Zoanthids

[Dec]

Hey guys I am new to the site. What brought me here were zoanthids, I just love the colors. I recently bought a frag of zoas that was real vibrant had greens and reds(not sure on name). I brought them home and the next time I went to check my tank( 2 days later) they were brownish with and orange center mouth. What Happened? Why? Can I fix it?

-Also they are still spreading three new polyps in 2 weeks but the colors are completely different!

 

[saltyfilmfolks]

High nutrients and not enough light. Really not the easiest coral out there. flow is a bit of a trick too. but the orange brown I is usually nutrients.
Post up your parameters and Im sure many will chime in.
tank specs will also help.

And heres a like for ya!

Welcome to R2R!

 

[Dec]

Tank parameters:
Nitrate:0
Nitrite: 0
Ph: 2.5 ish
Salinity:1.022
Temp:82 degrees

I have approximately 38 Lemnalia(Kenya tree coral) ranging from 1-7 inches
2 leathers
4 red mushrooms
1 green mushroom
Over 50 green palys or nucs can't tell
2 ocellaris clownfish

And a zoa frag with 7 polyps and two babies
Zoas are 5 inches of substrate( 2nd highest point in tank)
Moderate flow
Actinic light: 8 hours
Day light: 7 hours

Tank is a 29 gallon bio cube with a skimmer and additional 425gph circulator

Thanks salty!

 

[saltyfilmfolks]

temp is a bit high salinity is low what are you using for salinity?
Also whats your ph test?

is you bio cube led or PowerCompact?

 

[Techie_]

temp is a bit high salinity is low what are you using for salinity?
Also whats your ph test?

is you bio cube led or PowerCompact?

I agree with the salinity portion of this... but that ph looks super low.

 

[cnseekatz]

Light can play a big part in zoanthid appearance... both in their actual coloration, and simply how your eyes perceive their color. Looking at the same polyp under two different lighting setups can make it look completely different depending on the amount of blues, etc.

 

[Dec]

Instant ocean salt temp is mimicking summer conditions now in tropics.

Compact fluorescent lighting
Aquamarine ph tester, older got it from a friend who shut down her tank. May have been higher hard to tell. Salinity is low have some hair grass I am killing off.
Water change weekly when possible.

 

[Dec]

I think in the store they were under LED blue moon lights. I used to have some but they're burnt out now. Gonna replace them I actually had forgotten all about them to be honest. Would it be wise to run the LED blue moons at night when the others are off or should I have a period in the day with no lights on in my tank.