Zoa frustration

Docpayne82 · Jul 25, 2017

Sorry for what is going to be a fairly long post but I'm going to try and describe the issue as thorough as possible.

Tank Parameters
Alk 10
Calcium 460
Salinity 1.025
Temp 79.5
Nitrate and phosphate both undetectable but I've got some patches of hair algae in the tank so maybe they're taking it all up or the test kits aren't accurate.

-Over the last month and a half I've been battling an issue with my zoanthids that seems to be spreading from one colony to the others in the tank.
-All colonies were dipped with Lugol's and quarantined for a month before being added to the tank.
-All colonies were in the tank for months opened up, thriving, and spreading really well before this set in. -Colonies seem to be most opened up and least effected midday after the lights coming on but towards the end of the day are mostly closed up.
-I've dipped everything again in lugols and then two weeks later tried a hydrogen peroxide dip. Nothing came off of the colonies pest wise. Held off on using Bayer but have it ready to try.
-Checked after lights out and nothing can be seen.
-No sign of pox.
-Palys(sunny ds, vivid rainbows, magicians, and armor of gods) all are unaffected by whatever this is.

I'm really kind of lost at this point and could use any suggestions of ideas of what to try next. I've attached some pictures of how the colonies are looking. Thank you for the help in advance!

Jdeleon · Jul 26, 2017

not an expert but, one pic seems like the zoa is getting beat up from flow, and also see some cyano on one rock, I don't see this on the pics but do you see any cyano on the zoas themselves,,, are you saying your concern is that they close up after mid day? do you see more cyano after mid day also? that may be your issue. when I was battling cyano it mostly sprouted after 5 or so hours of lights on and into the evening goes away after lights out and then starts over next day. maybe something to look into.

wish · Jul 26, 2017

They still look healthy and zoas close and open just adjusting to your tank.
Be careful of no name zoas since its most likely wild colonies cut up.
You should qt them before putting them on your main tank bc they can have
eggs that can survive dips.

Docpayne82 · Jul 26, 2017

Haven't noticed any cyano on the zoas and luckily and that has popped up has stayed localized like the patch in that picture. I wondered if they were wild colonies given what they're all grown on to before being attached to the frag plugs. I've looked really closely for nudis and zoa spiders but just can't find anything. I think that's where the frustration is at. I've actually moved a couple of the colonies to lower flow after everything started but they're still staying closed up. I've never fed these guys is that something I should try when they're open to see if it helps?

wish · Jul 26, 2017

Docpayne82 said:
Haven't noticed any cyano on the zoas and luckily and that has popped up has stayed localized like the patch in that picture. I wondered if they were wild colonies given what they're all grown on to before being attached to the frag plugs. I've looked really closely for nudis and zoa spiders but just can't find anything. I think that's where the frustration is at. I've actually moved a couple of the colonies to lower flow after everything started but they're still staying closed up. I've never fed these guys is that something I should try when they're open to see if it helps?

Just leave them alone for 3 or 4 of days and you don't need to feed them. Hopefully they just need to adjust
to your tank. Also look for fish that might like to nip on them too.

Palyzoa · Jul 27, 2017

Im no expert here and it could be a number of things going on but leaving them alone for a week and just observing them might be a good idea. What lighting do you use for the tank? What is the intensity, duration, etc. Maybe to much light? If thats the case they probably just need to acclimate to your tank.

Docpayne82 · Jul 27, 2017

I guess my concern was these had all been in place for two months in the tank before the issues started. Parameters have held stable so that's why I guess I was focused more on a pest issue with them. Currently running an AI prime HD ten hour photo period with the light running at about 30 percent around the 16k spectrum.