Zoas mysteriously withering

[45ZoaGarden]

Well something is bothering them. I highly doubt it is bacterial or else all of them would be closed up.

 

[mfollen]

Yes some are doing great and growing well. Others are randomly infected throughout the tank.

they first close, then a slight brown film appears, then they wither away.

 

[IslandLifeReef]

Ah you’re right on the phosphorous. I’m carbon dosing which is slowly lowering them. As for magnesium my test kits have been saying 1450. So not sure what to trust. Can low magnesium melt zoas?

Well, which would you trust, a test done in a lab by a trusted source, or a home test kit?

 

[mfollen]

Yes good point. I am not aware of any issues of low magnesium negatively impacting zoas.. but regardless I’ll look into raising it. Thanks everyone so far, any ideas are all welcome.

 

[45ZoaGarden]

1216 isn’t that terribly low. Some people keep it at 1250

 

[mfollen]

That’s what I thought, it’s not too low... something is definitely agitating the zoas to close, and overtaking them as they appear to become infected.

 

[Alvaro_Spain]

how is the rest of the tank? when I had dinos my zoas closed and eventually disappeared slowly. Getting smaller and smaller.

I had also favia, blastomussa and palythoa.

 

[mfollen]

All other coral are thriving. No pest algae or Dino’s prevalent.

This is so strange and I am totally stumped, hence why I am thinking their might be a zoa specific bacteria strain impacting them? There are zoas impacted in different flow areas of the tank.

 

[JustDewwit]

Just want to confirm PO4 is 0.3 and not 0.03 Correct.

 

[45ZoaGarden]

Zoas like dirty water (high nitrates+phosphates)

 

[IslandLifeReef]

That’s what I thought, it’s not too low... something is definitely agitating the zoas to close, and overtaking them as they appear to become infected.

Actually, it is lower than the lower end of what is recommended. Your Ca is also lower than your tests in the ICP test.

What do you use to measure your salinity? Did the ICP test give you a salinity reading? Two of the four main items that we test for in new salt mix differ in your tests and the ICP test. The other two were omitted from the ICP test, so maybe your water isn’t what you think it is.

 

[Alvaro_Spain]

which other corals do you have in the tank? maybe chemical warfare?

 

[littlebigreef]

I have a fairly large zoa collection and occasionally deal with similar issues, ie withering, not opening, looking thermo shocked. Idk if its a reaction to alk swings, bacterial or fungal issues. My remedy is is furan-2 baths followed immediately by a mild lugal's bath and then back into the tank. I'll go 4 days on, 1-2 days off and then another 4 days on. That usually knocks out the issue and then the zoa is back to being happy.

I noticed a sharp decline in this happening once I started dosing vitamin C again. Its not a variable I'd add to the mix right now but maybe something to consider down the road.

 

[mfollen]

I did a furan 2 dip on the remaining infected zoas. All unaffected zoas seem to be fine and rate of spreading seems to of stopped. If the furan 2 stops the withering of the infected zoas, my guess is it is bacteria related.

 

[littlebigreef]

Yup, sounds good. I’d stress 2 things, first, I’d strongly recommend doing at least one 4-day cycle even if the zoa looks better after the first day or two (and doesn’t look any worse). Second, the lugols bath, IMO, drastically improves the outcome.

Good luck, I’ll keep my fingers crossed for ya. Nothing is more stressful than a ticked off zoa.

 

[mfollen]

Thanks @littlebigreef I didn't see your earlier post for some reason.

I wish I did, otherwise I would of done the iodine dip after as well.

I know others have had similar issues with their zoas, not pest related. I appreciate your help.
I definitely feel that flow helps decrease chances of this happening, but higher flow does not prevent it as i have had two different strains in high flow affected.

I'll keep everyone posted,

 

[mfollen]

@Alvaro_Spain Sorry I missed your post, no other soft coral but ricordea and some shrooms. All acropora & montipora.
Carbon is running as well.

@JustDewwit Sorry I missed your post as well, I must be going crazy Confirming 0.3 Po4 and not 0.03.

Thanks everyone!

 

[Sethm]

Just ordered some furan 2. I have a very similar situation with a couple frags, hopefully this does the trick.

 

[45ZoaGarden]

Th

@Alvaro_Spain Sorry I missed your post, no other soft coral but ricordea and some shrooms. All acropora & montipora.
Carbon is running as well.

@JustDewwit Sorry I missed your post as well, I must be going crazy Confirming 0.3 Po4 and not 0.03.

Thanks everyone!

That is too high. It’s probably brown film algae growing over your zoas because of the abundance of phosphate

 

[mfollen]

That’s very possible.... but the zoas are closing before a brown film shows. Sometimes there is no brown film too...

otherwise algae isn’t a problem in the tank.

thank you!!