Zoanthid decline?

clownfitch · Oct 31, 2013

I have a colony of what I believe are Gobstopper Zoas. Up until two days ago I had a Palau Nepthea which had grown up to with in an inch or so from this colony. I noticed that a few of the polyps closest to the Nepthea had closed while the rest of the colony was open and happy so I moved the Nepthea to a different tank. This was again, two days ago. As of this morning a few of those polyps still do not want to open back up and the entire colony looks very extended and unhappy. I have also noticed between yesterday and today a few of the polyps have released a brown mucus cloudy substance. Not just a strand but rather a cloud. Any advice?

Tank: 29 gallon biocube
Parameters: Ammonia, Nitrite, Nitrate 0 Salinity 1.025 Ph 8.2
Stock: 2 Ocellaris, 1 Lawnmower Blenny, 1 cleaner shrimp

RKLion · Oct 31, 2013

Hit them with some higher current to remove waste products and to circulate more oxygen onto them

clownfitch · Oct 31, 2013

Okay. I can adjust one if the heads for more indirect flow their way.

tuna_bullet · Oct 31, 2013

they also look like there stretching pretty hard move em up a little more and better flow

RKLion · Nov 4, 2013

any updates?...

clownfitch · Nov 4, 2013

Sure. I took them out and did an Rx dip then put them in higher up in high flow and they are rebounding. Learned a lesson on the Palau Nepthea for sure.

Joeysreef · Nov 4, 2013

i was having a a problem with alot of my corals as well... something that alot of people dont know about are vermited snails... look them up you may not know it but they may be the problem... good luck here is a link so you can see if you have any.
https://www.google.com/search?q=sma...H84APlqoHYBA&ved=0CAcQ_AUoAQ&biw=1280&bih=827

clownfitch · Nov 4, 2013

Very interesting! Thanks for the info and link. I looked over the rock it was on and didn't see anything that fit the description and also didn't see anything in the jug that I dipped the colony in so hopefully that wasn't the issue. I am pretty sure now looking back that it was the Nepthea causing the problem. It only affected part of the colony that was closest to it and all other corals except one of my ricordeas is thriving.

Thanks to those who responded.