Zoas not opening

[bklynbee]

Hi everyone, I’ve had these zoas about 2 weeks and suddenly they haven’t opened the last 2 days. I have other zoas in the tank that are fully opened and looking good so not sure what’s going on with these. My water parameters are good, is there anything I should do or just leave them alone? Tia

 

[Jekyl]

White light pic and parameters please. Parameters are good is not acceptable answer lol. Basically asking us to fumble around in the dark.

 

[bklynbee]

Salinity 1.025 ,ph 8.2 ,calcium 450 magnesium 1340, nitrates .5,phos 0.3 temp 78

 

[Jekyl]

Are those bubbles on the rocks? Dinos?

 

[Jekyl]

@vetteguy53081

 

[vetteguy53081]

Looks like calothrix upsetting them and will have to be cleaned off.
You can try to dislodge it from coral with a turkey baster but it may not move.
This stuff is a member of cyano group and bubbles you see are trying to escape the film.remove rock and scrub it off with a toothbrush being careful around the coral
Do this in. A clean bucket with tank water
Return rock to tank after cleaning and reduce white lights for 3-5 days and add cleaners such as:

astrea snails
Cerith snails
Trochus snails
Nerite snails
ninja star snails

add 1.5ml of liquid bacteria per 10 gallons to the tank for a week

 

[bklynbee]

Looks like calothrix upsetting them and will have to be cleaned off.
You can try to dislodge it from coral with a turkey baster but it may not move.
This stuff is a member of cyano group and bubbles you see are trying to escape the film.remove rock and scrub it off with a toothbrush being careful around the coral
Do this in. A clean bucket with tank water
Return rock to tank after cleaning and reduce white lights for 3-5 days and add cleaners such as:

astrea snails
Cerith snails
Trochus snails
Nerite snails
ninja star snails

add 1.5ml of liquid bacteria per 10 gallons to the tank for a week

Can I just glue them onto a new rock? I have extra

 

[Jekyl]

Can I just glue them onto a new rock? I have extra

The issue is what's on your rocks. Changing placement won't solve the problem.

 

[bklynbee]

I have spare rocks outside of the tank I would take the rock they are on now and throw it out and glue them on a brand new rock rather than trying to scrub it off

 

[bklynbee]

I have spare rocks outside of the tank I would take the rock they are on now and throw it out and glue them on a brand new rock rather than trying to scrub it off

 

[Jekyl]

I have spare rocks outside of the tank I would take the rock they are on now and throw it out and glue them on a brand new rock rather than trying to scrub it off

Rocks are the heart and soul of a tank. By replacing you will be basically starting over.

 

[vetteguy53081]

Alternative, not a solution
Cleaning process not as bad as it sounds.
Adding snails is after the cleaning as there is No way they’ll keep up with growth
Best to address now than to having to break the tank down for a major overhaul

 

[bklynbee]

Alternative, not a solution
Cleaning process not as bad as it sounds.
Adding snails is after the cleaning as there is No way they’ll keep up with growth
Best to address now than to having to break the tank down for a major overhaul

I ordered a bunch of snails that are coming tomorrow. Would that be enough to get rid of it? I hate to take the rock out at all because the corals come off so easily. There are 2, other zoa frags right next to it that look great so not sure why this one is having an issue

 

[vetteguy53081]

I ordered a bunch of snails that are coming tomorrow. Would that be enough to get rid of it? I hate to take the rock out at all because the corals come off so easily. There are 2, other zoa frags right next to it that look great so not sure why this one is having an issue

It may help but won’t likely eliminate what you are dealing with
Manual removal is the most effective way of getting rid of it

 

[Shufflepig]

Salinity 1.025 ,ph 8.2 ,calcium 450 magnesium 1340, nitrates .5,phos 0.3 temp 78

Is your phosphate .03 or .3? I’m not convinced I see trapped air bubbles in your picture. If it is Calothrix , I don’t think it is causing the problem for your zoa at the moment. That frag is totally clean and not being affected by whatever may be on your rock. Personally I wouldn’t do anything drastic yet. Is there anything in the tank invert wise that could be disturbing the zoa?

 

[bklynbee]

Is your phosphate .03 or .3? I’m not convinced I see trapped air bubbles in your picture. If it is Calothrix , I don’t think it is causing the problem for your zoa at the moment. That frag is totally clean and not being affected by whatever may be on your rock. Personally I wouldn’t do anything drastic yet. Is there anything in the tank invert wise that could be disturbing the zoa?

It is .03, I used a Turkey baster on the rock and alot of it was sand that blew off. I saw a damsel fish attacking my flower pot coral so don’t know if he’s been bothering the zoa as well. I moved him to another tank and the zoa has peeked open the last 2 days for a little while but still isn’t fully opening. Not sure if I should leave him or try moving him to another spot. I have 2 other zoa frags on the same rock that are opening and looking good so not sure what the issue is.

 

[Shufflepig]

It is .03, I used a Turkey baster on the rock and alot of it was sand that blew off. I saw a damsel fish attacking my flower pot coral so don’t know if he’s been bothering the zoa as well. I moved him to another tank and the zoa has peeked open the last 2 days for a little while but still isn’t fully opening. Not sure if I should leave him or try moving him to another spot. I have 2 other zoa frags on the same rock that are opening and looking good so not sure what the issue is.

I think I would leave him for a few more days. Especially if he’s starting to peek open. Have to believe just something with this particular zoa if the others on the same rock look fine. Give him some time.