Zoas closed up for some reason....

Gary S · Jan 26, 2019

Hey, so I went to the lfs Wednesday, and bought a zoa frag, but this morning they all closed up. All parameters are stable, so I'm wondering if my lights are too low, or the flow isn't strong enough. Pretty much a noob when it comes to zoas. Had other softies that were major successes. Any wisdom or advice appreciated!

Coralreefer1 · Jan 26, 2019

The polyps would be more apt to be closed with too strong a water flow or too much light too quickly. I don’t think your lighting or lack of flow would account for your polyps closing up. Is their something near them causing them stress, or did a crab or snail climb on them?
Zoanthids and Palythoas are funny and will close up for an extended period of time, and then open up a day, week or even a month later.
Try a water change! Also, don’t try and do to many things all at once or you will have a hard time deciphering what was wrong or what helped to fix this dilemma.

DSC reef · Jan 26, 2019

Can you give some info on your tank like lighting, etc. Any pics of the zoas, placement, flow area. Zoas can take some time to acclimate to your system.

Gary S · Jan 26, 2019

Yeah I suppose its only been a few days....I have a ai prime light that's set to 35% on the white and blue spectrum, the zoas are at the top of the tank, about 3in from the surface. It's an 8 hr lighting period. The flow is from the sump output in the fluval evo 15 gal, and a HOB filter. None of its direct, but I'd say its pretty moderate from all angles as I have the water deflecting off the walls of the tank and the rocks.

DSC reef · Jan 26, 2019

Zoas need some good moderate indirect flow and I would try lowering them in the tank. It could be a lighting acclimation and why they are closed.

Coralreefer1 · Jan 26, 2019

I wouldn’t be too worried about it right now just monitor them going forward. When you got the frag what lighting, intensity, duration etc. was being employed at the pet shop? Try working off of those parameters to start.