Zoa Question

choward1980 · Feb 21, 2014

Im new to Saltwater. I recently added a Zoa and the first 2 days it looked great. Now half of it is closed up and will not open. I have a Biocube 29 with stock lighting. I have 2 clowns, a yellow clown golby, 22 lbs of rock. Can anybody help me out with this issue. Thanks!!!

tvc_in_taiwan · Feb 21, 2014

What kind of trace elements do you add? Zoas, or at least mine like to eat frozen stuff as well as plankton

choward1980 · Feb 21, 2014

The Only thing I have put in there is Frozen Shrimp Cubes. I feed this to my 2 clowns. Like I said Im new to this. Should I be feeding my corals like I do Fish. I really need some help with this. Any Info on what I should be doing I would be very thankful for.

joshporksandwich · Feb 21, 2014

How long have you had the tank running?

saltjunky · Feb 21, 2014

What about the flow needs low to medium not any direct and placement depends on the zoa I have a two foot deep tank and they range from the sand to about 9 -10 inches from top of the tank under 150watt mh

choward1980 · Feb 21, 2014

I have a 445 circulation pump. The Zoa is about Middle ways up. The Tank has been running for 7 days.

D Hwin · Feb 21, 2014

I think you need to cycle a tank for a whole first if it's really running for only 7 days you're going to run into many more issues

choward1980 · Feb 21, 2014

I was told that. The Fish store I purchased everything from gave me all recycled Water so I could be up and running. I took them a water sample yesterday and everything checked out OK. I still learning about this hobby. i just dont want to make any fatal mistakes.

saltjunky · Feb 21, 2014

I agree about the cycle the key here is to go slow only bad things happen fast. That was probly the best thing I was told when I started in this hobby

jonny · Feb 21, 2014

If you start adding livestock when you should be cycling..you're gonna have a bad time.. (Insert southpark skier picture here)

But really, it's some of the best advice that nearly no one listens to..I lost $100s in fish starting out. Money aside, I felt terrible for all the little fishies I killed because I chose not to listen..

Unfortunately a large percentage of LFS will do whatever it takes to make a sale RIGHT NOW instead of actually helping you, and potentially keeping your business long term.

I'm not saying this is the case here as I don't know your LFS, but its sounds like iffy advice from them for sure.

choward1980 · Feb 21, 2014

Should I go ahead and do a 5 gallon water change? And should I also go ahead and get a couple of snails or shrimp for cleanup or should i wait on this?

joshporksandwich · Feb 21, 2014

choward1980 said:
Should I go ahead and do a 5 gallon water change? And should I also go ahead and get a couple of snails or shrimp for cleanup or should i wait on this?

Wait around 30 days and then do a water change. Please do not add any corals, fish , or anything living untill the 30 days and after the water change.

and please read this it will help you a lot
How to set up a saltwater reef aquarium tank- REEFEDITION

ZoaCollector · Feb 21, 2014

You should take some pictures next time. And post a before and after.

What are your parameters?
Calcium
Alkalinity
Magnesium
Phosphate
Ammonia
Nitrite
Nitrate

Temperature
Salinity

If the water came from the lfs was it the same water used for the zoanthids and were they healthy to start with?

I would buy some test kits, research good ones first.

SloppyJ · Feb 21, 2014

You need to buy some test kits. Ammonia and Nitrate at the very least.

D Hwin · Feb 21, 2014

Yeah you need to cycle a tank for at least 30 days, once everything is settled in and you have bacteria in the tank, you should be okay but as of now there are any phases that your tank is going through so its going to be very harmful to anything you put in there, i think the most hardiest thing you can have in there now is a damsel. My brother had a damsel in there and it actually lived through the cycle period, but he could of just been lucky. But like everyone else is saying just wait it out. i was super impatient my first time too but it will be worth it in the end when you know you have stable water parms.