Zoa's are escaping! From what?

[jpmazzone]

Hi Folks,

I have four Zoa frags. My tank is a 2.5 months old and doing well (stable parameters, no pests, no nuisance algae, etc). Two of my frags appear to be doing something very strange. After being in the tank for about 30 days, they seem to be travelling. They still open up but they seem to be trying to escape the light. There is a frag that is higher up and closer to the light and it is flourishing.

The picture below shows what is happening. You are looking at Playboy Bunny zoa's purchased from Tidal Gardens. The reason why you see some of the polyps closed is that some misys shrimp fell onto them and they are enjoying the meal.

See how they are moving off the frag disc? Does anyone have any thoughts as to why this is happening?

 

[Saltyreef]

Please post all current known parameters and lighting specs.

Also another photo of the other frag that you say is flourishing.

 

[jpmazzone]

My lighting is an AI Prime 16 HD with the top 4 parameters set at 100% and the remaining at 50%. Peak lighting is 6 ours with a ramp up/down of 1.5 hours. The ramp down finishes with blue and violet only.

Ammonia is 0, Nitrate is 0 and I do not test for anything else.

Water changes are 25% weekly. I use IO reef crystals. RODI water.

Flow Nero 3 at 20%. Pump s 2 inches below the water level.

I did the best I could with an iPhone to show you the two frags that are doing well. Everything looks washed out because I turned up all white.

The first is at the top of the tank. The second is at the bottom. Again, here is the one that seems to be spreading out.

This give you an idea of the flow in the tank. This the frag highest up in the tank. The "escaping" frag is lower left of that.

My novice opinion is that the light is too intense. However, that doesn't seem possible to me with the equipment that I have.

 

[Mr. Mojo Rising]

how big, or rather, how deep is your tank? Some of those zoa's are stretching for light.

 

[jpmazzone]

how big, or rather, how deep is your tank? Some of those zoa's are stretching for light.

I wasn't expecting that comment. My tank is 17 inches deep. The tank is a Waterbox Cube 20. My light is 10" above the top of the glass, so 11" above the water.

 

[Mr. Mojo Rising]

Something to consider.

another thing to consider is your 0 nitrate, thats probably measured with an API kit? 0 nitrate and 0 phosphate is a poor environement for corals, they need some nutrients in the water. So you will eventually need good quality nitrate and phosphate test kits (not API) so you can ensure there is enough nutrients in the water. Are there any fish in the tank?

 

[jpmazzone]

I do test with API kits. I only have two fish; a small ocellaris and an even smaller yellow banded possum wrasse. I would say I take a lot of care not to overfeed. I feed them 3 times per week. During my water changes, I vacuum the sand to remove detritus. I also blast the rocks with my powerheads once per day so that the filter sock can remove anything loose. I change out the filter sock every three days.

 

[((FORDTECH))]

I do test with API kits. I only have two fish; a small ocellaris and an even smaller yellow banded possum wrasse. I would say I take a lot of care not to overfeed. I feed them 3 times per week. During my water changes, I vacuum the sand to remove detritus. I also blast the rocks with my powerheads once per day so that the filter sock can remove anything loose. I change out the filter sock every three days.

I agree with lord of cinder some nitrate and phophates need to be in the water for most corals. Api test kits are not usually accurate enough to measure these properly but I’m not sure this is your issue because of the other ones seeming to look better

 

[((FORDTECH))]

And now that I think about it, this does happen to me in my frag tank with some of my zoa I probably have 15 different kind, and I know for sure at the very least the bozo birthday zoa spread out like that right off the frag plate so this may be normal as long as they are healthy

 

[jpmazzone]

Now you guys have me thinking that I should feed a bit more and maybe perform less of a water change.

 

[jpmazzone]

I'm thinking I need to lower my light a few inches as well.

 

[((FORDTECH))]

Yes feed more and less water cha be will bring up nutrients, but you still have the problem of in accurate test results so before you start really messing around a lot, you may want to look into other test kits

 

[jpmazzone]

Yes feed more and less water cha be will bring up nutrients, but you still have the problem of in accurate test results so before you start really messing around a lot, you may want to look into other test kits

Can you recommend a good test kit?

 

[Saltyreef]

Can you recommend a good test kit?

Salifert for alk cal and mag.
Red sea pro for nitrate and phosphate

 

[((FORDTECH))]

Can you recommend a good test kit?

I only use Hanna ulr phosphate and high nitrate testers which cost a lot but many use the salifert just fine

 

[jpmazzone]

Thank you. I really appreciate you all taking the time to offer this advice. All I do is take take take on this site but, I am too green to offer anyone any help!

 

[((FORDTECH))]

Thank you. I really appreciate you all taking the time to offer this advice. All I do is take take take on this site but, I am too green to offer anyone any help!

It’s all good one day you will be there

 

[exnisstech]

Isn't the ideas of zoas to have them spread off the plug and to a rock so you have a zoa garden? Just asking because I thought it was but I have never been able to keep zoas alive long enough to know.

 

[exnisstech]

Thank you. I really appreciate you all taking the time to offer this advice. All I do is take take take on this site but, I am too green to offer anyone any help!

Many of us started off the same. Heck I've been in the hobby for 8 years and still receive way more than I give.

 

[kKdTx]

Learn something new everyday. Thank you.