Zoa growth issue

[ellismac]

hey all,

I have some Zoas in my tank that are thriving and then others that are shrinking and dying off or have already died off. I'm not sure what's going on, when some patches are crushing it and others are failing. any suggestions?
1st picture is a frag I got that was thriving, and now is shrinking
2nd picture is two frags one of the left has entirely died off, the frag on the right has been shrinking and dying since I got it. unfortunately, it's one of my favorites and want to save it.
3rd picture is the Zoa field with two different Zoas that are crushing it
4th picture is a frag that was thriving when I got it and now is basically dead

all of the zoa frags are on the same light plain in the tank, either top of the rock scape or in the upper 4th of the rock scape.









Parameters as of this morning 12/10/22:
Salinity: 1.024
Temp: 78.3 F
Magnesium: 1490
Nitrate: 40
Alkalinity: 10.3
Calcium: 539
PH: 8.5
Phos: 1.09

At this time, I am medicating to lower phosphates. Nirates, no matter how many water changes I do, it always is sitting around 40ppm

any thoughts on why some are dying off and some are thriving?

 

[sfin52]

hey all,

I have some Zoas in my tank that are thriving and then others that are shrinking and dying off or have already died off. I'm not sure what's going on, when some patches are crushing it and others are failing. any suggestions?
1st picture is a frag I got that was thriving, and now is shrinking
2nd picture is two frags one of the left has entirely died off, the frag on the right has been shrinking and dying since I got it. unfortunately, it's one of my favorites and want to save it.
3rd picture is the Zoa field with two different Zoas that are crushing it
4th picture is a frag that was thriving when I got it and now is basically dead

all of the zoa frags are on the same light plain in the tank, either top of the rock scape or in the upper 4th of the rock scape.









Parameters as of this morning 12/10/22:
Salinity: 1.024
Temp: 78.3 F
Magnesium: 1490
Nitrate: 40
Alkalinity: 10.3
Calcium: 539
PH: 8.5
Phos: 1.09

At this time, I am medicating to lower phosphates. Nirates, no matter how many water changes I do, it always is sitting around 40ppm

any thoughts on why some are dying off and some are thriving?

Flow and lights. If they are getting blasted by flow some will close up and recede. Fish or critter eating them. Have you checked for nudis?

 

[ellismac]

Flow and lights. If they are getting blasted by flow some will close up and recede. Fish or critter eating them. Have you checked for nudis?

I have not spotted any nudis in the tank. Is it possible the hermits are going are them?

 

[sfin52]

I have not spotted any nudis in the tank. Is it possible the hermits are going are them?

Anything is possible whats your fish list.

I also find the cheaper the zoas the hardier they are.

 

[ellismac]

Anything is possible whats your fish list.

I also find the cheaper the zoas the hardier they are.

Livestock consists of:
Coral beauty
Royal gramma
Tomato clown x2
File fish
Coral shrimp
Spiny urchin… almost too big for the tank
Handful of hermits
At least one nassarius snail
Red thorny sea star

I don’t want to talk down on your cheaper the hardier theory but none of my zoas cost me more than $20 a frag.

 

[Edgecrusher28]

In my experience if you find that your Zoanthus type zoa's (small heads) are dying a slow death yet your Palys seems to be doing ok yet all parameters are well within reason; its likely a lack of iodine. You will need an ICP test to tell for sure, but I would bet you iodine levels are near undetectable right now, YMMV.