Zoa stem thinning and expanding

[c.hill1100]

So I have two frags of zoas who have been acting depressed

They don't open fully when the lights are on blues 12 hours whites 4 hours

At the time the lights are off they're stems are thinning almost look like a dumbbell then they expand to normal size

My exact parameters are unknown at the moment but everything was good when I last tested a week ago and my salinity 1.027-8

I have a sump, no skimmer and a 950 gph return for my 46 no power head but I plan on getting one soon

Is there anything wrong or is it normal behavior?

 

[Chukwagin]

Do they open when the lights are off? If your water parameters are good and they aren't opening when the lights are on, maybe they are too high up in the tank or are uncomfortable with the flow they are receiving. I would lower their position in the tank and see if that will get them to open up.

 

[c.hill1100]

They open half way when lights are on.
The only thing that's creating flow is my return. Are they not getting enough flow or too much? Should I get a power head
I'm new to reefing so I want to get everything right

 

[Chukwagin]

I am new to reefing as well, but in the 4 months that I have been reefing, I know you want your tank to have good lighting, good flow, and a way to keep it clean (a good skimmer). I check my parameters of my water pretty regularly cause my tanks aren't mature yet, almost every 2 to 3 days to avoid any sudden spikes in anything. You want to keep ammonia at 0, phosphates usually at 0 or .25 or less, nitrates and nitrites at 0. Alkalinity in the 8-10 range, salinity at 1.025 give or take .001. Calcium 420-440. PH at 8.2-8.4. If the Zoas are opening when the lights are off, I'm guessing they are too high in your tank or your lights are too high. But I would definitely get a powerhead suitable for your tank cause corals need flow to get nutrients and what not passed to them. Some corals like high flow, others moderate and some very mild. Others on here are much more knowledgable than I, hopefully they will correct any inaccurate advice I gave you lol.

 

[Chukwagin]

Oh and water changes! Make sure you do a 20% water change every 3-4 weeks, preferably the sooner the better. Some reefers on here do 10% every week, depends who you ask. Water changes are important. Although if your tank is new, you want to give it a month before the first water change so it can cycle. Are you using live rock?

 

[c.hill1100]

Thanks man I'm having mixed feelings about a skimmer cuz zoas like a little dirtier water filled with nutrients but I'm most likely gettin a power head