Zoa help!

[Thomas Ged]

Totally new to coral and this hobby so was wondering if these zoas are normal or, only put them in 2 days ago but don’t seem to be opening anymore that half, should I be worried or? Cheers

 

[Crabs McJones]

Welcome to R2R!

#WelcometoR2R
Can you please provide us with some more information? How long has the tank been up and running, what are your water parameters, what lighting do you have, where did the coral come from and did you dip or quarantine it before adding it to the tank?

 

[Thomas Ged]

Tanks been running for just over 15 weeks now, 4 blue legged hermits is all that’s in it, ph is 8.1 alkalinity 3.5 meq/l nitrite 0.01 mg/l nitrate 5mg/l and free ammonia is 0, light is a 10w led and it’s 49 litre tank, coral was from the LFS and was totally open when I bought it! Don’t have a quarantine tank as just getting into the hobby so just floated it and drip acclimated it! Hope that helps

 

[Crabs McJones]

Tanks been running for just over 15 weeks now, 4 blue legged hermits is all that’s in it, ph is 8.1 alkalinity 3.5 meq/l nitrite 0.01 mg/l nitrate 5mg/l and free ammonia is 0, light is a 10w led and it’s 49 litre tank, coral was from the LFS and was totally open when I bought it! Don’t have a quarantine tank as just getting into the hobby so just floated it and drip acclimated it! Hope that helps

How did you cycle the tank? If the tank is fully cycled you shouldn't be showing any Nitrite. Are you using RO/DI water for your water changes and top off and initial fillup? Thanks

 

[Thomas Ged]

Just filled it up with pre mixed salt water from the LFS and dosed it with seachem stability, after 4 weeks added the hermit crabs and let it run its course keeping it topped up with RO/DI when the water evaporated and have been doing weekly water changes, salinity is at 1.027 so maybe should dilute it slightly?

 

[Crabs McJones]

Just filled it up with pre mixed salt water from the LFS and dosed it with seachem stability, after 4 weeks added the hermit crabs and let it run its course keeping it topped up with RO/DI when the water evaporated and have been doing weekly water changes, salinity is at 1.027 so maybe should dilute it slightly?

1.027 is slightly high, but not by much, 1.026 is where you want it, you can correct this by taking out some saltwater and replacing it with RO/Di water, but do it slowly. during the 4 weeks were you feeding the tank or adding any sort of ammonia?

 

[Thomas Ged]

1.027 is slightly high, but not by much, 1.026 is where you want it, you can correct this by taking out some saltwater and replacing it with RO/Di water, but do it slowly. during the 4 weeks were you feeding the tank or adding any sort of ammonia?

No didn’t feed or anything, figured if the crabs had survived for 11 weeks the coral would do fine but maybe I was wrong, hopefully the zoas are okay, don’t want to lose them already haha

 

[Crabs McJones]

No didn’t feed or anything, figured if the crabs had survived for 11 weeks the coral would do fine but maybe I was wrong, hopefully the zoas are okay, don’t want to lose them already haha

If you didn't feed anything or dose any ammonia, it's possible your cycle never completely finished. The bacteria ran out of ammonia to consume to convert into nitrite and then nitrate. I would start feeding the tank with flake food, and watch your water parameters closely. Not a whole lot you can do for the zoas at this point aside from returning them to the store until your tank is ready.

 

[Thomas Ged]

If you didn't feed anything or dose any ammonia, it's possible your cycle never completely finished. The bacteria ran out of ammonia to consume to convert into nitrite and then nitrate. I would start feeding the tank with flake food, and watch your water parameters closely. Not a whole lot you can do for the zoas at this point aside from returning them to the store until your tank is ready.

Okay perfect thanks very much for your help! Appreciated