Zoa help

[Surfside74]

Hey everyone,

I have a 60 gallon or so mixed reef. Everything in the tank is doing well except for two of my zoas. They just don't want to open on one, and the second ones half won't open all the way. I think the cause of the second ones was some yumas grew over them and a hammer coral tentacle was stinging them. I have since moved those two corals away in hopes they will reopen. The first ones have been closed for some time. I have dipped them and moved them with no success. Any ideas? I do ten gallons a week water change which I am starting to think is too much and should drop to five. My levels are zero across he board even on water change day. All other chalices, SPS , and everything else is great. Let me know. Thanks.

Rob

 

[TheClark]

One general tip besides dipping is to move them to a shady spot for a day or two. However, if they were stung though they need time to recover. Most of the time they do, but now always. What kind are they?

 

[Bradsreeeftank]

Check for pest crawling on zoas, If you see something spikey looking and the color of one of your colonies then you must keep dipping about every other day until you see none left. These are called zoa eating nudibranches. Other thing, how long have you had them? I believe zoanthids do better with dirtier water, i would no because i get amazing growth with my zoas. What kind of lights do you have? Please pm me

 

[Surfside74]

Brad, your box is full.

I looked tonight and saw no pests. Not sure what is going on. Everything else looks great including my other zoas and chalices. Guess I'll have to sit back and wait.

 

[joshporksandwich]

If they were stung just move to a different location and leave alone. No need to stress it any further. Give them time to recoup.

 

[extremecoral]

+1 ^

 

[that Reef Guy]

Check for pest crawling on zoas, If you see something spikey looking and the color of one of your colonies then you must keep dipping about every other day until you see none left. These are called zoa eating nudibranches. Other thing, how long have you had them? I believe zoanthids do better with dirtier water, i would no because i get amazing growth with my zoas. What kind of lights do you have? Please pm me

What exactly is considered Dirty Water?

I hear that term quite a bit but nobody ever explains what exactly it is.

 

[joshporksandwich]

What exactly is considered Dirty Water?

I hear that term quite a bit but nobody ever explains what exactly it is.

It's a term used by people that don't take care of their tank so water has high phosphates and nitrates. It's not good even though most corals adapt to most circumstances. Keep taking care of your tank the way you have.

 

[Bradsreeeftank]

Dirty water means your parms arnt all perfect and you dont do many water changes. And make sure you inspect at night, your other colonies might not have the nudis on them.. YET. P.s thanks for letting me no about my inbox being full!

 

[that Reef Guy]

It's a term used by people that don't take care of their tank so water has high phosphates and nitrates. It's not good even though most corals adapt to most circumstances. Keep taking care of your tank the way you have.

I am lost.

Everyone is saying that Dirty Water is Good for Zoanthids (I hear Mushrooms too).

Makes sense as I have good water and I have only gotten i extra polyp of Ricordia and have had them for years. (How do you get those things to multiply)?

But you are saying that Dirty Water is bad.

Well which is it?

And if Dirty Water is good how bad is bad.

Meaning how many Nitrates is deemed too high as well as Phosphates.

There must be a cutoff somewhere.

Please go into detail.

What do you guys think?

 

[joshporksandwich]

Dirty water is bad. Keep your parameters as good as possible. Keep doing water changes.

 

[PRomero]

I would forget about the dirty water theory and do regular water changes with quality salt, your corals will adapt to your tank parameters. Once the corals are happy they'll start popping babies left and right

My take on the dirty water theory.... Its not because of all the nutrients in the water that the coral consumes, but rather the nutrients not allowing high par light to penetrate through the water and the coral adapts to the parameters much quicker and produces babies like crazy.

Second take on the dirty water theory... Dirty water has high phosphates which the micro fauna zooplankton consume, these zooplankton produce quickly and spawn and the corals consume the micro fauna

 

[elev8]

Nix the dirty water theory; it's just that, a theory.
Keep parameters in check, Nitrate & Phosphate barely detectable..
Find a good spot low in the tank to start, away from direct flow, leave them alone!
Znp's will tell you if they need more light, or less..
They're hardy, but they're picky lil punks.
Moving them all the time just ticks them off!
So find a good spot and leave them be.
In my experience, led's have been the only downside to my znp growth..
Back to t5's now.. Color is definitely coming back

 

[that Reef Guy]

Dirty water is bad. Keep your parameters as good as possible. Keep doing water changes.

I do weekly water cahnges and have excellent water quality.

So why do I have such bad luck with Zoanthids (A coral that is considered very very easy to keep) (I have also heard it called the perfect "beginner" coral).

But for some reason I find them impossible to keep (The same goes for Chalices - Everyone says they are easy to keep and bulletproof but half the ones I buy Die within a week or too).

Basically everyone I talk to says that SPS Needs Pristine Water and Sofites Need Dirty Water and LPS somewhere in between.

It would make sense as my SPS do great and my Zoanthids always melt away. (I have great water quality).

What is your take on that?

So you are saying that you need 0 Nitrate and O Phosphate for Zoanthids?

I have also heard that Carbon Kills Zoanthids.

I do use Carbon - Is that why they always melt away on me?

 

[PRomero]

Your lights are too bright, try a shaded area or turn down the whites on your lights.

 

[that Reef Guy]

Your lights are too bright, try a shaded area or turn down the whites on your lights.

Are you talking to me?

If so I only use Blue Lights.

I have All ATI Blue Plus T5 on one Aquarium and a Kessil A150 20K Deep Blue Actinic LED on the other Aquarium.

All the Zoanthids are on the Sandbed too so that they do not get too much Light.

 

[vlangel]

And perhaps is it possible that certain zoa's or chalices need certain elements that just are in low supply in your water source? We all hear the lament that coral x will grow in anybody's tank except mine. Once you've tried different remedies and still don't have success maybe just pick a different coral.

 

[joshporksandwich]

Do you know anyone with a par meter? You need to check how strong your lights are

 

[that Reef Guy]

Do you know anyone with a par meter? You need to check how strong your lights are

What PAR do you want for Zoanthids?

You seem to know alot about Zoanthids.

Are you the same guy that had the article in the free reef magazine at my LFS?

The guy with over 300 different Zoanthids in one Aquarium?

Do you use Carbon?

What Lights do you use?

What do you have for Flow?

I have a 29 Gallon Aquarium, a 20 Long Frag Tank, 10 Gallon, and a 55 Gallon.

What Koralia's would you put in each of those tanks if it were to be all Zoanthids.

 

[joshporksandwich]

What PAR do you want for Zoanthids?

You seem to know alot about Zoanthids.

Are you the same guy that had the article in the free reef magazine at my LFS?

The guy with over 300 different Zoanthids in one Aquarium?

Do you use Carbon?

What Lights do you use?

What do you have for Flow?

I have a 29 Gallon Aquarium, a 20 Long Frag Tank, 10 Gallon, and a 55 Gallon.

What Koralia's would you put in each of those tanks if it were to be all Zoanthids.

Yes i wrote the article. all my tank info is here https://www.reef2reef.com/forums/re...-february-2014-spotlight-joshporksandwic.html