Zoanthids repeatedly dying

[JATReef]

Hi guys, I've been having a problem keeping zoanthids and getting them to thrive.
I currently have a softies only tank, all other corals are doing well, mushrooms, xenia, leathers etc all growing and showing good colours.

However I have tried 3 or 4 zoa frags at this point and the same thing happens each time. For a month or so everything is fine, all the polyps are out and showing good colours and extension. But gradually start to close up and eventually die. It's shame because I love the colours and patterns of zoanthids and I'm afriad to try the more colourful/expensive frags until I have resolved this issue.

I use two AI hydra 26 fixtures and have a fairly high flow system.

Current water parameters are:
Alk 6.9dKh
Calcium 440ppm
Mag 1270ppm
Nitrates 10ppm
Salinity 1.025

Anyone know what could be causing this. Many thanks.
Jat

 

[Nicholas Dushynsky]

Id say alk is low you should be around 7.7 (some run higher). And if you have alot of leathers in there. They will release toxins so running carbon will help.

 

[Marklugo23]

SERIOUS TIPS to keep healthy zoas in the long run wanted, please.

:horn:Hello all, I'm opening this thread to gather information from all zoa keepers. What would be the best tips you would give to keep zoas healthy/ happy/ growing in the long run? Experiences, failures, choices... Light, water flow, target feeding, water chemistry, temperature, placement...

www.reef2reef.com

Maybe this would help
Aug 10
Dkh 8
Cal 420
Mag 1320
My levels

 

[JATReef]

SERIOUS TIPS to keep healthy zoas in the long run wanted, please.

:horn:Hello all, I'm opening this thread to gather information from all zoa keepers. What would be the best tips you would give to keep zoas healthy/ happy/ growing in the long run? Experiences, failures, choices... Light, water flow, target feeding, water chemistry, temperature, placement...

www.reef2reef.com

Maybe this would help
Aug 10
Dkh 8
Cal 420
Mag 1320
My levels

Thank you for your replies, that is definitely an interesting thread.
With regards to my tank I do run carbon to reduce problems with the leathers.

Is alk something that would affect the health of zoas? I know my tank is running slightly low but due to these being soft corals I wasn't aware it would be an issue?

Jat

 

[Marklugo23]

Thank you for your replies, that is definitely an interesting thread.
With regards to my tank I do run carbon to reduce problems with the leathers.

Is alk something that would affect the health of zoas? I know my tank is running slightly low but due to these being soft corals I wasn't aware it would be an issue?

Jat

I don’t think so but others may disagree. Just wanted you to see my levels. I have a ton of different types of zoas. All doing well.

 

[JATReef]

Yes thank you! I do appreciate that. I will slowly raise my alk and see if the situation improves.
Do you ever use a turkey baster to blow detritus from in between zoa polyps? Wondered if this might be an issue?

 

[blasterman]

It's not alk, calcium, cosmic rays, using LEDs, your tank being exposed to FOX news or unubtaniun trace elements. Your water levels are well within the range for corals, and zoanthids/palys and softies in general could care less about low bicarbonate levels (alk).

Local reef shop has beautiful frag tanks full of amazing zoas / palys and I've routinely tested their alk levels < 6 dKH. It's hard on their SPS, but doesn't bother their softies at all.

The problem here is almost certainly biological warfare. Some species of leather corals and especially rhodactis mushrooms will not tolerate the presence of competitive zoas / palys. Once the shrooms detect the chemical markers of growing zoas they go active and your zoas start dying. Had friend who just lost about 200 heads of Utters because he let them grow too close to rather benign mushrooms.

Reefing rule #1: first corals in a tank are boss, especially softies.

 

[JATReef]

I did think this might be an issue. I don't have any rhodactis but I do have other types of mushroom and a very large kenya tree colony that I have had for a long time.
Any ideas on combating the problem other than totally removing the shrooms, Kenya tree or running carbon which I already do?

 

[Zos4me]

You said you have a high flow is it directly on the zoanthids?that will keep them from opening

 

[JATReef]

You said you have a high flow is it directly on the zoanthids?that will keep them from opening

No I keep them out of direct flow, in one of the lower flow areas of the tank. Some of the larger heads are open but smaller ones staying closed all day at this point. Same situation with 3 or 4 separate frags.

 

[A. grandis]

Chemicals in the water. Reduce your soft corals' bioload by trimming them and giving to friends and wait to heal. Leather and Kenya tree specially.
Water changes will help, but that will be always a problem in your system. Skimmer is good too!!
Either you give up the softies and get hard corals with zoanthids, or you will have to live with it. I have a friend that has Kenya tree in the sump now and the zoanthids are doing a bit better. The farther softs are from the zoas the better, but the water is still the same, so...

 

[Mykawl]

It's not alk, calcium, cosmic rays, using LEDs, your tank being exposed to FOX news or unubtaniun trace elements. Your water levels are well within the range for corals, and zoanthids/palys and softies in general could care less about low bicarbonate levels (alk).

Local reef shop has beautiful frag tanks full of amazing zoas / palys and I've routinely tested their alk levels < 6 dKH. It's hard on their SPS, but doesn't bother their softies at all.

The problem here is almost certainly biological warfare. Some species of leather corals and especially rhodactis mushrooms will not tolerate the presence of competitive zoas / palys. Once the shrooms detect the chemical markers of growing zoas they go active and your zoas start dying. Had friend who just lost about 200 heads of Utters because he let them grow too close to rather benign mushrooms.

Reefing rule #1: first corals in a tank are boss, especially softies.

this is super interesting and insightful any links or suggested reading material on this? my first 2 corals happen to be zoa/ricordea lol the chemical warfare topic seems to be really prevelant but havent found much info on the specifics of it all

i was under the impression harder corals like lps and sps are more of a concern in that regard and having only sofites didnt know that could be an issue, hasnt been yet but would definately want to prevent something like that if possible

 

[Froike]

It's not alk, calcium, cosmic rays, using LEDs, your tank being exposed to FOX news or unubtaniun trace elements. Your water levels are well within the range for corals, and zoanthids/palys and softies in general could care less about low bicarbonate levels (alk).

Local reef shop has beautiful frag tanks full of amazing zoas / palys and I've routinely tested their alk levels < 6 dKH. It's hard on their SPS, but doesn't bother their softies at all.

The problem here is almost certainly biological warfare. Some species of leather corals and especially rhodactis mushrooms will not tolerate the presence of competitive zoas / palys. Once the shrooms detect the chemical markers of growing zoas they go active and your zoas start dying. Had friend who just lost about 200 heads of Utters because he let them grow too close to rather benign mushrooms.

Reefing rule #1: first corals in a tank are boss, especially softies.

Absolutely! This happened to a Zoanthid Colony I had! For Months The Colony was thriving; then I noticed them being coverd in a White Substance....Eventually I lost 99%. A few Days ago, I bought some New Corals and flipped over the Rock that The Zoanthids were on...Guess what? The bottom of the Rock was covered with Sponges and a Volunteer colony of Acans. There are mixed reviews on Sponges.....I happen to think that it indicates a well balanced Tank.
So far, The Sponges are confined to One Rock and the only Corals they seem to effect are Zoanthids.
But Corals and Sponges do battle for Territory...known fact.

 

[BVF]

It's not alk, calcium, cosmic rays, using LEDs, your tank being exposed to FOX news or unubtaniun trace elements. Your water levels are well within the range for corals, and zoanthids/palys and softies in general could care less about low bicarbonate levels (alk).

Local reef shop has beautiful frag tanks full of amazing zoas / palys and I've routinely tested their alk levels < 6 dKH. It's hard on their SPS, but doesn't bother their softies at all.

The problem here is almost certainly biological warfare. Some species of leather corals and especially rhodactis mushrooms will not tolerate the presence of competitive zoas / palys. Once the shrooms detect the chemical markers of growing zoas they go active and your zoas start dying. Had friend who just lost about 200 heads of Utters because he let them grow too close to rather benign mushrooms.

Reefing rule #1: first corals in a tank are boss, especially softies.

So this is a recipe for problems? The zoas and palys are surviving, but definitely not thriving, and this rhodadtis is right in the middle of the action.