Zoa Poly Help!

[Current107]

For the last 6 months I been losing Zoa and Poly Colonies randomly. I can't for the life of me figure out WHAT is going on. Randomly a colony will start to shrink, close and heads start to turn blackish. I monitor my parameters consistently (Temp 77.2-77.5, Alk 9.2, Calc 430, Mag 1360, nitrate around 5-10). I dip all my corals and even do more dips on closed up zoas to try and find a pest. All I get are pods that I purchased from the local fish store. I watch my fish like a hawk and can't find anything nipping. I have even went as far as debunk a possible lighting issue. For example, bought a frag of bambam's 3-5 heads. about 10 months later in same spot I have 50+ heads. After 10 months I notice half the colony closed and the other half hardly open. about 10 days later ALL DEAD. Maybe flow? I have a 225G with two gyre. I have millies, acros, anems, montis, birdnest all THRIVING. For the first time, I can't keep a simple zoa. ATM I have approximate 5 colonies left of zoas that are doing GREAT while 1 other colony is getting the sickness?

The one thing could be possible? I have approximate 1.5 to 2 inch sand bed. Around same time I start noticing issues was right after I put in an engineer goby. Is it possible I'm getting gas the from sand that is effecting my zoa's and zoa's only? But why would it only effect one or two colonies over a period of time?

I greatly appreciate any assistance possible!!!

 

[D block]

Check the zoas at night with a light. The dip you have might to be good for whatever is eating your zoas. What dip are you using?

 

[saltyfilmfolks]

For the last 6 months I been losing Zoa and Poly Colonies randomly. I can't for the life of me figure out WHAT is going on. Randomly a colony will start to shrink, close and heads start to turn blackish. I monitor my parameters consistently (Temp 77.2-77.5, Alk 9.2, Calc 430, Mag 1360, nitrate around 5-10). I dip all my corals and even do more dips on closed up zoas to try and find a pest. All I get are pods that I purchased from the local fish store. I watch my fish like a hawk and can't find anything nipping. I have even went as far as debunk a possible lighting issue. For example, bought a frag of bambam's 3-5 heads. about 10 months later in same spot I have 50+ heads. After 10 months I notice half the colony closed and the other half hardly open. about 10 days later ALL DEAD. Maybe flow? I have a 225G with two gyre. I have millies, acros, anems, montis, birdnest all THRIVING. For the first time, I can't keep a simple zoa. ATM I have approximate 5 colonies left of zoas that are doing GREAT while 1 other colony is getting the sickness?

The one thing could be possible? I have approximate 1.5 to 2 inch sand bed. Around same time I start noticing issues was right after I put in an engineer goby. Is it possible I'm getting gas the from sand that is effecting my zoa's and zoa's only? But why would it only effect one or two colonies over a period of time?

I greatly appreciate any assistance possible!!!

How much light do you have?

 

[Current107]

I have tried two different reef dips hoping to hit all angles. I'm using Coral RX, and Seachem Iodine (reef dip Disinfectant). I have 3 reef breeders over the 225. Blues at 75% and whites at 30%. With local club parmeter, everything is where it should be. Odd I get crazy growth and than.... Awhile back I fragged my Xmas zoas. My colony still doing great. 1 Frag doing great while the other 2 frags closed up, turned black and died. This is about 4 months after I fragged. I did the flash light with lights off. The only thing I find are pods. I do have Anthropods. I did hear rumors these can eat coral? I had them in the tank for almost 2 years with zero problems until this issues arise. I purchased a Melanrous Wrasse and Green Mandrin to thin the pods down thinking anything possible?

 

[kendavjac]

I'm thinking its a bug. May want to try dipping frags in Bayer. do a search and you can find lots of posts on how. you will have to dip a couple of times over the course of a couple of weeks, Bayer does not kill the egss.

 

[twilliard]

A possible bacterial issue.
Now when no pests are identified and they just shrink up to me there is a bacterial issue going unnoticed.

 

[kendavjac]

this may help, just skimmed the post. Looks like they give you several options what to dip with depending on the issue.
https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/dipping-zoanthairans.40552/

 

[Current107]

*Want to thank everyone for their assistance. I'm in the midst of cycling a 40G frag tank.

A possible bacterial issue.
Now when no pests are identified and they just shrink up to me there is a bacterial issue going unnoticed.

Is there a resolution to this? Medication, UV, ect?

 

[tankstudy]

If its bacterial, you can use API Furan 2. There are several sites with instructions on how to use it for zoanthids and palys if you google it.

 

[TheEngineer]

Have you tried a round of chemiclean? Fixed a systemic issue with my zoas.

 

[lauderdalestunner]

Have same issues and following

 

[Current107]

Have you tried a round of chemiclean? Fixed a systemic issue with my zoas.

I don't have ANY cyano that I can see and my phosphates just on the edge of detectable. Based off GREAT feedback and further reading, I'm going to focus on bacterial issue. Again my lights have been off and I'm search my zoas with a flash light and can't find anything but pods. No flatworms, no nudi's nothing. I do remember adding a new zoa frag awhile back. It was the first zoa frag I have ever bought that never opened back up after transport and dipping before going into the display. I'm starting to think I transported a bacterial issue into my tank?

 

[Current107]

So, I did my first dip tonight in Iodine (Only have this and RX on hand atm). And I found two critters. Not sure what each are. Photo is them both in a spoon. One appears as a very small turbo snail? Other is odd to me. Some kind of oval shaped bug and has a hard back shell. Maybe you can help ID?

 

[Current107]

Well, found what the little snail is. Collonista snail. Per reading eats algae only, and shouldn't effect any coral... Still trying to wrap my head around the little bug.

 

[TheEngineer]

I don't have ANY cyano that I can see and my phosphates just on the edge of detectable. Based off GREAT feedback and further reading, I'm going to focus on bacterial issue. Again my lights have been off and I'm search my zoas with a flash light and can't find anything but pods. No flatworms, no nudi's nothing. I do remember adding a new zoa frag awhile back. It was the first zoa frag I have ever bought that never opened back up after transport and dipping before going into the display. I'm starting to think I transported a bacterial issue into my tank?

Chemiclean is used primarily for cyanobacteria, but that's because it is an antibiotic. I had no cyano in my tank either. It cured the problem though. If you think you have a bacterial problem, then I suggest you explore this option.

 

[Current107]

Chemiclean is used primarily for cyanobacteria, but that's because it is an antibiotic. I had no cyano in my tank either. It cured the problem though. If you think you have a bacterial problem, then I suggest you explore this option.

Just ordered some Chemiclean. Anything is worth a shot at this time. I'll keep you posted.

 

[TheEngineer]

Good luck!

 

[saltyfilmfolks]

Well, found what the little snail is. Collonista snail. Per reading eats algae only, and shouldn't effect any coral... Still trying to wrap my head around the little bug.

Go to lionfishlair hitchiker website. It's their. I believe it's an arthropod a skater or something cute like that. I have them.