Zoa/Paly Umbrella Effect

[Hemmdog]

Zoa pox is the bouncing maybe?

No idea, I wish I knew, lol.

 

[Halal Hotdog]

I have had this happen and figured out what was going on in my tank. It was a combination that led to this. 1. Low phosphates, low flow, and low light. When I moved them to higher light with moderate flow they started looking good but not perfect. When I stopped lower phosphates is when they really started to heal and grow. When I start dropping phosphates to undetectable numbers it starts showing signs of umbrellaing again, but the increased light and flow kept it from going back to how it was. It may seem like it is only phosphate related for my tank, but it isn't, the flow and light make a huge difference.

 

[Mykawl]

Just had this happen after an alkalinity swing (bad water change), must have increased over 1 dkh. Only lasted a day should have taken a picture : / informative and helpful thread : )

 

[b4tn]

This is my first clam. I have always wanted one but was chicken. I finally pulled the trigger 2 months ago today and so far so good. I do have a coral beauty that makes me nervous but I keep my fish well fed so knock on wood. It is for sure a calcium and magnesium hog. I have always tried to keep my mag around 1400-1450 and only dosed every few months or so but I’m considering upping my mag dosing routine. Another thing I noticed is I have a heck of a time keeping Nitrate up since adding the clam. I keep my levels at 8.6 dkh, 430 calc, and mag 1450. It’s up high on the rocks under reefi duo extremes. Here are pics of the day it came home, 2 weeks of growth, and just now.

 

[b4tn]

Whoops, posted in the wrong thread lol

 

[mfinn]

Whoops, posted in the wrong thread lol

Only if it was a Thursday. lol

 

[Arthacker87]

we doing clam shots now haha. Had my sunflowers do this and most died I though eh it is what it is and did a water change kept it all stable and now 3 of the heads came back (all blotches and scared lol) and more are popping up. Dunno what I did. Right or wrong lol. I feed coral and keep lighting/salinty/temp stable but don't really dose for anything g else and water changes are few and far between

 

[Arthacker87]

30* not three

 

[b4tn]

I guess since I accidentally temp derailed the thread I will at least post a pic of why I was here. Not sure why this one is inverted. It’s been like that for weeks with no change.

 

[jenjen1027]

I guess since I accidentally temp derailed the thread I will at least post a pic of why I was here. Not sure why this one is inverted. It’s been like that for weeks with no change.

I have one doing the same thing on the exact same zoa. Just one, the other ones are fine.

 

[Rod999vance]

Ive come to the conclusion it’s definitely lack of nutrients, water too clean. Ive tried it all, lighting, flow, all parameters are on point. I cant seem to register any phosphates for quite some time now though and havent had any luck with zoas. Guess the whole “zoas like dirtier water” is pretty acurate. Even the radioactivedragon eyes are starting to melt.

 

[sabz]

I'm having the same issue...I tried so hard to get all parameters right to kill GHA, not only GHA prevailed and still is looking great, my zoas are starting to do this...you never win...

 

[JonnyTorch]

My White Zombie does this when I add Reef Roids. So I'm really guessing that it does have to do with them trying to absorb whatever nutrients are in the water column. With knowing that Reef Roids raises phosphates a bit, I think everyone is in the same ballpark at the "nutrients too low" theory and them trying to grab what they can because it only makes sense that since the Roids are nutrient dense, they are reaching for it. I also notice when I do this the mouths perk outward like a bird's beak...FWIW my phosphates are pretty much untraceable and it's growing new heads and at night it's huge. It's not stretching at all, and palys usually tower over zoas. Mine is content, flat and open on the rocks/plugs. No melting; It's growing more and more and it's the coolest, largest polyp paly I have.

Jon

 

[Skross]

I started searching this problem and ran into this thread, along with a couple others. All seemed to ask the same questions, but I'm still not sure of an answer? Do you think it's because of low nutrients?
My concern started because the zoa's & play's were taking on that umbrella look, but not all. Then as I got looking around, I noticed it was not confined to them alone. My Duncan head got HUGE, started drooping, and then seemed like it couldn't retract all the way when bothered. Same with a couple zoa's. My Candy Cane has never been this full. Same w/ blasto's. They almost looked like the centers were being stretched?? I do remember seeing my pectinia frag drooping down all the way yesterday or day before. There was a hard point in the middle of it sticking up, and it was like all the flesh was pulling down from it. The flesh was very plump.
I am running the Zeovit system, and I'm a few days into dosing amino additives. Could that be a possible cause??

 

[Coralcitos]

Following

 

[Snoopdog]

I have had this happen and figured out what was going on in my tank. It was a combination that led to this. 1. Low phosphates, low flow, and low light. When I moved them to higher light with moderate flow they started looking good but not perfect. When I stopped lower phosphates is when they really started to heal and grow. When I start dropping phosphates to undetectable numbers it starts showing signs of umbrellaing again, but the increased light and flow kept it from going back to how it was. It may seem like it is only phosphate related for my tank, but it isn't, the flow and light make a huge difference.

I also noticed this.

When my phosphates dropped and I had lowered my lighting my zoas (I have a lot), started umbrellaing and melting. Mainly the lower zoas that were the farthest from the light. The upper ones did not do this as much. The ones that did it the most were zig-zag and mohican suns.

 

[KellyCorals]

What is cuc? Sorry I'm new to SW lol

Clean up crew (snails, crabs ect)

 

[ReefHunter07]

Following. I will post a picture of my paly zoa in a bit. Target fed reef roids yesterday and it turned into a umbrella soon after and is still the same way. Should I take it out and dip it or leave it be ? The other 3 polyps on the same frag are fine. Short/not reaching and open. They are towards the top of the tank.

 

[Zoa_Fanatic]

Following. I will post a picture of my paly zoa in a bit. Target fed reef roids yesterday and it turned into a umbrella soon after and is still the same way. Should I take it out and dip it or leave it be ? The other 3 polyps on the same frag are fine. Short/not reaching and open. They are towards the top of the tank.

I wouldn’t dip it. Mine do this for a bit sometimes and they go right back to normal.

 

[ReefHunter07]

I wouldn’t dip it. Mine do this for a bit sometimes and they go right back to normal.

Mine didn’t make it. Everything else is still totally fine and my other zoa colonies have made 2-3 more polyps each the past 2 weeks. Guess these just werent going to make it from the start