that triggers in them and kills them.

So then a different question: How do you dispose of them to make sure you aren't getting hit with toxin? Pour it into a ziploc, triple bag it and put it in the trash?

 

[Rickybobby]

I had two frags of zoas melt for zero reason why the rest are perfect

 

[sacutshall]

Do you have a QT put him in or run to lfs pick up a 1 or 2gl (petco) and watch him for a week or two. I hate to see it go in trash and not dead. I have a new zoa for over a week and only partially opens.

 

[Reefing_addiction]

I had a Zoa not open for A week and then bam open you could always run carbon for a bit if your worried about anything contaminating your water

 

[TDDredge]

Do you have a QT put him in or run to lfs pick up a 1 or 2gl (petco) and watch him for a week or two. I hate to see it go in trash and not dead. I have a new zoa for over a week and only partially opens.

Oh no, it's dead. It went full everywhere under the baster. It's definitely dead.

 

[dbowman5]

started to say "sorry about your loss", then changed it to read "sorry about your experience" since i had a similar one, then i realized that loss, tho it is, it is experience too and i am not sorry to have that. my zoa (first and only, so far) has three heads , grew two more, then started fading. not opening all the way, some heads not opening then the whole frag became green covered. the peroxide dip got rid of the green and three of the heads seemed to recover and open normally, then they all shrunk and look like pale pillars. i guess i will concede defeat and pull the plug. pun revealed.

 

[Tailfisher]

Welcome to the life of zoa's, they are definitely a love/hate relationship. Especially when you lose the hundred dollar plus polyp.

 

[TDDredge]

Welcome to the life of zoa's, they are definitely a love/hate relationship. Especially when you lose the hundred dollar plus polyp.

I'm lucky, our lfs has a lot of people come through and sell frags. Got a 15-20 polyp goblin fire for $30. Good ****. Happy frag. Those go for $60+ per polyp on the premium sites.

 

[sacutshall]

Oh no, it's dead. It went full everywhere under the baster. It's definitely dead.

 

[TDDredge]

I mean it happens, I just wanted to post to see if there was an obvious cause so I could avoid it in the future. Sounds like no, there isn't.

 

[Jmasonreef]

I mean it happens, I just wanted to post to see if there was an obvious cause so I could avoid it in the future. Sounds like no, there isn't.

Only way is keeping pristine parameters/stability and absolutely zero irritants. That means no spaghetti worms, no aesterina, crabs etc etc. Even still they will occasionally die.

 

[Jmasonreef]

Best way to keep them long term is to always have a few colonies 3-4 and small frags. They won’t all die at the same time so you lose one just toss it And have back up.